Anyone want to join me in becoming more efficient this Autumn?

[Thatsnotmybookworm]

Would anyone like to join me in a thread to encourage ourselves to be more efficient and organised this Autumn?
I'm about to return to work after maternity leave, and I've really enjoyed how organised and (reasonably) calm my life has felt over the past couple of months; I would really like to hang on to that state when I'm back at work, but I'll need to be pretty efficient to manage it; I'll need to figure out lots of shortcuts I think . Time is going to be my most precious resource and I need to manage it accordingly!
Would love some company on my journey

Can I join? I work full time but over four days - although, over the last 15 weeks, I have been averaging 70 hours a week. Last weekend was the first I haven't worked in months.

My two eldest have just gone back to uni so my morning routine really needs sorting out. My lovely labrador needs a good walk before I leave for work at 745am and I often don't get back till 745pm so need to get organised so I'm not panicking about what to wear and what's for tea. (Btw I do have another DC so DDog isn't alone all day!)

Plus, my two eldest DC helped out quite a bit at home so that will revert back to me. We moved home last September into an apartment which needed a lot of work doing to it. Most of the work is done and habitable but I don't have one room that is finished (none of them actually have curtains ) so I need to stop dithering about and starting doing things. DH and I started doing a list of outstanding work at the start of the summer but it was so long and depressing we stopped!

I have got a week off starting tomorrow (but am away Thursday and Friday) so I am going to pinpoint one room and work on that room until it is finished.

Hi @HoveringHobbit - I think that can be a massive problem with lists - they sometimes make it just look too overwhelming. Think it is a v good approach to just choose one area and get stuck in! Although, would gently suggest that if you’ve been working 70hr weeks a good portion of your week off should be allocated to sleep/Netflix/long baths etc!

Well I had a run of two good morning school runs then messed it all up today by getting up late and being terribly grumpy with everyone - I sensibly put myself to bed at 9pm last night, due to stinking cold, but then just couldn’t sleep and was past 1am by the time I actually fell asleep...

Think I will try and concentrate on decluttering today; normally gives me a satisfying feeling of accomplishment. Just downloaded ‘Decluttering at the Speed of Life’ to my kindle - I loved her other book so hoping this one is good too.

Oh my goodness; I'm the OP, I started this thread because I needed to be more efficient going back to work after maternity leave, got busy back at work and completely forgot about it.
Is it too late to get it going again I wonder? I'm going to try because I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed with everything at the minute, and particularly with the mental load of it all, so I think I need something to make me feel a little more in control.
I need to make a list for getting organised for Christmas. And I need to make some hair and beauty appointments for the run up to Christmas too.

Please keep the thread going. I haven’t contributed but find it very motivating!!
While the baby and toddler nap (together for the first time!!) I’ve just put away three baskets of laundry and taken out a pile of clothes that are too small for DS1 from his wardrobe. I’ve also got out the next size up for DS2 an found two packs of nappies in the wardrobe that I’m going to finally use this time round .

Will do @Chunkymonkey123, and please do join in whenever you get the time!

Sounds like a productive day for you, unfortunately my toddler had stopped napping before baby arrived so I never got the benefit of dual naps .

Today, I have ordered some Christmas decorations online along with some items for my bedroom (redecoration is ongoing). I'm dying to order some lovely new bedlinen too but I really need to declutter the room so I've decided the bed linen will be my reward when the decluttering is done .
I've also made a note to check the Xmas boxes in the attic at the weekend as I think I have some Xmas cards from last year, and I'm determined to be organised about those this year instead of just posting them in time for the last pre Xmas post .
I'm also thinking about how to squeeze in a little bit of extra time in the office every day, even fifteen minutes would make a big difference.

Checked the boxes in the attic today and found just a few leftover Xmas cards so I'll have to buy more this week, and hopefully get cracking on them then. I've also taken down the Xmas outfits I put on sale last year for DD for this Xmas so I'll have those ready to go for December 1st.

Made a tagine today for tomorrow and the next day, and a pot of soup that I have portioned out and put two double portions into the freezer. Also rearranged a couple of shelves in the playroom so have some free space there now; no doubt it will be filled by Boxing Day.

Sounds like you’re doing well!

I’ve gone through yet more baby clothes and made a big pot of chilli to freeze.
I’ve also read through all the TOMM but not actually started cleaning yet!

I have also made a list of sensible Christmas gifts for relatives as I don’t want the DCs to have lots of stuff they don’t need filling up the house. Going to town tomorrow to make a head start on Christmas stocking gifts and buy a couple of extra winter clothes.