Help me to become organised!

amalis

I am really not organised and I am suffering from it. I work full time, live with husband who works long hours, no kids. I never have enough time for anything: my house is in constant mess (not huge, just 2 beds), never have time for myself, not meeting deadlines at work..What will I do when I will have kids (not in plans yet, but anyway)? Some women seems to be successful at work, always look fab, their homes are tidy, dinner is ready. Can anyone give me any advice where to start?

lilian1977

I have the same problem as you, I'm constantly leaving stuff everywhere, nothing is ever tidy. I've been blaming it on the fact that we don't have enough storage yet as we've only been in our new house for 5 months, but I still could try harder!

I do keep meaning to follow the Flylady thread, in fact I have it all printed out but it's so hard to be bothered when you don't get in from work until 7pm and have to make your tea...

It's here if you're interested: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2618131

Good luck!

gonzo127

best bit of advice is a list and rota - i know it seems silly but it can really help get you focused, you will also find out your OH 'should' find it easier as he will not have to ask what needs doing or what you want doing as it will be up on the list

have you also thought about spending some time at the weekend doing things like bulk cooking - just spend 2-3 hours one day and make as many meals as you can for the week after and then put them in some tubs and freeze them so all you have to do for the week is re-heat these meals (instant home made ready meals) and so save yourself time during the week to do the other jobs

SkintGypsy

I am the same at home, although at work I am remarkably organised (apart from my desk drawers). I have started flying, but it seems the more I do the more needs doing. It's a never ending cycle and a full time job in itself. I love lists, so now have an app for my phone to concentrate the mind and dictate what jobs I need to do. It works for me!

ciderwithrosie_2

amalis wrote: »

I am really not organised and I am suffering from it. I work full time, live with husband who works long hours, no kids. I never have enough time for anything: my house is in constant mess (not huge, just 2 beds), never have time for myself, not meeting deadlines at work..What will I do when I will have kids (not in plans yet, but anyway)? Some women seems to be successful at work, always look fab, their homes are tidy, dinner is ready. Can anyone give me any advice where to start?

As a start maybe you could keep a bit of a log for a few days of just how you use your time, both at home and work, this way you will be able to see where you might have time to fit in other things, combine tasks etc. I have realised that some people just don't have much concept of how long things will take them to do and they get distracted easily, that's just how they are. My best friend is very like this. She's always late for things and very disorganised with mealtimes, shopping and housework.

I was not the most disciplined of people either but I've had to become so as I've got 3 kids and a full on job and I also find keeping a rolling to do list at work helps.

I hate preparing a meal, I don't mind waiting for it to cook, just prepping veg etc, so I do it as fast as possible and wash up as I go along, whilst food is cooking, I bung on some washing, take out the rubbish, run the hoover round.

Good luck CWR

Pee

I'm going to read with interest, but I have to say i think the really organised women who seem to be able to do everything perfectly usually have a lot of help.

Primrose

I need to be more organised too. Before reading your thread I've just started another thread on the Old Style section on sharing hints on how to save time and effort, so perhaps somebody can combine them if that makes more sense.

amalis

Thx for the good advice! I think my main problem is that I am too slow in doing things (I have very low energy level generally), I am easily distracted (especially at work) and I do daydream alot:rotfl: I know I am not a little girl anymore to daydream, but can't help it. Maybe it is some type of concentration problem.

amalis

Primrose wrote: »

I need to be more organised too. Before reading your thread I've just started another thread on the Old Style section on sharing hints on how to save time and effort, so perhaps somebody can combine them if that makes more sense.

Thant would be a good idea. I would prefer for the thread to stay here because I felt that in Old Style board they are more about cooking and home stuff, but I need to get organised at work and generally as well.

kittendothroar

amalis wrote: »

Thx for the good advice! I think my main problem is that I am too slow in doing things (I have very low energy level generally), I am easily distracted (especially at work) and I do daydream alot:rotfl: I know I am not a little girl anymore to daydream, but can't help it. Maybe it is some type of concentration problem.

Are you me in disguise? :rotfl:

Very similar situation to you at home, both of us work but not married yet, no kids yet, he does alright hours, I do godawful shifts, have just come off 2 night shifts and not been to bed yet, can't sleep but do I do something productive? Nope! ...Though I have done 2 washloads and tried repeatedly to remove an ink stain from my uniform but to no success. This has taken me 4 hours. There is still washing up to be done which is on the counter and the flat could do with a tidy. My mum was never organised so I blame her for my shortfallings lol! I've just accepted my home will never look like a showroom because life isn't like that. Much more fun things to do than cleaning :cool:

ciderwithrosie_2

amalis wrote: »

Thx for the good advice! I think my main problem is that I am too slow in doing things (I have very low energy level generally), I am easily distracted (especially at work) and I do daydream alot:rotfl: I know I am not a little girl anymore to daydream, but can't help it. Maybe it is some type of concentration problem.

Is the energy level/daydreaming thing a recent development or have you always been like it? Have you had a health check recently, what's your diet like? (without wanting to worry you unecessarily I would be more concerned by this than just needing to be organised). What does your husband say about it?, tbh, a lot of blokes I know don't see mess the same way and can't see what the fuss is.

Maybe you could set yourself a few small achievable goals to start with and build on that. Find ways to cut down tasks so you're not setting yourself up to fail. I don't bother ironing my stuff I wear to work, I bung it in the tumble dryer with a damp cloth whilst I go and shower. Make up (sadly needed at my age), I've got down to under 5 minutes using cream blusher, mineral powder, bit of brown eyeliner, mascara and a dab of benetint on my lips. Hair, if I haven't got time to wash and dry it that day it goes up in a bun.

I don't know what your job is but perhaps you could give yourself 5 or 10 minutes at the start of each day to review what needs doing and make a list of priorities. If you have a big pile of filing for example, then try and do a couple more each day than is coming in so that you are clearing it. Do you enjoy your job or wish you were doing something else?