Time and hassle - tips for retaining sanity

balmaiden

A place for everything and everything in it's place.

Cook double, triple or more wherever possible.

Never stand and wait for kettle/pot to boil, always empty/ stack dishwasher or peel a couple of spuds or something. Amazing what you can achieve in a couple of minutes.

Going upstairs try not to go empty handed there is usually something that needs putting away.

balmaiden

Just posted on another thread regarding blanching veg for the freezer. Having found that we actually prefer our veg not blanched, will definately save time when preparing next years garden produce for the freezer, just wash, chop and freeze.

oystercatcher

maryb wrote: »

Redfraggle

Something similar in my case. Fill oven dishes/roasting pans with hot water and put in the oven while we eat. Enough heat to get the water really hot. I sometimes do this with clean hot water so as to have some for washing up without putting the hot water on

If I did this I would forget to wash them up and then when I next went to use the oven it would be full of cold washing up :rotfl:

funkymonkey849

oystercatcher wrote: »

If I did this I would forget to wash them up and then when I next went to use the oven it would be full of cold washing up :rotfl:

Once I was really short of time and someone was coming to the house, I piled up the dirty dishes and stuck them in the oven out of the way to clean later - of course forgot about them and next time I went to cook something in the oven I got a lovely suprrise to see the the pile of dirty dishes there :rotfl:

[Deleted User]

When we downsized our house 14 years ago my late husband used to say 'think caravan' and if it was possible hang it on the wall, or tidy it away after use.
My house is about a quarter of the size of our previous one and I really did have to chuck out quite a lot of stuff as the house just couldn't hold it all.Its creeping up again so I am decluttering this week.It's either that or I shall have to move to a bigger house again.
I also put things at the bottom of the stairs to remind me to take them up when I go,save my old joints from too much climbing up and down all day

luxor4t

My biggest & most useful tip?

The word 'NO'

It has saved me from being [STRIKE]railroaded[/STRIKE]volunteered into extra commitments, from cold-calls, from unwanted items, from guilt trips, from arguments ....

I had 3 small kids, did voluntary work, a part time job and a demanding MiL. The gentle use of 'no' saved me from sinking under all sorts of hassle and allows me to stick to my plans 20 odd years later it still works!

maryb

I would be lying if I said I had never done this!!

My oven doesn't have a galss door so I have been known to het up the oven first before discovering it!

MrsBartolozzi

On a similar note to Quasars OP, I always keep 2 carrier bags by the back door when I am doing muddy digging or weeding in the garden to put my muddy feet into when I go to answer the phone/get a drink. You do need to check that they are hole free though .

Olliebeak

JackieO wrote: »

......I also put things at the bottom of the stairs to remind me to take them up when I go,save my old joints from too much climbing up and down all day

One of my tricks too - little piles on the stairs and then nobody to go upstairs empty-handed :j. Used to get the kids to take their own stuff up.

taplady

a great thread Qasar thanks:T:T:T

I do a lot of the above

1. a place for everything and make sure it always goes back there!
2. tidy up sitting room and kitchen before bed.
3. clean toilet and sink while running a bath then do the bath when you get out.
4. put the following days laundry in the machine the night before with powder etc then it just needs turning on first thing,
5. deal with mail when it comes - dont put it off!
6. store gloves and hats etc in a big recycleable bag
7. put things at the bottom of the stairs then take it all up together.
8. cook double amounts and freeze one lot


I'll be back if I think of anything else!