Being a single mom isn’t a setback-it’s a superpower!
Let’s be honest…single motherhood can feel like juggling fire while balancing on one foot and all with your eyes closed. But behind every thriving single mom is a set of habits that don’t just help her survive they help her rise.
Through deep conversation with powerhouse women, binge-worthy podcasts, and the support of friends who get it, these are the habits I’ve adopted – and they have completely transformed how I show up in my life.
Habit #1: You have a CEO-style morning routine
Successful single moms don’t leave their day to chance. Even if it’s just 20 minutes before the kids wake up, it’s important to carve out intentional time to align your energy – get ready for what you are going to tackle today. My own morning routine includes 10 mins for meditation / prayer, a 5 minute journal check-in (I write or sometimes reread my goals), then 30 minutes on the walking pad. (This was the best purchase ever to ensure I get at least 5k steps in before the day starts!) During my walk, I listen to a podcast that is related to a topic that I want to learn about. I try to pick the episode the night before so all I have to do is hit play.
Try this: Start your morning with one thing that you do for you – not the kids or for work – and your day will already be off to a strong start.
Habit #2: You Protect Your energy Like It’s Your Net Worth
Not every invitation deserves a yes. Successful single moms say no to energy leaks-people, routines, or responsibilities that drain their bandwidth. And I will be the first to say, I love being social and having fun, so sometimes I say yes when I really need to say no. I’m a work in progress! But THIS habit is the foundation for building a schedule that supports your goals and your peace.
Try this: Take an audit of your week. What drained you? What fueled you? Were there things you could have said no to?
Habit #3: You Plan Your Week Like a Boss
Planning isn’t just for meetings-it’s a form of self-respect. I use a monthly planner that includes my work blocks, kid time, appointments, workouts – I even put a reminder to take out the trash! I am super organized, but for some reason putting all of my activities into one place seemed so difficult. But when your time has a structure, your life starts to flow. And your sanity starts to come back, trust me!
Try this: Time block just one day of your week. What will you do from the minute you wake up to when you go to bed? List it out by hour and make sure to prioritize the most important things during your personal peak hours. Notice the difference when it goes from chaos to controlled.
Habit #4: You Have a Vision (And Revisit It Often)
Single moms who thrive have goals and a vision. Whether it’s financial freedom, launching a business, buying a home, travel plans for the future-you don’t let yourself forget where you are going. And most important thing to note here – you MUST write it down! That sounds so simple, but so many people don’t write down their goals. When you write them down, you see them and they start to live in your subconscious. And then your subconscious is working on them even when you aren’t!
Try this: Block out one hour in your day for this exercise. And put your phone in the other room – no getting distracted! Write down your goals and the vision you have for your life. Don’t be shy, dream BIG! This is for you only. Now keep that paper where you can see it daily and reread it during Habit #1.
Habit #5: You Build Systems, Not Just To-Do Lists
A successful single mom doesn’t rely on willpower alone. She has systems that support her: meal routines, money check-ins, Sunday resets. Systems create consistency without needing motivation every single day. Now it will take a min to get your systems in place and see what works best for you, but once you start implementing this new way of doing things, you will see how much easier things get done.
Try this: Choose one area of your life to systemize this week and stick with it for the next week. Need an example – take 5 mins before you go to bed and plan what you will make for dinner tomorrow night. This is always a big question in my house and it will just take the pressure off when I figure it out ahead of time. After you have have done this each night for the week, try batching it. Take 20 mins on Sunday and, looking at your schedule in your planner, choose dinner options that work with your schedule. Think about the ingredients you need for each and make a grocery list while you are at it.
It’s so important to remember – You don’t need more hustle. You need aligned habits that support your life. These 5 habits have helped me go from chaos to clarity and I promise they can do the same for you. If you have any questions or want more clarity, feel free to reach out to me! Or I also have a free download, The Powerhouse Mom Playbook, if you want to learn more and start building your own powerhouse habits. You can download the Playbook HERE!
Xo – Heather
