What do you do to make your life easier?

uk_american

As post comes through the door each day, I pick it up once and sort it. (Previously it would have been looked at and tossed in a pile somewhere and shifted around.) Menus and other junk mail goes immediately to the recycle bin. Bills or other things to action go to the desk. Every other week the desk items get actioned and filed.

I keep a carrier bag in the wardrobe for the charity shop. As I come across something that is no longer needed/loved, into the bag it goes, immediately, rather than gathering dust, becoming clutter and waiting for an opportunity to clear out.

sparrer

After my shower and before I get out of the bath, I shower any bubbles off the curtain, wipe down the tiles with a rubber window cleaning blade and dry the taps etc with an absorbent sponge. It saves a lot of cleaning later. Also leave the shower curtain fully extended to dry for a few hours and it won't go mouldy, saving washing/replacing.

VfM4meplse

sparrer wrote: »

After my shower and before I get out of the bath, I shower any bubbles off the curtain, wipe down the tiles with a rubber window cleaning blade and dry the taps etc with an absorbent sponge. It saves a lot of cleaning later. Also leave the shower curtain fully extended to dry for a few hours and it won't go mouldy, saving washing/replacing.

Routine for me - my bathroom tiles still look new over 10 years on!

I've shoved all my "junk" into B2 so the rest of the house is clear. I'm usually awake at 4.30am and instead of reading a book whilst I listen to the World Service, I'll spend an hour on it in the morning before work and an hour afterwards and all being well will get through it before the end of the month. Anything of any value that I have no need for (mainly unwanted gifts) used to be taken to the chazzer for my convenience, but times are tough, so these items will now be sold - this is the year I start to eBay!

bluebag

I a carrier bag in my shopping trolley and put all the charity shop stuff in there through the week, then drop it off when I go for my bits of shopping.

I sort out the fridge, have a quick scan of the freezer and write a meal plan before doing an online shop.

I have a bag with all gloves,hats, umbrellas and scarves in ,so everyone can find something warm/waterproof.

IA simple sheet of A4 paper divided up in to headers for my shopping list, headed chilled, frozen, household, bakery, food cupboard so items are grouped together in the same category to make online shop simpler.

I fold sheets and duvet covers into sets in the pillowcase so it kind of makes a 'complete bedset' package, saves time collecting the bedding on bed change day.

I collect everyones laundry in a big cloth laundry bag and slide it down the stairs, saves putting my back out. I also wizz round at the same time with a carrier bag and remove all the rubbish from upstairs and fling that down after it.

I line the top of the fridge/ freezer with cling film, saves all that greasy dust that seems to lurk there.

islandgirl8

snowleopard61 wrote: »

Not exactly an organisational tip, but it certainly makes life easier: I learnt very early on in my working life that it pays to avoid office gossip, think very carefully before you speak, be cheerful and friendly all round but don't get too close to anyone at work. I've stayed out of trouble so many times this way, when things could have gone very badly wrong, e.g. I spent several months working in an office whether the other three had seriously fallen out (for reasons outside work) and two weren't speaking to the third and vice versa. Thankfully I managed to stay on OK terms with all of them, enough not to be drawn into the situation.

ETA: Avoiding the gossip does mean you tend to be out of the loop a bit, but you can't have everything!:D

I do this too! I am always out of the loop but that means that people don't gossip to me either as I never know what is going on

foxgloves

Really agree with the comment about dealing with daily post every day. I do that too. Official letters & stuff that needs action goes in intray, scrap paper/circulars sstraight into recycling bin, decent envelopes I can use for competitions, etc, removed & put in writing box. When I was working, I tried to handle each piece of paper that came onto my desk only once, rather than stacking it all up to make decisions, file, etc, later......it only means you have to sort it all out again & remind yourself what it all was....doing the same thing now I'm running the home means bills, important letters, bank statements & such get dealt with instantly & not missed. Haven't managed to pass on this technique to partner though.....he goes through his post & carefully tears all unwanted paper into neat little squares & leave it on the kitchen worktop....approximately 4 steps from the bin, lol!!

rowsew

angela110660 wrote: »

When I have been to the gym, I empty the bag of gym wear to either wash or air dry and replace it with the second set of stuff I have so I am ready to go next visit. Saves time and effort

That just reminded me - when my two were babes and I had to tow a change bag around for both of their washable nappies, washable wipes, extra clothes and another hundredweight of tosh, I always emptied out the dirty stuff and put it in the washing/nappy bucket and re-packed with new supplies AS SOON AS I GOT HOME. So that I could escape with them fast next time . As they are only 18 mths apart I took them out in the pram a lot, just for my own sanity, and this preparedness helped.
Also, I have two sets of those 4 plastic drawers tucked under the staircase, in which we have 1 for hats (changed out for Summer or Winter garb as appropriate), 1 for gloves, 1 for scarves and 2 each for the kids - one for shoes and one for school bags. The last drawer has waterproof trousers for everyone in. At this time of the year the children carry their waterproofs in their schoolbags every day as we walk, and having them has made a wet journey slightly less awful.

thehappybutterfly

Oh my god, I am so unorganised compared to you lot! Thankfully my kids are up and take care of themselves, do their own ironing etc.

• I'm deciding what to have for lunch and ironing work clothes 10 minutes before I leave for work
• I'm popping to the shops on the way home from work to decide what to make for tea
• I'm always forgetting I've got washing in the machine and having to re-wash it
• I remember appointments 10 minutes before they happen
• I have 3 tins of chicken gravy granules and 3 bottles of worcestershire sauce in the garage - I have no idea how or why........
• My Xmas tree and decs are still up.......

ETA: It just occurred to me that I have a dress for handwashing that's been in the bottom of the laundry basket for, wait for it, 3 years :eek: It's not like it's dirty socks or knickers though is it?

flubberyzing

snowleopard61 wrote: »

Not exactly an organisational tip, but it certainly makes life easier: I learnt very early on in my working life that it pays to avoid office gossip, think very carefully before you speak, be cheerful and friendly all round but don't get too close to anyone at work. I've stayed out of trouble so many times this way, when things could have gone very badly wrong, e.g. I spent several months working in an office whether the other three had seriously fallen out (for reasons outside work) and two weren't speaking to the third and vice versa. Thankfully I managed to stay on OK terms with all of them, enough not to be drawn into the situation.

ETA: Avoiding the gossip does mean you tend to be out of the loop a bit, but you can't have everything!:D

I wish someone had sat me down and told me this when I was younger! Wise words indeed. My philosophy for work these days is pretty much is "head down, mouth shut". Other things on my list for making life easier...

• Do household chores during tv adverts.
• Bulk-make sandwiches on a sunday night, then freeze them for the week ahead.
• Decide what I'm going to wear the night before. I'm virtually a vegetable in the mornings, so I set up as much as I can the night before. Including getting a cereal bowl and spoon out!
• Deal with post the day it comes in.

got-it-spend-it

thehappybutterfly wrote: »

Oh my god, I am so unorganised compared to you lot! Thankfully my kids are up and take care of themselves, do their own ironing etc.

• I'm deciding what to have for lunch and ironing work clothes 10 minutes before I leave for work
• I'm popping to the shops on the way home from work to decide what to make for tea
• I'm always forgetting I've got washing in the machine and having to re-wash it
• I remember appointments 10 minutes before they happen
• I have 3 tins of chicken gravy granules and 3 bottles of worcestershire sauce in the garage - I have no idea how or why........
• My Xmas tree and decs are still up.......

ETA: It just occurred to me that I have a dress for handwashing that's been in the bottom of the laundry basket for, wait for it, 3 years :eek: It's not like it's dirty socks or knickers though is it?

Sorry but this made me giggle :rotfl:, especially the dress in the laundry basket.

My main ones are definitely meal planning (so much less stressful), getting clothes out the night before and making sure bags are packed the night before.

I really need to get better at dealing with post as it arrives and doing an inventory of freezer/cupboards.