Tips and Quick Questions on “How To Start Being Old Style”

YORKSHIRELASS

I think you need to decide on whats most important to you and start with that. Would you feel happier having a nice tidy house or would you feel better knowing you have cooked meals from scratch?

It depends on what sort of person you are - I find it really hard to relax if the house is really messy, I am just not one of those people who can ignore it - so to a certain level thats important for me.

I try to follow a basic flylady principle of lounge and hall on a Monday, kitchen and utility on a Tuesday, office and bathroom on a Wednesday, kids bedrooms on a Thursday and our bedroom and landing on a Friday. Even if I only manage to do a small amount this works for me, but it might not be for everyone.

I am also a devoted meal planner. This helps me to be organised and saves me money.

As for exercise, I find it a great way of having some "me" time - and its really good for you when life is really busy and stressful. When my kids were little I used to put them in the buggy and take them off for a brisk walk. Then when they were a bit older I started leaving them with hubby and jogging and this has become an essential part of my life now.

Good luck, its not easy working and having kids, just remember to be kind to yourself.

monnagran

MaddyWaddy: I have degrees in Procrastination so I can empathise. I also found Flylady a bit much but some of her ideas I have found invaluable.

Never go to bed unless you have cleared your kitchen sink and got things ready for the morning.
The kitchen timer! Set it for 10 or 15 minutes and really focus on one thing and get it done. Even 5 mins - it's amazing what you can do if you go like mad.
If you have a whole room to clear do the dot-to-dot method. Choose one area, round a chair, a coffee table, a corner or shelf, and sort it out, wipe, dust vaccuum, whatever. Then when you have another few minutes do another area. Gradually the whole room will be done.

And good enough IS good enough.

Meal planning and exercise. Mmmmmm. I've never managed it myself but I'm told it works.
x

Honeythief

You have been given some great advice here. I second the recommendation for FlyLady - even if you do find the routines a bit too much, they are a great guideline. Her 27-Fling Boogie and the fifteen minute timeslots for doing things have transformed our house. I don't follow the rest of the routines at all except for keeping our sink clean and "swishing and swiping" every time I'm in the bathroom, but I would never have done any of those things if it wasn't for FlyLady. We're at the stage now where we can have friends round for dinner and there is no extra work to do AT ALL to make the house presentable. Not perfect, but enough to not be ashamed to let other people through the door.

A slow cooker is also wonderful, as is a bread machine. How lovely it is to come home from work to a delicious stew or soup and some fresh-baked bread to go with it!

Honeythief

Forgot to add that some people (e.g. husbands!) definitely need a specific list. It's not going to work if you say "clean the kitchen" to somebody who thinks that just means "wash the dishes and leave them in the drainer". I have learned to give my husband very specific instructions, which he is happy to follow, rather than assume he will know/remember what I expect. It takes a few extra minutes at the start for me to give him the instructions and remind him that I am not asking him to do more than what I would do, but it's always worth it. No fights or hurt feelings, and the work gets done. If your husband knows that a list works for him then you're off to a flying start.

Sooetie

I'd say do what you can when you can and stop worrying.

I used to think about what I needed to do and not do it and get stressed but I have gradually got myself to do it when I think of it then it's done and then I can relax

I have 2 teenage sons and after they and their mates bowl in after football etc I just forget about it for the weekend! I am divorced so I don't have a hubby to moan at me but I do try to keep the place pretty tidy. The boys have a few chores which now they are used to they don't even think about. I'm happy that they like to have their mates round for the weekend.

Whatever you do don't worry.

Don't Worry - Be Happy

Sue x

PS. On another note I would like to know how long you can keep a curry going for. I usually make one that does 2 meals but my eldest wants me to make a really big one that he can dip into all week. How long does a curry or stew last in the fridge? I've found that if I cook extra rice and freeze it in portions in takeaway tubs it reheats really well in the micro so as they both are dab hands at micro cooking so they could do their own if I'm out.

bluebag

I AM a domestic godess!

There is some food in a cupboard.
I can see the most of the floor.
There are loads of clothes in the ironing basket.
The doors to the kids room are closed.
I have toilet roll.
I have a years supply of jelli babys.

It really isn't that hard.
Sorry to boast.

Sooetie

ROFLMAO @ bluebag

btw found a jelli baby under the sofa

bluebag

Sooetie wrote: »

ROFLMAO @ bluebag

btw found a jelli baby under the sofa

It's MINE!!!!! They taste best when covered in a light coating of fluff.

Sooetie

MINE..

Finders keepers!!

JackieRHE

Thank you MaddyWaddy for starting this thread.

I start being OS for a while then lapse, then someone comes along with a new start-up thread which pulls me back on track again.

You sound as though you have plenty on your plate without trying to change everything at once.

Would you be able to build a routine for one aspect of your life, say meal planning? If you concentrate on this for a couple of months you will cut down on shopping and food prep times as you will be able to bulk cook, budget and throw away less food.

When you have this entrenched into your life and are getting the benefit, start with the next aspect you want to tackle.

If you try to do it all at once you will have all the hard work at once and never get to the reward.