Tip for making life easier? It's exhausting!

[ImFree2doasiwant]

I recently spent a few months "letting things go," thinking that you can't do it all. All that's happened it everything is a mess!

I'm single, 2 young DC ,(young primary) I work supposed to be 3 days a week but have ended up working in school hours the other 2 weekdays.

DC go to their dad's Sundays. Yesterday, I didn't stop. Housework, wshing, ironing. I do have 2 ponies, so have to deal with them also (I know, I have had them 24 and 14 years, they are nit new additions and although they create more work, also keep me sane)

The house is a mess . I'm constantly decluttering. Cleaning. The whole place needs decorating. The garden is too much. I don't have spare money really to pay someone although I had I had man come and do 2 hours in the garden, £30 snd very disappointing with what he actually did.

Any ideas on how to make this easier? Or is this just it?

I have done pretty well this week. The results are evident to me at least, and the house seems more open and calm, and I'm in a great mood! It's lifted my spirits.

Another vote here for doing as much as possible when the kids are there to keep your alone time for resting. Yes it's frustrating and slower but if they are "helping" they hopefully won't just destroy things as you go along. My daughter (4) is quite a keen skirting board duster now, I mean she doesn't do it very well but it keeps her out of the way while I crack on and wipe down the kitchen or whatever.

If you build tasks into your routine they don't feel as bad. I try not to go downstairs unless the beds are made and I have a load of laundry with me to pop in the machine as soon as I'm down. Run the dishwasher overnight and get it emptied first thing while the kettle is boiling. The other one I've found handy is to sort the laundry and put away with dd before she goes to bed. It's part of our bedtime routine she is in charge of pants and socks. She seems to quite enjoy it (little weirdo).

But I feel your pain with the tired house though. We have office style carpet tiles on the floor which we're here when we moved in I've never sorted it. The paint is flaking in the downstairs loo and I can't face painting it.

It is just flipping hard work though OP sympathies xx

Well done OP, it's great that you're feeling so good about things this week.

We struggle too, we both work and like our downtime (aka a bit lazy). I've found the following helpful:

• Kids vacuum (including our 7yo). Might not be up to my standard but even if they just do the middle it looks a bit better.
• If you're sick of moving it, get rid of it (or get rid of something else so it has a home). I watch The Minimal Mom on YouTube and her approach is to reduce your inventory. Once you get rid of the items, you never have to pick them up again!!
• Keep a set of cleaning products in your bathroom/toilet/kitchen and then it's easier to clean things when you're in that room doing something else (watching pots boil or doing kids bathtime).
• Limit your jobs. I try to wash bedding on sunny days so it can dry and go straight back on the bed. Saves folding it up and putting it away. I also put clothes straight on hangers from the washing line or airer so they don't need ironing.

On the decorating front, our local area has a Community Re-Paint initiative where they sell used paint really cheaply. If there's something similar near you, you might be able to get some supplies at a decent price. Doesn't help with actually decorating though