In a world of constant notifications, shared calendars and never-ending group chats, many mums are figuring out how to use technology without letting it run the show.
Balancing act
For Laura, a part-time working mum of two, it’s a daily balancing act. Tech keeps her across school updates and schedules, but it also comes with a heavy mental load.
“I just feel very overwhelmed … it’s the digital load and that sort of mental fatigue you get with trying to do both,” she says. It’s not just the tools – it’s the pressure to always be “on”.
“The constant pinging … you feel like you have to keep checking your phone all the time.” So she cut back. “I just deleted all my socials … and I loved it.”
Flexible approaches
Others take a more flexible approach. Stay-at-home mum Haylee uses tech where it helps – and switches off where it doesn’t.
“Instagram’s huge for recipes and ideas, while I use apps for my wellbeing … and school apps or group chats to help with communication,” she says. But for her kids, it’s a different story.
“I’m aiming for a bit of a ’90s childhood – more outdoor play, imagination and connection.” “Screen time is minimal – maximum two hours a week.”
Non-negotiable tech
For Penny, a mum of three running her own business, tech is non-negotiable. “The shared calendar is my bible – whoever gets in first, gets in first,” she says. “When the husband doesn’t check it … that’s fine, but he can find the babysitter,” she adds, laughing.
Jeff Woodhouse, Executive General Manager of Mobile and Computer Technology at Harvey Norman, says when it comes to families embracing technology around the home, “if it helps them get a bit of time back, that’s where it really makes a difference”. Different homes, different rules – the aim is the same: find what works and stick to it.
Digital load insights
Parenting author and educator Maggie Dent has a new book coming out in August about helping families have more digital freedom and, like most things, she says there are good and bad aspects of the digital load mums face.
“If we can use tech that lifts them up, it’s a winner – but the tech that pulls them down is actually contributing to burnout,” she says. “I feel the competition and the judgment that comes, particularly from online, drives so much more of our mums’ stress than ever before. There’s a prescriptive kind of pressure on new mums … and that worries me.”
But it’s not all bad. Used well, tech can offer something many mums are missing – support. “When tech works well for mums … that can be an incredibly powerful protective factor,” she says. “I feel it’s like the village in a virtual form.”
Mother’s Day gifts that ease the load
As Mother’s Day rolls around, the focus is becoming less about breakfast in bed and more about helping mums get through the juggle of work, parenting and running a household.
Jeff Woodhouse says for many women, they’re the ones keeping things ticking. “Mums are generally where everything ends up being organised and all the information is flowing. Their minds are just ticking constantly and always thinking about what’s next.” That’s where technology is starting to make a difference – not just saving time, but by easing that mental load.
“It’s not just about saving a little bit of time – it’s that feeling of being organised,” he explains. From shared calendars to AI assistants, newer devices are designed to be more helpful, taking care of small decisions such as meal ideas, reminders and organising – so mums can focus on more pressing things.
“You can literally ask it how to set something up and it will step you through it,” Mr Woodhouse says. There’s also a rise in creative tech, which he says has flown under the radar. “You can personalise everything now – labels, gifts, even party items. A lot of people don’t even realise what’s out there, and for those mothers who are creative, it’s a great idea.”
When it comes to Mother’s Day gifts, practicality is a winning option – think fitness trackers, noise-cancelling headphones or even digital photo frames that double as family calendars. “Anything that saves time or helps organise the day is always going to be well received,” he says.
