3 Mistakes Christian Moms Make When Planning Their Day

I used to create very structured (read: rigid) schedules to help me keep my days organized so I could feel like I was actually accomplishing something. It would work great for about a week… maybe. But then we’d somehow get off track. I’d feel like an undisciplined failure.

After many tearful calls to my mom and multiple attempts at “the perfect schedule,” I realized I was approaching it all wrong. Traditional time management doesn’t always work for Christian moms. We’re called to more than efficiency — we’re called to live out our vocation.

God’s plan, our role as mothers, and the natural rhythm of the day all have to be considered. Not doing so is where many of us fall into these three common mistakes in Christian time management.

1. Forgetting to Invite God Into Your Planning

If you’re anything like me, you love planners. They hold your appointments, your to-do lists, and your grand plans for the day. But so often, we rush into our daily routine without inviting the Ultimate Planner into it.

Instead of asking the Lord to guide our hearts and minds in planning our day, we rely on our own strength and logic. Giving it to Him can feel risky.

“If I don’t make sure this happens, everything will fall apart.”

We’re afraid that surrendering our schedule will leave us behind or derail the life we think we need to maintain. But beautiful things happen when we release that desire for control.

Instead of rushing into your day, anchor it with Scripture. Spend time in prayer and invite the Holy Spirit into your planning.

“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” – Proverbs 16:9

2. Prioritizing Efficiency Over Your Vocation

During your planning time, reflect on what it means to plan a bit differently. Efficiency isn’t bad — until it distracts from what matters most: the people right in front of you.

You’re not just managing tasks — you’re stewarding souls.

In today’s world, it’s tempting to measure our worth by what we produce. But as Christian mothers, we are called to choose peace over productivity. That means planning your day around your vocation.

What season of motherhood are you in? What are your family’s needs — and your own? Let those answers shape realistic expectations for your day.

3. Creating Rigid Schedules Instead of Anchored Rhythms

It’s easy to overestimate how much can fit into one day. We fill out the color-coded planner, ready to conquer the world… until the toddler spills the milk.

Rigid schedules don’t account for real life. They crumble under pressure, and we spiral.

Think back to the last time that happened. What did you expect from yourself? Your children? Your husband? Were those expectations realistic, or Pinterest-perfect?

That doesn’t mean you can’t have a peaceful day — but it might mean rethinking how you plan it.

Instead of forcing your life into an ideal schedule, start building your day around anchor points — like meal times, nap/rest, and bedtime. From there, you can create gentle mini-routines: morning prayer, meals, quiet time, etc.

Eventually, you’ll begin to operate from rhythm, not rigidity.