Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Organisational tips for 2022 please

45 replies

Chidjireta · 28/12/2021 18:57

My life has suddenly gone mad in the last three months.

I’ve started working an extra day at work, started a degree course and had my long term boyfriend move in with me. Then we’ve had Christmas and I’m only just about managing with the day to day stuff.

I’m lucky because I’ve just the one late teen DC at home so that’s not an issue but it’s all the other stuff that I’m falling behind with.

I’d love everyone’s tips on how to feel less harassed over the course of the week and then feel like you’re playing catch up at weekends.

Thankyou to anyone who takes the time to reply

OP posts:

TeacupDrama · 29/12/2021 18:51

@Chidjireta
Good luck and remember leave some space to breathe
many people are good at balancing their budget, you need to balance your time and energy it is not an infinite resource it needs time to replensish and that is as important as food and exercise sleep and relaxation
while sometimes if a thing is worth doing it is worth doing well ( like your job and studies) sometimes good enough is good enough (housework and laundry) everything can't be a priority some things have to go down pecking order
I wish you well my buzz word is Balance

Cocopopsss · 29/12/2021 21:04

Wow @TeacupDrama very helpful post and so true about balance.

Thanks everyone for their tips.
I would add to meal plan so no time is wasted thinking what shall I cook today and to batch cook where possible.
Simple recipes for day to day like stew, curry, pasta etc
Regular declutter.
Try to follow “rules” for cleaning like TOMM.
I try to make a note of things to do, shopping lists, calls to make, appointments in a small notebook then add relevant things to my phone calendar.

Original poster

Chidjireta · 29/12/2021 22:30

Thankyou again @TeacupDrama
Your post has resonated with me and I’m going to keep your advice in mind.

OP posts:

Twillow · 29/12/2021 22:59

TeacupDrama has great tips above.

Marie Kondo is good

Declutter - and get rid quickly. Boxes labelled charity shop, bin, sell (and only do this one if relatively high value and you have the time. Facebook marketplace is good for me, also use Ebay sold prices to get an idea of price).

Organise (like things in the same place and labelled - even in kitchen cupboards I have separate baskets for sauces, spices etc). Small baskets/cardboard trays to organise drawers so you know where to find the sellotape etc. Sounds obvious but I used to wander round checking in various 'useful drawers'. So, as example one box for spare birthday cards and notelets, envelopes, stamps and the address book.

Don't iron. Unless you have strong OCD and wear a lot of linen (in which case, stop buying linen or embrace it's crumpled charm!) Honestly, you'll hardly notice the difference and it will free up so much space and time. Give everything a shake out when it comes out of the wash and flatten to dry - hang shirts and jumpers on hangers to dry (unless you have a dryer).

Menu plan. Week in advance at the minimum. Stops a lot of time being wasted on 'popping' to shops or thinking about dinner. A very simple way is to have a particular theme for each day of the week e.g. Monday eggs, Tuesday curry, etc

Don't waste the precious weekend doing housework. Keep a rolling plan going so that it's always relatively clean. The Organised Mum Method is a great guide - I don't do it exactly as she says and swap days around to suit me, but I no longer have a messy house which needs everywhere doing at the weekend - a maintenance floor sweep is all (I do this every day without even thinking now anyway).

BerthaBlythe · 29/12/2021 23:17

Mine are:
Buy chicken in bulk, chop and freeze in meal portions. I hate handling raw meat, so this takes the icky bit out of meal prep for me.

Buy birthday cards for the year ahead in one go

When the weather changes, organise your wardrobe by putting items you will wear on your bed. Then put everything else away, under the bed/in the attic. Only keep what you can currently wear (size and season) in the wardrobe. If you stand in front of your wardrobe examining each item you’ll wear yourself out with decisions, but by creating a capsule on your bed you take all the angst out of it. Having only what fits and suits the weather in front of you in the morning is a game changer, and you’ll also see the gaps that need filling instead of buying random things.

I’m extremely absent minded and I’ve taken to using the alarm on my iPhone to remind me of things I need to do, because I can keep hitting snooze until the job is actually done.

As boring as it sounds- having a place for everything is key. If there isn’t a place for everything get rid of stuff until there is.

I love the clutterbug concept of working out your organisational type - you’re either getting stressed by looking at your stuff, or by not being able to see it. And you’ll either take time to put it away in meticulous categories, or need a lidless general container to fling it in. Once you figure out these things it gets much easier.

MammaGnomes · 30/12/2021 11:07

My main tip that I haven't seen mentioned yet is to create a WhatsApp group for any activities, party invites, school trips ect. I take a photo and send it to the group so I always have a digital version of it handy and can find it easily. It also takes the pressure off me to remember it all as DP is also in the group.

I also follow the TOMM method loosely and it really helps me feel less guilty about being able to sit down in the evenings. Knowing I have done enough housework for the day to keep us ticking over.

I do need to get on top of our washing though. I need some nice storage for it for our newly decorated hall. I had looked at Kallax but it's too small

FindingMeno · 30/12/2021 11:39

You can't keep control over too much stuff.
Life has become unbelievably easier since decluttering and having significantly clearer surfaces.
I can't manage too much routine or rules but there are a very few basics I do every day.

toomanyhobbies · 30/12/2021 18:53

Does anyone have any reconditions of where to bulk buy cheap cards for school birthdays etc ready for the year ahead?

coodawoodashooda · 30/12/2021 19:01

@toomanyhobbies

Does anyone have any reconditions of where to bulk buy cheap cards for school birthdays etc ready for the year ahead?

Amazon

MsFrog · 30/12/2021 19:14

@DashDotCom that tip about the 8 week meal plan and the Asda online shop is brilliant!!! We struggle so much with meals in this house, I'm going to invest some time into setting this up for us!

Twinkleylight · 30/12/2021 23:37

@toomanyhobbies

Does anyone have any reconditions of where to bulk buy cheap cards for school birthdays etc ready for the year ahead?

Card factory used to do 5 cards for a pound or similar.

Twinkleylight · 30/12/2021 23:43

Open an advance notice savings account or premium bonds & save an amount each month for Christmas. Open another savings account specifically for birthdays and holidays.

Check your food cupboards and see what's leftover from Christmas and buy less of that item next year.

Whatliesbeneath707 · 30/12/2021 23:52

@Twinkleylight that's a really good idea about the bank account with notice.

Twinkleylight · 31/12/2021 00:24

@Whatliesbeneath707 it's the only way I can save for celebrations without breaking into my savings is by locking it away for a year! Total up how much you spent this Christmas and then divide it by 10 months. That's the amount you need to save each month to have a similar Christmas next year.

Newnews · 31/12/2021 00:34

Following for tips!

Original poster

Chidjireta · 31/12/2021 13:31

@hivemindneeded I tried your five minute tidy up tip yesterday in my bedroom and living room and was surprised how much I did get done.
I’ve begun to write down each posters tips in a notebook now so I won’t have to come back to MN to check on them and get distracted.

Thankyou for giving your time to post advice on my thread. I really appreciate it.

OP posts:

Original poster

Chidjireta · 31/12/2021 13:35

@Shambleseya I’ve downloaded the TimeTree app and already had a notification this morning of the things coming up today which I’ll find very useful on a daily basis, thankyou.

OP posts:

Cocopopsss · 31/12/2021 14:41

@Chidjireta that’s a good point about making note of tips in a notebook rather than coming back to MN or to a phone as it’s so easy to get distracted.

TeacupDrama · 31/12/2021 15:20

it is amazing what you can achieve in a TV ad break
I forget what particular method it is when you set a timer for 10-15 minutes and just clean that room then stop
There is a different thing from I think a minimalist you tuber which says if something will take two minutes or less do it immediately never add to list,

hivemindneeded · 31/12/2021 16:01

[quote Chidjireta]@hivemindneeded I tried your five minute tidy up tip yesterday in my bedroom and living room and was surprised how much I did get done.
I’ve begun to write down each posters tips in a notebook now so I won’t have to come back to MN to check on them and get distracted.

Thankyou for giving your time to post advice on my thread. I really appreciate it.[/quote]
I'm so glad it's working for you. I love it because it makes a BIG difference in no time at all, and we usually have the time and energy to sort out a room for 5 mins.

Flip

1 2