How to organise everything in my life OS?

Sublime_2

I used to be more os, a couple of years ago, but its slipped a bit.

I use my slow cooker, and breadmaker a lot, still. Nothing like HM bread, although it gets eaten too quickly here. Must get back into os ways.

Threw my turkey carcass away, at christmas, instead of making stock with it. One thing I'd never have done 18 months ago. What a waste!

Don't beat yourself up about trying to do everything. Sounds like you've got plenty on. Need to pull my socks up myself!

Why not try, a slow cooker, and/or a breadmaker. Its a way of being os without too much effort, for me.

I keep planning to grow veg, got a big garden too at the minute, but have only got around to herbs in tubs so far.

zippychick

ive merged this with a thread on organising your life to fit OS - or OS to fit your life I think the most important thing is to suit your own family,personal needs, circumstances, resources and budget.

Here are some other threads which may also help

What's your daily routine ...

Housework routine

being organised

Organising Your Week - The Way Granny Used To Do It

keeping house like my mum

Can you do OS and work full time?

thanks
Zip

leanneh

Hi

I'm new to the forum and have been looking at the weekly flylady and meal planning threads. I have a 9 month old son, 2 border collies and work 3 days a week.

I am desperately trying to make changes such as learning to cook, budget and keep the house clean and tidy but often I feel overwhelmed!!

I have lived with my partner for around 10 years and we have both always been lazy when it comes to cleaning and cooking. NOw i have my little boy I suddenly want to be a domestic goddess but boy am I struggling!!

I like the idea of flylady but when I'm working (Mon - Weds) I don't have time to even do level 1 so then I feel I have to cram it all into 4 days.

Does anyone have any tips / suggestions to help me with the housework, cooking and general household management?????

tootoo

Hi there,
I'm fairly new to all this too.
Some days I feel like I've taken on too much (flylady, meal planning, grocery challenge etc.) but baby steps is the key.
For the housework I have done my own plan (of sorts) 3 levels for each room. As long as I do level one for each room I'm happy, if I manage all level 2 and any of level it's great! It does seems to get easier once you're on top if it. Some weeks I fly through it and others (if my 15 month old isn't very well) I barely seem to be able to anything.
I'm sure the true oldstylers will give you some great pointers, but I find a few steps at a time the best for me and also writing everything down.
I meal plan and do a shopping list to this (actually easier than just thinking of what you need too!).
good luck
Tootoo

Aarons_mummy

It's hard to get started but once you have a routine it'll slot into place. If you find doing a monthly meal planner too much could you start with a weekly one? Means it's not as much work as doing a full month in one go and once you're organised progress to a monthly/2 weekly one.

On the cleaning front can you and your partner do little bits and pieces during the TV adverts, you'd be suprised how much you can fit in, even just spending 15 minutes or half an hour on the days you're working getting little bits and bobs done once you get to your days off you can spend maybe an hour doing things, when the little one is napping set yourself a timer and go round doing things as. When you brush your teeth in the morning wipe the bathroom surfaces and chuck bleach down the toilet, 5 minutes and one less job to be done.

Wipe the kitchen units when you do the dishes or load the dishwasher, sweep the floor in an ad break, dust the living room while a TV prog is on so you're not doing loads in one go is how I'd do little things but it'll make a big difference.

For cooking meals maybe set aside a day on the weekend once the shopping is done to cook meals for the week and freeze so they're easy to put in just like having a ready meal and less washing up to do.

Just a few ideas

CH27

Being tidy is a mindset.
Never leave a room empty handed. There's always something to be put away.
Always wipe your cooker & kitchen units over after your evening meal. It stops them getting too dirty.

purpleheather2810

Prioritise. Do what is absolutely essential and then anything else is a bonus. It's hard learning to manage a household and most of us haven't got there yet As far as cleaning goes I would concentrate on the floors and anything your baby boy can reach. Try and do a little bit every day even it is just a quick wipe. Don't be a perfectionist, remember "Something is better than nothing!" Make a basic meal plan for the week of quick easy meals such as pasta, jacket potatoes, etc. Consider making something like a basic pasta sauce at the weekend, day off or after your son has gone to bed and then freeze in portions for days you are at work. As you get in the swing of it you could batch cook all sorts of things and then you will have something in the freezer for cba days lol. Honestly just do what you can and most importantly enjoy being with your son!

snookey

Hi join us on the my home is a mess. We are all in the same boat with housework.

zippychick

Hi there, welcome to OS

i think the key is to start out with baby steps and don't overwhelm yourself. Start with one thing, then get the hang of that and build it up

Trying to think what threads would be useful for you

How to organise everything in my life OS

OS and working full time

tips and quick questions on how to start out being OS

meal planning - where do i start?

im sure there are more threads but its a little late for my brain !

Ill merge this later - hope it helps

Zip

pumpkinlife

Substitute two dogs for two cats for your dogs and it sounds like you are in the position I was in a year or so ago. I am only just beginning to feel I have a handle on things.

Firstly, I really made an effort to declutter (it took several months and I am still at it). We were absolutely ruthless and now have about 1/3 less stuff in total. All of our excess crockery, glasses, cutlery and saucepans went - because then they couldn't be used and stacked up, the washing up had to be done if you wanted to be able to eat/cook. Ditto our clothing, linen cupboard (no huge laundry piles), art and craft stash, our son's toys (how many sets of Lego, bricks and toy cars does a toddler really need?) and anything else I was keeping 'just in case'. I actually get a lot more cooking and crafting done than I did when I was fully kitted out for it!

Once there is less stuff to maintain, it is a lot easier to actually do the day to day cleaning without feeling completely overwhelmed. We do a 'blitz Friday' where we spend an hour together hoovering, dusting, wiping down cupboards etc. I do last nights washing up whilst the coffee is brewing and the washing machine is on, first thing in the morning - just use little pockets of time as productively as possible. It will get a lot easier as your son grows too, my house was a war zone until our son was at least 14 months old. You are probably doing much better holding it all together than you think.