6 Moms Share Their Best Work-Life Balance Hacks

So in the spirit of that whole "it takes a village" mentality, we asked some of our favorite working moms what secret resources, services, or tricks they use to get them through long workdays and more than a few sleepless nights.

Hack 1: set it and forget it

When you're juggling carpools, long working hours, and grocery store runs, it's next to impossible not to forget something on your to-do list. And when that to-do is something like...toilet paper, you're in trouble. "It's a boring answer, but I'm obsessed with Amazon Subscribe & Save," says Kristen Terry, a writer, producer, mother of two, and one of our contributors on mom-related topics. "I subscribe to shipments of diapers, wipes, Diaper Genie refills, dish soap, hand soap...everything." 

Put your most common items on autopilot. You can even have things like makeup and razors delivered automatically through Amazon. Other brands, like Dollar Shave Club and Glossier, let you set up recurring shipments of their products. (BTW, we're obsessed with Glossier's stretch concealer. Perfect for newborn-not-sleeping eyes.) 

Hack 2: Let Some Things Go

Forget perfection. The reality of balancing work and kids is that sometimes you don't balance them. "Lower your expectations," says Cristin More, a photographer and mother of two. "As a type A person, ending my days without the dishes done or the house clean or, many times, even getting a shower that day, was exceptionally hard. However, once I accepted that some things just wouldn't get done, I was able to prioritize the things that are truly important—my kids, my family, and my business."

Another photographer mom, Lauren Moore, goes a step further, "Only buy lots of white socks for your kid that are all the same and skip the patterned ones. The bane of my existence is looking for f*cking matching socks while trying to get out the door to get to work on time." Sometimes, it's OK to let things get a little messy. 

HACK 3: STREAMLINE YOUR DOWNTIME

You come home from the office only to immediately start another kind of work—getting kids fed, bathed, and ready for bed. By the time they're asleep, it's well after 8, and you and your partner are so hungry, you're considering eating Ritz crackers and questionably old cheese for dinner. Sound familiar? 

"I think the biggest thing that has helped was signing up a meal delivery service that sends you recipes and ingredients," says, again, Lauren Moore. "My husband never used to cook, and when I went back to work full-time, I was too tired at the end of the day to always be the one planning meals and cooking. Now that the ingredients and recipes all come in one box, he will start cooking a couple nights a week before I get home from wherever I happen to be working that day. It's really a godsend." 

By subscribing to a service like Blue Apron, you get weekly boxes dropped at your door that are pre-prepped and ready to cook. Most take 30 minutes or less to make, meaning you'll be eating a delicious grown-up dinner before 9. And, if you make a commitment to cook together, you can also use those precious minutes of quiet to have some one-on-one time with your partner. 

Blue Apron also recently announced a new wine delivery program. After a long day, you can head straight for the couch with a glass of Cabernet—no extra store stops required. Not a bad deal if wine's your thing (we feel you).

Hack 4: Outsource Your Chores

There are probably some things you never needed help doing before and so your first assumption with a newborn in the house is that you'll be able to keep up. Especially during these early years, though, using services to take care of day-to-day chores is a huge help (at least until your kids are old enough for you to assign them the work). 

"House cleaners!" says mom and social worker Kassidee Harrison, "There's just not enough time to keep your house as clean as you'd like and having someone else clean it is amazing." Other things you can outsource that may never have occurred to you: dog walks, pharmacy runs, IKEA furniture assembly. Try Thumbtack to get quotes on anything and everything.

And don't forget about services like Instacart. "It's hard enough for me to balance working full time and being a new mama," says Shauna Nep, Senior Philanthropic Advisor at Fundamental, Inc., "Grocery shopping is something I just don't have time for! Instacart is a total lifesaver. I'm able to get my groceries for the week (from Whole Foods, Gelsons, and even Costco!) delivered straight to my door. And it saves your orders, so you can easily re-order if you tend to purchase the same foods week to week."

Hack 5: Schedule Downtime Like You Would Work Meetings

With all the responsibilities, you're never going to make time for yourself unless you do it consciously and with intention. Block out time in your calendar for one-on-one time with your kids—and really stick to it. That means no work email. "When you say you are going to disconnect, fully disconnect," says Jamie Menna, the founder of Mini Style Blog, "Commit to an hour or two a day when your phone is completely off and your kids can have your undivided attention." 

And don't forget to commit to your own self-care as well. Schedule a night here and there to sit quietly and focus on whatever you're enjoying—whether that's a book, a glass of wine (ahem, Blue Apron Wine Club, ahem), or a conversation about work with your partner. You may have a laundry list of important priorities, but taking care of yourself still counts as one of them.  

And Finally, Accept That There Isn't Always a Hack 

And that's OK. "I hate to say it, but there were no corners cut in the beginning 1.5 years. My son never took a bottle, so he was not away from me for more than 10 minutes for those first 18 months," say Lauren Moore. "Just a ton of hours at the computer up late while he slept because it was the only time I could get it in. I honestly don't know how I did it in those early years." And for that reason, among countless others, we'd like to toast every working mom out there. Here's to taking short cuts when you can, forgiving yourself when you can't, and mostly, enjoying the ride.