Are you a working parent? Tell me if this sounds familiar: After being pulled in a dozen different directions at work, you come home to a messy house, a sick kid, a frantic voicemail from a friend, and a to-do list the length of a novel. Exhausted, you wonder how other parents can possibly find enough time in a day to get everything done. It’s a helpless, horrible feeling, isn’t it? But by being deliberate in how you spend your time, you actually can balance a crazy professional life with your other responsibilities. Here’s how I’ve learned to do it:

1. Schedule everything. I know it might seem impossible at first, but try to maintain a digital calendar. If you learn more about Google Calendar, it will even allow you to create separate calendars like a workplace and family calendar. In my house, we even set up a calendar specifically for household chores.

2. Save your mental strength. No matter the stressor, our brain draws on the same well of energy. Don’t deplete your well worrying about the fact that your 6-year-old made a mess of his breakfast when you’ve got a critical project to get done at work. Find ways to replenish your well, too. I’ve started meditating, asking my spouse for help when I’m really struggling, and scheduling “me time” on my personal calendar.

3. Prioritize other people. When you feel like you’re falling behind, you can start to see big-picture things like parenting and forging friendships as tasks to check off your list. Don’t get me wrong: As a working parent, I understand it’s important to schedule things like dentist appointments and dinner parties. But when you’re home with your kids, forget those other tasks. If you’re struggling with that, try going for a walk. When I can’t get something out of my head, I find changing my environment tends to do the trick.

4. Make time for your top three. If you find yourself struggling to make enough time for everything day in and day out, you might be trying to do too much. Reserve time each month to think about your top three values. Then, match those values with tasks on your calendar. If a task doesn’t align with any of your top values, then consider cutting it from your schedule. On the flip side, if a task meets two or three of your values, you might build an entire morning or afternoon around it.

5. Ask yourself if you can act now. If you need to schedule something, then do it. But if you can solve something immediately, why wouldn’t you? For example, I receive hundreds of emails, texts, and calls every week. Instead of saying “Oh, I’ll respond to that later” — in other words, putting it on my to-do list — I try to answer them right away. Not only does doing so cut down on my stress, but it shows the people in my life that I consider them a priority.

If you feel like your life is out of control, don’t wait to hop off the hamster wheel and get back in the driver’s seat. Something as simple as an online calendar or daily meditation session might be what you’re missing. Take the time to step back, think about your priorities, and be the parent — and professional — you’ve always wanted to be.