Small changes that make your life easier and more efficient

[FairyFestival]

I have just bought a cordless vacuum and it has changed my life. It is so much quicker to clean and takes up much less space.

So I am looking for ideas to make my life efficient and stream lined with little effort.

Have you got a spray mop?

I've recently started doing packed lunches the lunch before (4) and this have given me around 30 more minutes in bed each morning. Winner.

The night before, obv 🙄

Yes, I have a spray mop. I was thinking the cross wave, but decided the cordless would be more useful as I can do the stairs as well.

I only make my packed lunch these days so doesn't take long, but will try doing it the day before for five extra mins in bed

Giving up ironing. Saved hours of endless drudgery.... I don’t miss it 😀

I don't iron.
On a Sunday I make 5x overnight oats (whilst I make a brew) and fridge them for the week.
I repack swim stuff straight back into a swim bag.
I keep kids uniform in a storage basket in the living room so they don't disappear upstairs to dress and get distracted.
I've sort of streamlined meals so I use similar ingredients as the base (corgette, peppers, onion, chorizo and cheese) and pimp up from there.
I shower before bed if I need to hairwash, then it dries overnight. Shower in the m9rning with top knot if no hair washing needed.

I have more!

Every regular bill is direct debit.
I do an online shop Monday work lunchbreak then collect on my way home.

I have been trying to do more one pot meals, especially if I can cook ahead.

I've started setting my alarm 15 mins earlier, honestly the difference. In the extra 15 mins I can empty the dishwasher (instead of leaving in until after work) run the cordless hoover around empty washing machine after putting it on when we go to bed - makes coming in form work to make the dinner feel so much less rushed.

I’m not sure I have the discipline to get up earlier, although I like the idea of not having to rush around after work.

Direct debits go out the day after pay day.
Shopping delivery comes every Saturday between 12-1.
Mail is dealt with and filed as soon as it comes.
I have reminders set 1 week before a birthday so I have time to get a card and present.
Wash and dry 1 load of laundry monday-Friday. Iron and put away Saturday while catching up on telly.
Clean the basics daily so it takes roughly an hour to do a deeper clean on the weekend.

Have weekly food shop delivered, vileda spray mop, only iron shirts, daily wash, everything on a calendar

Cordless vacuum
Online shopping
Batch cooking of sauces/currys
Online banking
Dishwasher
I don't iron anything
Both my kids now driving themselves.

If you have fussy eaters , like mine - buy pasta in bulk. Saves slaving away over a hot stove and serving something nutritious god forbid .
Winner winner pasta dinner

Ha! Probably should have said my dc do their own washing and often cook dinner as well. Started that habit very early.

Subsription laundry tablets and loo roll

Where do you get those @NChangeForNoReason?

Have less stuff

Following on from that, anything that you’re always tidying up that never gets used, goes in the bin (I have preschoolers and sometimes the best part of a toy is just getting it out and then playing with something else)

One washing basket upstairs, one downstairs - socks etc always come off downstairs so best have a receptacle downstairs. I never separate anything to wash, everything goes I together except kitchen cloths etc.

‘Touch it once’ - mail, groceries, things coming into the house. I naturally just move things place to place until they find their home so this minimises that.

@FairyFestival

Laundry
Smol : smol.refr.cc/clairebailey

Toiletroll

Who gives a crap : www.talkable.com/x/aK9vyx

Dog food

Tails : tails.com/gb/friends-referral/MATTH85Q/

I would highly recommend all of these products and use them myself. I've added my referral codes however they all are on trials so please don't feel obliged!!!

Only shack up with a bloke who gives as much of a crap about this stuff as you do #toptip

If you leave a room, take something with you. If you enter a room, put something away.

That has made me more efficient. Got it from here!

Outofmilk app for grocery shopping.

Ounce

Got this from here:
When putting away bed clothes, fold and put a full set, ie double duvet cover, sheet and pillow case into the other pillow case. It's a very neat way to store bedclothes, saves space and time looking for matching pillow cases /sheets.

empty washing machine after putting it on when we go to bed

One thing that sticks in my mind from fire safety visits/ lectures/ broadcasts is that washing machines are dangerously prone to catching fire. You should never leave one on when you’re out of the house. And you should never leave one on overnight if you’re in the house. If you must do so, ensure you’re sleeping on the same floor as the machine and can get out quickly.

(I really don’t like these unasked for in-post links!)