To ask for your tips on being organised?

[Strongenoug3]

I don't have kids and live alone, and I'm forever hearing about how this means by house should be spotless and everything should be smooth saving, and yet I always feel like I'm swimming against the tide without enough time to stay on top of things.

I'm out of the house most evenings & would appreciate any tips on how to keep on top of things or anything that helps keep your life more organised and less stressful.

[anxiousmotherof1]

I know you said you dont have kids but i would suggest the organized mum's method is really simple and has helped me massively !

[OhioOhioOhio]

Throw tons of stuff out. Easy. Now you don't have to tidy it.

[BonBonVoyage]

Put stuff away properly. So if you've finished your cup of tea, don't leave the cup on the counter, put it in the dishwasher. If you have a blanket for when you watch TV, fold it up as you leave the TV room, don't just leave it in a bundle on the sofa. Etc. It takes maybe 4 seconds extra but is worth it. And I echo getting rid of loads of stuff, makes a big difference

[NotMyUsualTopBilling]

Get rid of things that you don't use/need.

Try to put things away when you're finished with them instead of leaving until later.

Try to get into a routine, set days/times to do things but start small. E.g. I always wash the dishes straight after dinner at night.

When you get on top of things it's just a quick once over and much easier to keep on top of.

[Sparklesocks]

I find a list helps - if I make a list of all the jobs I need to do and work down it then it keeps me on track, I don’t forget anything and it’s satisfying to tick things off as I finish them.

[Jackshouse]

Have a set time every week to check your diary for the next couple of weeks and write a to do list.

On your phone in the notes section keep a month by month calendar of things you need to do every year eg
January
Boiler service
Helen’s birthday - 7th
Smear (2020)

February
MOT

September

• buy anti freezer
  

November

• Christmas shopping
  

Every 3 months, mark it in your diary, check you have the right clothes for the up and coming season.

[Jackshouse]

Sunday nights sort out your work clothes for the week and hang them in your wardrobe in order.

Online food shopping

[TinklyLittleLaugh]

Perhaps you need to sacrifice one evening out per week to keep the rest of your life running smoothly?

[Strongenoug3]

Thanks for these.

Perhaps you need to sacrifice one evening out per week to keep the rest of your life running smoothly? I always do have at least one evening a week in the house, but it still feels like I'm always playing catch-up rather than being on top of things. I'm seriously considering a cleaner but it's such a waste of money.

I suppose I'm asking for cheats to make things simpler.

[AlexaShutUp]

I struggle with this too, OP. I think it's all about creating routines that work and then sticking to them. And doing stuff little and often so that it doesn't mount up.

[TinklyLittleLaugh]

What are you struggling with specifically? Cleaning? Eating healthy? Life admin? Finding time to exercise?

Perhaps you are a bit like my DD who seems to believe she has to go to the gym five times a week, eat perfectly balanced vegan food every mealtime, wear cool ethically sourced (from charity shops) outfits, have a stylish immaculate flat and who also suffers from FOMO meaning she is totally incapable of turning down a bit of socialising.

Maybe you need to chill a bit and accept something has to give; there aren’t enough hours in the day.

[Popc0rn]

Marie Kondo the sh*t out of your whole house. Once everything is decluttered and has it's own place It's pretty easy to keep on top of it.

Spend 10-15 minutes a day having a quick blitz clean, set timer on your phone and just get it done.

[Strongenoug3]

What are you struggling with specifically? Cleaning? Eating healthy? Life admin? Finding time to exercise? Cleaning, I suppose. I exercise and eat well most of the time, but I definitely suffer the same way as your daughter from not being able to say no to socialising! I'm also working two demanding jobs & doing a masters, and I feel like there isn't enough hours in the day.

My mother is obsessed with cleaning & I've never wanted to be like that, but I hear so much from people how much I must enjoy having a spotless house because I don't have children. It isn't spotless. It isn't messy, and it's hoovered & the bathroom and kitchen cleaned regularly, bed sheets changed every week, but the more I do it seems the more there is to do. My friend washes her door frames down, washes her windows, polishes every surface every week, and I definitely does. I'm scared that people who are visiting me are judging the house.

[TinklyLittleLaugh]

Oh cleaning, sod the cleaning. You sound like you are doing brilliantly. Don’t beat yourself up because you don’t wash your door frames down once a week. I would imagine less than one percent of the population clean to those standards.

Get yourself some friends with lower standards. Your views have been skewed by your mother.

[NotMyUsualTopBilling]

If it'd make you feel better you could pay out for a cleaner to come in and do a one off blitz your house so you just need to worry about organising "stuff" then do little and often to keep on top of it?