Am I crazy to be contemplating spending a child (and DH) free day cleaning and organising? What would you do with anday to yourself?

[Penguin13]

For the first time in months I will have the house to myself tomorrow for pretty much the whole day. I am beyond excited about this but I am struggling to decide how to spend the day and am desperate to make the most of this incredibly rare opportunity. I have mainly been craving time alone, regardless of how it is spent, but even so....(I am fully aware this falls squarely in the category of 'nice problem to have' !!)

I have been desperately trying to get on top of the house (team TOMM for any fellow followers) but my main problem is clutter everywhere and general disprganisation. I thought having several hours to myself would be a great opportunity to make a head start. The downside to this is how much could I realistically get done in a day and will I end the day feeling like I haven't achieved anything. Also I think it's meant to be hot! Pros are that this could have a positive impact on stress going forward as the state of the house drives me a bit nuts.

Option number two is to get stuck into a craft project. I am into sewing but rarely do any as 5 and 3 yo make it hard to get the machine out in the day and I always seem to knackered by the end of the day. Could try to make myself something although nothing too fitted as have been packing on the lockdown pounds

Option 3 is stand in house for several hours listening to the sound of people not asking me stuff every few seconds and just being so very THERE all the time

What would you do? Any tips on maximising my time? I don't know when I will have this time again!!

Aaaaaargh massive typo right in the title . That's really going to irritate me.

I would cycle out to a shady spot by the river with lunch and a book, then spend the last hour or 2 before they get back enjoying the silence.

If you like sewing, shut yourself away with that. Ignore the rest of the house.

Get up early, do as much as you can by midday, then spend the rest of the day in the garden.

I don't think cleaning/sorting etc is a waste of time. You can watch a movie or box set/play loud music while you do it and you'll feel so much happier in your space when you've got it the way you want it.
Plus you can still enjoy the quiet while you do it, if you prefer.

When mine were your kids ages I would have slept, sunbathed and watched Netflix and eaten something nice in silence. Now as I have a little more time to myself I would choose one room and declutter/spring clean as I find pleasure in having a tidy room. Would only spend half the day tho, the other half in the garden as it's meant to be gorgeous (sitting in it not gardening)

Last Mother’s Day my DH took the kids out for 3 hours to give me a good lie in, and I spent it reorganising my wardrobe. It was blissful! So peaceful, no interruptions, finally got it sorted. Snacked on biscuits without having to share them. Listened to music with inappropriate lyrics and sang loudly without a toddler telling me to shhh.

Felt really happy every time I opened the wardrobe door for months :)

Don’t start the day with a vague “right! Time to get organised!”. Pick an area that really bothers you

....and just focus on that. Get some nice snacks in. Enjoy!

I would do as much cleaning and sorting as I could in the morning then spend the afternoon doing something for me. A morning should really allow you to tackle most of the clutter and as someone who has been spending baby's nap time doing that lately, I feel so much better.

How long will you have op? I'd definitely do the cleaning and organising! I just can't relax in a disorganised and cluttered home so sorting it would make me feel load better. Also it will make cleaning easier generally so free up more time in the long run. I'd spend today forming a realistic plan of action!

Definitely agree sorting and cleaning isn't a waste, it's just more that it always seems to take way longer than I think it's going to, so how much will I achieve?I tend to get up early anyway as the girls wake between 6 and 6.30 so no worries I will accidentally sleep in!

I had the day to myself yesterday as DS back at school. I spring cleaned the whole house. It made me very happy.
I have 11 days left of peace before the summer holidays. Tomorrow will be a sunbathing day

Yes, pick a small area that bothers you. Try and achieve it today. Tomorrow watch all 4 seasons of this is us on amazon. Its TV perfection.

I'd start now and do the morning, even if you haven't got the peace yet, just make a start. There's a lot you can do in the morning than an afternoon it feels. Then have lunch and have the afternoon doing something just for me.

Me it would be the last of us 2. Can't play it yet because my kid is just there all the time atm.

I envy you

Some fab ideas of making the most of my day. Not exactly sure how long I will have but DH did say once the girls are up and dressed they will leave pretty much straight away. Choosing an area to focus on is a good shout and I love the idea of watching a movie while working.

I literally did a little happy dance when DH suggested taking the day off. I need this!

Sure you'll achieve loads if you just crack on and don't procrastinate.
Get a big black bag and full it with broken toys / crap, blitz the dc wardrobe for too small clothes to pass on, go through the kitchen cupboards for out of date food / broken china, blitz the bathroom for half used bottles of toiletries you don't want. That's only 2 hours work but will make a HUGE difference.
Spend the rest of the day watching a box set / sunbathing / dancing in the kitchen. Enjoy!

Oooooh starting today is genius. The girls even like to 'help' with the cleaning.

Thanks for the recc Ohio! I have heard good things about This is Us.

I'd do half and half. Sorting/cleaning in the morning, then something fun like sewing in the pm.

You're right Darkest. I can do this! Definitely going to do what I can today to give myself a head start too.

I like the idea of blitzing in the morning then relaxing in the pm although I may find I am so into it that I want to just keep going.

Any film reccs? I love all kinds of different things. A tearjerker would be fab actually - I feel like I need a good sob to let it all out!

I'd make a huge long list of things to do .... and then enjoy not doing any of them Silence is golden.

As a massive introvert I cannot tell you how much I am looking forward to being alone with my thoughts.

I would spend at least some of the day cleaning and tidying. I used to do most of it on my days off work while DH was at work and DC were at school. Obviously, there hasn't been such a day in 3 months and I am trying to work and teach and cleaning just has not really happened. I would also listen to loud music while tidying because there has not been chance to do that, and watch tv because I have watched 4 pre-recorded programmes since lockdown began.

De-cluttering is a process, there’re good threads on it.

A day is a good chunk of time to do quite a bit, could plan where you’ll put the ‘outgoing’ stuff so it won’t be hanging around in the bit you’re trying to clear.

Ohio, you have made my DAY by saying This Is Us is on Amazon! I watched it avidly then it just ended on whatever channel I was watching on, and I was gutted!! I’ve got amazon, so that’s today sorted! Thank you 😊

Yes, I always think about how long it's going to take to do their rooms, then I realise they can do a lot themselves. I'd definitely start today. Just throw everything away! Tomorrow be finished by lunch time. Buy some nice snacks from M&S and chill with a programme.