how do you get organised?

yummymummyoftwo

silly question but im so unorganised with the house i cannot seem to get everything done what i need to get done,i am a sahm to 2 children who are at school,younger one till 1 oclock and is hard work! how does everyone else manage and i cant?

Millie's_Mum

Lists work for me I write down all the things I need to do and below that all the things I would like to get done, being realistic about how much I will actually achieve in a day.

Take it in small chunks and do a couple of hours at a time and reward yourself with a short break in between tackling jobs and don't beat yourself up about not getting it all done, I find that there is only really me that notices whether its all clean and tidy.r

bargainbird

Lists, Lists and more lists.....

Also if there is something you can do before bed ie lunch boxes, ironing uniform, do it it makes a massive differnce to the morning chaos

Spendless

have you had a look at the flylady thread in old-style?

Jo_R_2

I'm a SAHM as well, oldest just started school but youngest is only 2 and I know exactly how you feel!

I never will get everything done I need to do, I used to be rubbish and forgot appointments, things off the shopping list, etc etc...

I now have a nice big calendar on the kitchen noticeboard and write down all our appointments, kids' parties (a godsend so I don't end up doing last minute prezzie shopping in a mad panic!), where the girls are when and so on which has really helped.

I have a core 'list' of things I need to do everyday. This usually involves making beds, putting a load of washing on, folding and putting away yesterday's washing, vaccuuming downstairs and doing the washing up. I also often have to pop to the shop to pick up milk/bread or post letters, and somewhere in there have a shower, so I usually have a rough order that I do these in.

For example, beds get made as soon as I get up. Trip to the shops with DD2 after dropping DD1 off at school. Get back in, put washing on. Take dry laundry upstairs to put away, then have a shower whilst DD2 plays with toys in the bathroom sink!

The washing up usually gets done after lunch, admittedly the dinner pots usually get left til the next day but that's fine, unless OH does them when he gets in!

Packed lunches get done either straight after we pick up DD1 from school, or whilst I'm cooking tea.

The house is never tidy but the things that need to get done, get done so I worry about anything else when I have the time/inclination!

onlineid

Definitely look at the flylady thread. I joined last week and I feel it has made a difference. I don't get through everything but it gives me a bit of structure plus everyone seems very friendly over there.

Lalaladybird

If your kids are at school and you are free until 1pm then you need to get everything done in the morning. Do you work? What are your specific problems? I've got loads of ideas but maybe if you could give some more info I'll be happy to give you some suggestions

ameliarate

It's a funny thing but the people I know, including myself, who work outside the home seem to manage much better than those who are SAHMs. I wonder if it is because you don't feel the same time pressures? I was/am so organised that it actually becomes ridiculously rigid, I need two weeks notice to be spontaneous!

minimacka

ameliarate wrote: »

It's a funny thing but the people I know, including myself, who work outside the home seem to manage much better than those who are SAHMs. I wonder if it is because you don't feel the same time pressures? I was/am so organised that it actually becomes ridiculously rigid, I need two weeks notice to be spontaneous!

This is exactly what I was thinking I get up at 6.45 take dog for a walk i have 2 kids who leave the house for school at 8am and i leave for work at about 8.45 I dont get home till 5pm and i still manage to be orgainised. Sometimes it gets on top of me and i think :mad: i wish there were more hours in the day but then i just chill and think oh well it will get done. My house isnt perfect by any means but its clean and tidy. (windows need cleaning though, and the stairs havent been done for about 2 weeks:eek: ). :rotfl:

Make the most of being a sahm they soon grow up and then you will have plenty of time to catch up on your housework.

junior_j

Being a child minder to 3 childminder to 3 children , one of which has autism , in the half term i some times have all 3 of them at there home during the day..

ages

10
6
3

I get up before them , put there bowls out for breakfast , get fresh nappies out for the two youngest and choose there outfits , when they get up its breakfast within 10 minutes of being up , they watch cartoons whilst eating breakie , so i wash up anything and make there beds .

After breakfast its wash/dress/teeth
Then we do an acitivty , (me and the youngest two) the eldest reads or plays the playststation

And our day goes like this , im always one step ahead , even if it means doing everything one handed.

But at their house there is a white board on the wall (like a3 size) and i write anything on there , like , things the family is running out of , what time the kids had breakfast blah blah blah.. and i always make sure the younger two have a nap , in that time either have a break youself or just go full guns with cleaning!

Hope that helps! (im not a mum like i said occasioanlly all day childminder but mostly night childminder)
Jess x

Ishtar

As others have said, have a look at the flylady thread - this keeps me motivated. I'm a SAHM with DD at playgroup for 2.5 hours every morning and I've found that I can easily take care of most houseworky type things while she's out, leaving some of the more interesting things (like cooking, sewing) for whilst she's in.

In addition to the lists on the flylady thread, I have 'core' tasks that I make sure I do each day - these are the ones that can't be put off, such as sorting the dishwasher, making bread, you know, that kind of thing. Somedays if I manage to add one extra task I know I'm doing well!

I'm currently 21 weeks pregnant with baby No. 2 and battling tiredness - I find if I have a focus it helps me to achieve something - the list really helps!

Often, the worst thing about being a SAHM is the unending ability to beat yourself up about 'failing', or being 'unable to cope'. Neither of these things apply - being a SAHM is more demanding than many jobs (certainly more demanding than my old job - executive level PA, which was high stress and high demand), and through it's nature there can be many interruptions during the day. These can often lead to a sense of being disjointed and a feeling that you haven't managed to achieve anything - even when you have managed to do loads. Perhaps it might be useful to give yourself some time in the evening once the children are in bed to reflect on what you've achieved during the day?

Don't be too hard on yourself.
Take care
D