Struggling to manage my time, I need some practical advice

MerlinMags

Maureen43 wrote: »

P.S. Colleagues at work recommended about two months ago I try ironing nothing and see if anyone notices. Nobody has noticed yet and the iron is gathering dust! Fantastic.......

Our iron only ever comes out for weddings, funerals, and to melt the plastic 'Hama' bead thingies the kids make. These kids don't even know what an iron is or what it does, but they do have M&S "non iron" shirts for school.

MerlinMags

YORKSHIRELASS wrote: »

I am feeling a bit overwhelmed at the moment and have this niggling feeling that I could be managing my life and my time a lot better.
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I sometimes feel a bit pathetic because other people work far more hours than me or have much more challenging lives and seem to manage.

Please don't feel bad. You're doing better than many people, and today's lifestyles have accelerated to a point where I believe there isn't time to get everything done. I feel overwhelmed myself, and have half as many challenges as you. I'm the one who ought to feel pathetic!

I doubt there are any time-saving tips left for you to implement, because you sound like the sort of person who just "gets on and does it". It is only the procrastinators and time-wasters who need timetables and logs (and then still fall behind). Guess which camp I fall into?

So don't worry about your efficiency and multi-tasking. Worry more about the adverse effect that stress is having on you. Now it is hard to do, but you can choose to think differently about your life, and reduce your stress levels. Having a breakdown usually helps most people reach this point. Try to force yourself to get perspective before this happens.

I believe both partners need to share the chores equally, taking into account hours of childcare as well as hours of work. No office job is half as hard work as looking after a child.

Please take it from me:
Yes, pots should be left on the draining board to dry.
Beds should be vaguely aired, but not made.

Think how many people say, "I had a wonderful childhood; the house was always spotless."

Elbow86

Somebody may have already suggested it but lists help me out! I have a notebook I carry around with me and every time I think of something that needs to be done, it is noted down. It helps me to make lists for everything - meal plans for the week and what ingredients I need for them. Jobs that need to be done on set days - soon enough routine takes over and you do things like making the bed and putting pots and pans away without even thinking of it. :-)

Melanieforum

hi,
Been there! and Im not perfect now, but I feel like I have it in hand a lot more...heres how.
Do the same as Martin would advise you to do about money-take a few hours of yr precious time and really re-examine everything. list everything you mentioned on yr email, and anything else you think could be slicker, and then give you some time to read/walk or just be with yr partner.
use paper or a tablet so you can add solution ideas that come to you later.
heres what I remember of mine as an example (your issues and solutions will prob be totally different though)
Dishwasher Emptying-when I empty, I put the things needed for the next meal our ready on the table (saves laying the table later).
Gym had to go- i just walk to work now, and run back from work twice a week (it was too faffy and stressful organising when I could get to the gym!)
Baskets- divide yr laundry straight into who it belongs to in baskets- they put it away themselves. shake wet laundry like mad before you peg it, it may well not need ironing (ask yrself are you ironing out of tradition or do the clothes really need it?)
Husbands/OH- meet them in the middle! yr one has a point about the crockery drying, it sounds harmless. but if you really value a particular thing eg a showhome sitting room- just state yr case "toys/socks/change piles out and make sure you buy flowers while yr at the petrol station, this room is precious to me". Then sit in it! wishing you a tranquil time.....

xbethanyx

http://www.flylady.net/

Take an hour out and go through this website - it saved my sanity!
I was very OCD with cleaning and everything having to be perfect. This website taught me it's ok to not have everything done and take time back for me.
It breaks everything down and you only ever have to do something for 15 minutes, then you can have 15 minutes to yourself.

Bexie

I've got 3 lists of jobs: the first is for ongoing tasks, the second for one-off jobs and the third for jobs that de-stress me, like gardening or trying out a new recipe that I can batch cook and freeze. I've also added some other relaxing things I like to do like reading and watching TV to make sure I relax. I do one of these and then pick from a one-off job or an ongoing job every day. My stress levels have dropped and it feels like I'm keeping on top of things too.