Give me your top 3 organisational tips

[greenleaf5]

MNers! I need your top 3 tips or hacks to keep organised. 2 DS under 3 and need to sort my life out. Thank you

@Knittedfairies

Adopt the OHIO principle (Only Handle It Once) i.e. if you get a letter, reply to it. If something needs to be put away, do it. Have a place for everything; if you want something new, decide where it's going to live before you buy it.

This is a really underrated but super helpful principle to live by. Really has cut down on my tidying time.

Second the stash of birthday cards.

I also had a stash of suitable presents for birthday parties. I looked in the sales for ones that were better spec for the budget and bulk bought.

An inventory of what's in the freezer, stuck on the front of if the freezer with a pen attached, cross off things as they're used. This means I can see if something is in there without having to rummage, things don't get forgotten about for ever more.

Kondo kondo kondo
Have a dH that does all the cooking or cleaning or laundry.
Give money, vouchers or charity donation in birthday presents.
YY yo labelled laundry baskets per person.
Shelia mail.
Robot hoover,
Children empty bits of the dishwasher
Children make their own pack lunches,
Shared calender
Get dh to get the school messages when the children join!
White board with a weekly plan. + menu plan too.
Faith in nature 5lt shampoo, conditioner, and boxes of soap.
Stockpile dressing up stuff and craft stuff.

One I wish I had done; take photos of the children’s art work and turn the photos into a
Photo book (lots of app)

Take photos and do monthly photo book,

1. Train your dc from a young age. If they can take it out of the box they’re able to put it back in, if they drop it on the floor they can pick it up. Teach them to put dirty clothes in the laundry basket when getting changed for bed, to put shoes, coats, school bags and so on where they belong (hint: they don’t belong in the middle of the floor for mum to trip over or pick up ). Get them to help with housework and meal prep, even if that’s just stirring something in a bowl or fetching you the peppers. Yes, I know sometimes it’s just easier to do it yourself but IMO if you don’t start when they’re young you’re fighting a losing battle as the years go by.

1. Meal planning/batch cooking. You don’t have to be militant about it but even a loose meal plan for the week helps you stay organised with shopping and cooking and you don’t have to think daily about what to cook for dinner. Plus it’s great to have stuff in the freezer that can just be reheated with some easy sides added a couple of evenings a week. I find it’s a good time saver in the long run.

1. Don’t let “stuff” build up until your home is taken over. Twice a year I do a big clear out of dcs clothes. So late March I go through their Autumn/Winter clothes to see what can be kept for next year and what they’ve outgrown. Anything that needs to go is bagged up and brought to the charity shop/donated to a refuge or put aside for relatives dc. I do the same late September with their summer stuff plus toys that are no longer played with, books they’re not going to come back to. I know it sounds like a chore but I book a day off so I have the house to myself and get stuck in with music playing. I actually quite enjoy it and it makes life easier knowing what they have and where it is so it’s a time and mental energy saver. Also, it helps the dc to keep their space tidy and organised so we don’t have to listen to too much where’s my school jumper/pink trainers/favourite stuffed animal? .

School bags packed AND the put in the car the night before. Packed lunches made the night before (and in winter also kept in the car as it’s cold enough).
School shoes kept in the car - I know, I know, but we’re an untidy, disorganised lot and I was fed up finding a school shoe in a toy box and being late for school.

@HoegaardenHappiness what is Shelia’s mail pls?

@Thatwentbadly

It’s an hanging clothes drier, mine is more modern looking than this and by a window. Is great for hanging clothes so they don’t need ironing and not having to have wet clothes around in winter

sheilamaid.com/

lists for everything, stuck on fridge, cross off as done. feels great!