Can you do OS and work full time too?

Minihauk

Hi, Another Newbie here.
I have the same problem, but this forum is so helpful. Although this is my first post I have picked up lots of tips to help.
I find my slow cooker invaluable. I try to wash as soon as I have a full load, and if not possible to dry out on the line, I empty and hang on airers as soon as finished to minimise ironing.
Good luck!

nimbo

it can be really hjard to keep on top of it when working full time (hark at me who gave in and had a takeaway this week!!!!) but i have ot say the flylady idea of a quick sesh of cleaning really helps me along....

each week ihave a must see TV programme, and at the moment it's Shameless, bit i try to see how much of the washing up i can get done in the adverts, or if i can hoover the front room, and that way i get the little bits done that mount up...

that way whn i am dusting/picking up or even cleaning the inside of the windows than i can still watch my programme...

xx_Jo_xx

hi there,

Im fairly new on here, but I work full time and always have done and have a 7 year old son. Im a single parent though, so no-one to share the chores and responsibility. I also have to find time for all the DIY, garden, cleaning cars, and all the other bits and pieces some ladies can luckily pass on to another half!

It is about being organised and believe me, I am far from perfect!! But over the last 2-3 weeks, I've discovered the Flylady thread and have found it completely invaluable!! i have lists for everything and do set chores each day, either in the morning before I go to work and then some in the evening as I am cooking tea etc.

It gives me the motivation to do it during the week, as like someone said - when you get in and sit down......its too late!! I would never get up again. I plan my meals in advance so I know what Im having at night, and know what I need to do when I get in.

Its helped so much and to be honest is saving me a fortune - no more readymeals and takeaways in my house!! My house is seeing the benefits too!

I am yet to pluck up the courage to leave my slow cooker on all day as I am out of the house from 8.30 till 6pm. I make extra at night to take some to work for me the next day for lunch. I will also use this time to pre-prepare what I can for the next night to save me a bit of time the following day.

To be honest, Im still at the stage where I dont really get a chance to sit down before bed time but once I get into a better routine am hopeful that will change!!! x

Lizalu

I think the honest answer is that it's not easy.

I would stress the above that mealplanning really is the key, and try to do some prep for the meal before you set off on a morning. Having a plan in my mind about what to cook when I get home makes everything seem a lot less stressful. It also means we waste very little food. We eat out or get a takeaway probably once a week, but every other meal is made from scratch by me, and very healthy. We also make cereal bars, rocky road, biscuits on a Sunday and these last the week for snacks at and after work.

While I've got the OS food sorted, I really can't advise you on the cleaning front I'm afraid, I'm really very bad at it. But on the advice on this thread I'll recommit myself to the Flylady and get the OH involved in it too... we'll see how long it lasts!

ascot64

I find meal planning for a whole month is easier than a week at a time. I then do a massive online shop once a month for everything except fruit veg and milk.

In my plan I also plan what needs doing that evening whilst cooking the meal. eg making soup/muffins etc. I try and do just one extra thing each day as I find this less exhausting than having a baking day at the weekend. Weekends are for having a rest!

Eg tonight I am doing Toad in the Hole. Whilst that is in the oven I shall make soup for tomorrows packed lunches and Breadmaker rolls to go with it.
Last night whilst HM Oven chips were cooking I made brownies and pasta with tomatoes and bacon that went into todays lunches.

Like the others I try as often as possible to batch cook and freeze but I mainly do this whilst cooking that nights meal than at another time.

Last week I was so tired from a party I had thrown for DS and his friends the previous weekend I had an entire week of eating meals from the freezer to give myself a break!

EagerLearner

Great ideas so far and as far as what I do for myself & MrEL:

Before work in the morning:

- load dishwasher & put on
- Put on clothes wash
- Review menu planner (whiteboard) so I can get any bits IF needed

After work:
- take out the finished dishes and store
- Put clothes to dry
- Clean counters in kitchen
- Round up any clothes & sling into machine
- Update food menu whiteboard if needed

I generally only food shop once per week, so keep dangerous visits to the shops to a minimum... However, my menu plan is written once a month, so that if I am buying online, I can get the main stuff. Then my weekly shop for both of us is only around the £14 mark (bread / fruit / veg / lunch stuf).

On the weekend I like to make a meal on Sunday that will also do for Monday night, as Mondays I am always exhausted at the shock of working again Sometimes a Sunday roast (then a Thai chicken stir fry on Monday) or say a pasta bake which can be split usually for both meals (for the 2 of us) and also lunches too :T

angie_baby

Hi,

Im a single mum to a 7 year old and work full time too. I agree with everyone else though, meal planning is the key. Ive still not got it down to a fine art though. And im still rubbish at cleaning. I tend to batch cook on a sunday, say if im making spag bol, i will make double the amount so i can freeze extra portions and use the rest to make up some lasanas - ob you need to make the cheese sauce too. So i know if im having a long day i can just drag one out the freezer and pop it in the micro to defrost.
Also, sarnies for DS lunch are usually made sunday and frozen, had no problems so far. And the soup for his thermos is frozen, defrosted over night and heated up in the micro in the morning, have only just got through the batches i made at xmas.
I cant really help with the cleaning, as i said im rubbish at it, but i think my main mistake (like a previous poster said) is sitting down when i get in, if i dont i get so much more done in the first hour of being in than i would doing an hour once DS is in bed.

xx_Jo_xx

Ohhhhh thats a good idea freezing the sandwiches..... I never thought of that.

The Flylady thread def helps with the cleaning side. Just follow it for a few days and see how you go. She gives you a list each evening for the following day. I start on it in the morning and then do the bulk of the chores while im cooking dinner.

Ive started getting the little one to help with his chores and Ive only been doing her lists for two weeks (was away on hol for a week in the middle) and the difference in the house is noticeable! I dont do all the tasks everyday - just a little at a time. Am getting there tho!

angie_baby

Most sarnies freeze well, i tend to make them plain, and chuck in any salad/mayo in the morning.

leiela

I commute 4 hours Daily as well as work full time and it is REALLY hard.. ugh.

Things i find that help are :-

Bulk cooking, bulk cooking , bulk cooking ... i can't stress this enough.

if you make a chill or a curry make enough for 2-3 meals and freeze it, if you don't have the freezer space pop it in the fridge it will last a few days.

I cook at the weekends, often i'll cook a bolognase sauce, freeze half as is so midweek all i need to do is cook the pasta, the other half i chuck in some kidney beans and chill and then freeze that. Thats 2 meals sorted for the days i work. At the weekend i'll often do a roast, chicken beef whatever i usually cook enough meat for 2 meals, turn the leftovers into a curry i can freeze.

If i go to the effort of cooking i ALWAYS make enough for multiple meals i never ever cook just enough for one.

Second trick, if i DO cook on a work day i use my slow cooker which i love love love. Often i just bung in a joint of meat then when i get home i toss some veg and some potatos into my steamer and let it do its bit it takes maybe 5 minutes of my time im so lazy i often don't even bother to peel the potatos no-one seems to mind i just chop them up and give them abit of a wash.

While dinners cooking i clean up around the house, i do the fly-lady's list and i've found it's really helped im only on week 2 but my house is looking better for it.

I find the trick is not not sit down when you get home, go straight to the kitchen and start dinner/cleaning, because i find once i finally sit down i don't want to get back up again and thats when things DON'T get done.

The fly-lady's thread seems hard at first but remeber it will get easier. There are 3 levels, i made a promise to myself to do AT LEAST level 1 every single day, even doing just level 1 you'll notice a huge improvement.

the first week was REALLY hard because my whole house was a disaster and every job took AGES... but this week because alot of the surface dirt/clutter is gone im finding it easier, last week it took 30minutes to clean my cooker.. this week all it needed was a damn cloth wiping over it leaving me 25 more minutes to get working on the higher levels jobs.

I also force myself to get as much done as i can in "as long as it takes dinner to cook" (20mins if i do potato's in the steamer, which is the most time consuming dinner i do in the week) However you'll be amazed at how much you CAN get done in that time...it's not long, but if you kick yourself into gear those 20 minutes can make a huge difference.