Is there a January organising thread? If not let's have one!

[WannaBeCatLady]

I love a January organising thread.

This year I'm going into a part time secondment so will have 3 job roles and work slightly more than part time. It's going to be full on (social worker so my case holding original job is already full on, my case load has been reduced for part time secondment plus I coordinate a drop in and I will be studying for the qualification needed for secondment).

What I want to do is develop a better routine then what I had before Christmas. I really struggle wfh with covid so I'm back in the office. Wfh was great with being able to sort out dinner at lunchtime, put a load of washing on ect but it completely drains me. I end up just staring at my laptop and unable to work until there's a deadline and then I spend the evening catching up.

I also need to get back to exercising again. Before covid I would be up early, work out with my weights ect before getting dc up and doing the school drop off and going to work. But I struggle so much with getting up now! Dc are now teens and catch the bus to school, I am awake but rarely out of bed before 8 and usually just shower, put leggings on and sit on my sofa all day. It's depressing. My new secondment has brought some much needed enthusiasm back to my working life. I just need to develop a routine so I don't mess it up by not being organised enough and forgetting things.

I want to be getting up early, exercising, organising dinner (tray bakes, slow cooker, veg prepped) making sure my dc are up and have everything, in the office by 8.30, organised at work, home, dinner, being emotionally available to my own dc, keeping up on top of chores and life admin, looking after myself by doing my hair, nails, tan helping my dc with their school work. I need to get back on the ball as I've slipped right off.

Atm my dc do chores, they take turns with loading the dishwasher, wiping the sides and taking out the rubbish. They both do the majority of their own washing too (I just do uniforms). I don't want to put anything more on them.

I also like a Saturday morning clean and don't need help with keeping on top of housework. It runs smoothly in my house.

It's the rest of life admin, looking after myself and remembering all I need for work that I need help with please!!

Anyone else need help or have tips and tricks?

I'm in. Back later.

And I want to make time for walks, listening to podcasts, more baths, reading books for pleasure rather than for my new qualification.

Jheeze it's a lot! I want it all!

And I want to start meditating again and yoga.

I’m in too! I’ll be starting a PT postgrad degree in late January, work 3 days a week (mostly wfh), and sadly am not on top of the housework! Just been revisiting James Clear’s Atomic Habits book this morning and have written down a few areas that I want to develop systems for.

My only tip is to head to the card factory and buy birthday cards for everyone for the next 6 months or a year if you are able. Put them in my drawer and know I haven’t got to dash out to get one at any point. If you often post them buy a pack of stamps too and keep them with the cards.

I'm in! I want to have more time to exercise, read and relearn the piano, instead of coming back from work and just staring at the TV! I want to become better at organising dinner in advance, instead of popping to Sainsburys and buying something that day.

So I have cut up loads of cucumber, carrots, celery and raddish and put them in tubs in the fridge. Apparently if you put kitchen roll underneath the veg they last for 4 days. I will report back if that's true or not. I also made a leak and potato soup for lunch tomorrow.

I am not going to make huge changes this week. I am aiming for more fruit and veg and more water. I am also going to remember to take my vitamins. I'm hoping this will kick-start the boost I need! Oh and my alarm is going to be set for 6.30 all week. I'm a bit weird in that I'm much more productive in the mornings and slump by 2pm. I'm going to make the most of my productive time.

I tend to do moonpig cards, you get a reminder for everyone's birthday that way. Plus the addresses save in your delivery instructions so it's a pain free mental load off way of birthday cards.

I should be starting an essay due the 17th. I just can't be arsed. I think I'm going to have a bath, wash and straighten my hair, paint my nails and get an early night. Looking forward to starting the week and the return to the office.

@Proudplantowner I am a last minute sainsburys for dinner shopped too!

But I have been very organised in the past when my dc were little. I'm hoping to bring that back again. Today I went to tesco and bought frozen onions and herbs, loads of tomatoes, chickpeas, fresh pasta and will be making tray bake either in the evening or the morning. I don't like a lot of slow cooker recipes but I do make a lovely dahl, a nice chicken and apricot tagine and a veggie chilli that always goes down well. I love the feeling of getting home and either putting the tray bake in the oven or just dishing up one of the few slow cooker recipes I like.

Food shopping is a horrible chore, I don't like online food shopping either. Hello fresh and guesto are alright but I found I ended up not being arsed to cook so the food would go to waste.

I need to join in, not least as I've just realised I have a coursework deadline in 16 days.
I wfh and my habits have slipped massively, I keep worrying someone is going to notice how rubbish I am at the moment.
I also want to meal plan, get the house back into shape and look after myself better. No pressure then!

@WannaBeCatLady frozen vegetables are a good idea! We also tried Hello Fresh and ended up wasting a lot of it. But now I live with my DP I'm hoping we can be a bit more organised. I went to Sainsburys today but have hopefully got food that will last until the weekend!