17 parents share the hacks that get them through a busy week.

Thanks to our brand partner, Smash

Let's be honest — how often do you find yourself running around trying to get everything done before 8:30 am?

School lunches, work deadlines, laundry piling up — it's like trying to juggle a million things and barely keeping them all in the air.

Surely I'm not the only one who's ticked off my to-do list, only to realise I forgot to feed the dog (again).

Listen to This Glorious Mess where we chat through 10 simple hacks to get your time back. Post continues after audio.

But here's the thing: we can always work smarter, not harder. So, I reached out to other mums to find out how they manage to keep everything running.

What are their secrets? What hacks help them survive the madness of a busy week? Here's what they had to say.

Plan your meals (and even your outfits) in advance.

If your household is anything like mine, it runs on food. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and all the snacks.

So starting off the week right means packing lunches and prepping meals.

"I prep my kids' lunches the night before using Smash Bento Boxes. They're perfect for packing lunch and snacks without everything mixing together. I can pop in a sandwich, fruit and a little treat all in separate compartments. It makes lunch prep so much quicker.

"Smash Products are built to withstand the toughest environments — aka the schoolyard. Reliable, tough and designed to keep food fresh all day, these Aussie-owned products have been a go-to for busy families like ours.

"With over two decades of real-life customer feedback, Smash has continuously refined their designs, like the Smash Water Bottle, which I love for my kids. Whether you're commuting, juggling school drop-offs or need your morning caffeine fix, a spill-proof, ceramic travel coffee cup saves you time (and hassle!!). It keeps your drink at the perfect temperature for hours — because let's face it, your morning cuppa can easily turn into an afternoon one!" — Claire

"Every school holiday I bulk cook meals that can be defrosted — last week I put 35 nights' worth of family meals into our garage freezer." — Jessica

"I plan the week's meals with my husband. I then save them on a shared doc so we can access the recipes and keep track of what we've made recently." — Laura

"We prepare smoothies at night, and all I have to do in the morning is blend them. It's quick and gives everyone a healthy start to the day." — Louise

"I lay out the kids' clothes the night before — that way, there's no last-minute panic about finding a clean school shirt." — Claudia

"I have a few 'go-to' outfits ready in the wardrobe. Easy to wear things like my favourite dress that doesn't need an iron or t-shirts to wear for the school run." — Heidi

Outsource like a boss.

When life feels hectic, one of the best things you can do is outsource some of the tasks that eat up your time.

"Why cook when your trusty slow cooker can do it for you? I chop everything up the night before, throw it all in and click eight hours before I walk out the door!" — Amy

Image: Supplied.

"I've hired a cleaner who comes once a fortnight. I can spend more time with my kids or enjoy some peace and quiet for a change." — Evelyn

"I outsource washing once a week. They pick up and drop off freshly washed and folded clothes the next day." — Michelle

And as soon as they're old enough, it's time to get the kids involved in helping out around the house…

"We set simple chores for the kids and mix them up each week. Things like setting the table, folding laundry or washing the dishes." — Emma

"Our kids make dinner once a week. We plan the meal on the weekend and they execute!" — Kate

Image: Supplied.

How to manage the morning chaos.

"I've started taking five minutes each morning to enjoy a cup of tea before the chaos starts. It gives me a chance to breathe before jumping into the day." — Isabelle

"I put everything on the family calendar which is stuck to our fridge — doctor's appointments, after-school activities, even birthdays! It keeps everyone in the loop, and I don't have to answer 'What time is soccer?' every five minutes." — Catherine

"I use the delay function on the washing machine so our clothes are finished at useful times (rather than sitting there for too long and being forgotten about!)." — Leah

Master the school hustle with routine.

"We've set up a desk in the living room for homework. Having a set spot makes it easier for my kids to stay on task and I can keep an eye on them while I cook dinner." — Adele

"We block out 4 to 6 pm on weekdays for homework. That's enough time to get home from school, have a snack, finish their homework and be ready for dinner." — Courtney

And once that's all done, avoid the morning scramble by packing everything (including the kitchen sink!) the night before.

"Have everything ready to go the night before — homework, lunch boxes, after-school sports equipment — it makes mornings run much smoother." — Tina

Shop Smash Products online and in-store at Woolies, Coles and BIG W.

Feature Image: Supplied.

Smash are an Aussie owned family business born in 1999, as creators of nude food movers Smash has continued to innovate food carry products to ensure they are equipped to survive in the harshest environment on earth, the school yard. Smash has grown up with you and now sells more than 'just' lunch boxes… now bottles, coffee cups, microwavable stainless steel food products + more

For over 20 years, Smash was only available at retailers... but now we are available online too at smashproducts.com