How to organise everything in my life OS?

leanneh

Thanks everyone for your tips - really helpful. I have made sure I wiped the kitchen sides quick after dinner and I concentrated on floors - hoovered lounge and swept kitchen floor. Definitely need to prioritise and not be a perfectionist (that's my biggest hindrance!!) I have joined the 'my house is a mess' thread so hopefully that will help.

Have started decluttering as the spare room was full of my sewing and craft stuff and now it is Caleb's nursery. Just need to continue throughout the house (my OH opened a cupboard today and all the tupperware tubs fell out!! ||They are next to be sorted!!)

I have been doing a meal planner for the week and that is making meal times a bit easier. I'm also trying to do things in small blocks - definitely cleaner and tidier than we were - think I have to accept that I'll never have a show home - not in my nature!!

titannia101

As you are both working is there anything you could "give up"/ cut down on that costs about £25-£30 a week? When we were in almost exactly the same situation as you, we gave up buying new magazines, books & CD's and I dyed my hair at home. The money we saved we used to pay for a cleaner.
It let us then concentrate on decluttering, work, meal planning and the family. Doing all this eventually meant we had less stuff to clean, spent less money on meals and had more time to spend with the children. We also had to tidy up at least once a week so the cleaner could clean which was a good discipline.
I guess it depends what you are prepared to give up and accepting that not everyone is cut out to be a domestic goddess!
Best wishes

leanneh

Unfortunately we don't really have anything we can cut out and can't afford £25 a week - my other half was made redundant when I was pregnant and only now has secured a full time job. So for a long time money has been very tight - has certainly made me realise how much things cost etc!! So until we have a bit more money will just have to muddle on!!

oldtractor

Welcome to the board. Nothing to add really,except do things in 15 minute slots,dont overwhelm yourself,de-clutter if theres things you dont use or need around the place. Less is more as they say. With regard to cooking learn one thing a week and master it before moving on. eg learn to make porridge. great for breakfas or supper. you make it as runny or as thick as you like,with just water or half and half milk and water or just milk. see what suits you. make i everyday for a week and you'll become really profficient. then choose something else,eg a fruit salad or fish pie. make it a couple of times and when you feel confident add another dish to your reportoir and before you kmnow it you will have lots of meals you can make. include home made soup scones and cake. theres Twinks hobnobs and also bread. then you can do jam and marmalade and before you know it you'll be growing your own and keeping hens too. Enjoy, its good fun and very rewarding. remember,make haste slowly,dont burn out,and take little steps toward the big goal,that way lies success.

barneydee_2

hi
I am trying to decluter but it is very hard with my other half, he will not throw away anything, he is still wearing sweatshirts,T-shirts he's had for as long as I have known him(28years) :eek: he is a skip diver, I should not knock this as over the years he has saved us a lot of money, and he is very good at haggling for discounts in shops when he is paying with cash. But when I need to clear out I have to do it on days when he is at work and I'm not because when I through enything out he will go through the bags and pull out things :mad: dose anyone have the same problem? when my dd's were little and there were skip's in the area they would say, Oh no we hope dad dose'nt see it,:rotfl:But saying that he sometime comes up trumps.

Barneydee

dandy-candy

As I type I am back in bed in my PJ's. I WAS up at 7.30am and downstairs pinning the curtain linings that need taking up, but then I just ran out of oomph. I should be pulling out the sewing machine and finishing them, driving the heaps of cardboard from my daughters new wardrobe to the recycling depot, doing a food shop, planning lunch - never mind dinner! I just feel like someone pulled my plug out

Normally I love my OS bits and pieces and feel good for being organised but today it suddenly feels like a heavy chore.

Can someone give me a kick start? Do you get days like this too? What get's you up and going again?

little_miss_sunshine_3

I know exactly how you feel!

I have been clearing out a big raised bed at a the back of the garden (was full of over grown bushes) wanting to grow some veggies in it

I have now only got a bit left to do but I keep dragging it out, in my 3rd week of the school holidays and it's still not finished! :mad:

mags50_2

Sorry I haven't any quick-fixes but I can sympathise with you.

I accept the fact that I can't always be 'on the go' (especially as I'm getting older!) and so do whatever my body is telling me to do... i.e. having a sit down, going back to bed for an hour if possible or whatever makes me feel better at the time.

I know that I don't always feel like it and so make up for it at other times...like cleaning/tidying the house from top to bottom, decluttering etc. I also find that if there is anything 'mega' important to do, I seem to find the energy to do it from somewhere!

Life in general is hard work anyway, and things we don't think affect us do....so , all I can suggest....is don't feel bad about not getting everything done, most of it will be there tomorrow.

oooo...all that sounded a bit deep lol ....others will come along with much more practical ideas I'm sure

take care of yourself...there's only one 'you'

louisewh123

For the past two weeks I have been working all day then working on the house all night. I didn't stop all weekend and even roped my Mom into coming over and cleaning the kitchen with me and got my Dad round to do some jobs! ( my parents are so cool )

I said to my Mom that I needed the motivation to keep sticking to it and get everything done and her advice was "just get off you backside and do it" So that is what I have done! )

So come on Dandy, get up and get something done. You can do it, you just need that initial push xx

toddles*

being 8+ months pregnant, I can definaltey sympathise with you all. I have more jobs than ever to do to get the house ready for LOs arrival. But ZERO energy. Im finding the best approach is to do about 20 mins work, then rest for 20 mins, then 20 mins more work, the rest etc etc. Resting usually means coming on here or watching some rubbish Ive taped off the TV from the previous night.
It works itself out in the end, dont be too hard on yourself.