What efficiency tips do you have that make you feel you're winning at life

TillyTollyTully · 02/05/2023 00:43

Making my own instant porridge and portioning it into plastic mugs with lids.

Just add hot water with no morning faff - so teens are also far more likely to grab one and have a healthy breakfast (they'd never go to the effort of actually cooking porridge before school!)

Plus, far far cheaper and more environmentally friendly than buying the ready made porridge pots.

Original poster

DangleDonkey · 02/05/2023 00:55

That's a good one for the morning! And starting the day right

OP posts:

DriedFlowersLiveForever · 02/05/2023 06:26

Clean in the morning before work, house is always presentable that way!

AprilDrizzle · 02/05/2023 06:47

Night before prep- do as much as possible the night before to make mornings easier. Everything laid out , organised by the front door for a smooth getaway. When kids were younger I'd even pre load their toothbrush with toothpaste..!

BoogleOogle · 02/05/2023 06:50

TillyTollyTully · 02/05/2023 00:43

Making my own instant porridge and portioning it into plastic mugs with lids.

Just add hot water with no morning faff - so teens are also far more likely to grab one and have a healthy breakfast (they'd never go to the effort of actually cooking porridge before school!)

Plus, far far cheaper and more environmentally friendly than buying the ready made porridge pots.

How do you make it?

MissMarplesGoddaughter · 02/05/2023 06:53

Tidy the kitchen last thing at night
Prep the coffee machine so it is already to go in the morning

Neurodiversitydoctor · 02/05/2023 06:53

Even if not laid out, mentally deciding what outfit I am going to wear the night before. Hair brush, hair band, tights and tampax in the glove box of the car at all time.

BanditsOnTheHorizon · 02/05/2023 06:56

Another vote for tidying the kitchen
at night.

A stack of 3 loo rolls in a basket next to the toilet, that way no one (inc guests) don't know where the spare loo rolls are

Marry someone who will take half the chores and half the mental load without being asked to

Nicknamesforviolet · 02/05/2023 08:14

Clean the bathroom while the bath is running. Then clean the bath just before brushing my teeth

DianePemberley · 02/05/2023 08:24

Have a set day for which load of laundry is being done eg whites on a Saturday (all school shirts) bedding on a Monday, darks on a Tuesday. Etc. This will vary depending on your own house and its number of people, sports etc.
Combine this with a rule "if its not in the basket, its not being washed". That way, the teens know if they can't be bothered to put their favourite item of clothing in the wash instead of the floordrobe, there is no point coming to me with it an hour before they want to wear it, wondering if I could magic it washed and dry in the hour.

It also saves you scrabbling around teen rooms sniffing armpits and nearly giving yourself concussion with all the head shaking in disgust at the hovel they call their bedroom.

Original poster

DangleDonkey · 02/05/2023 10:45

Neurodiversitydoctor · 02/05/2023 06:53

Even if not laid out, mentally deciding what outfit I am going to wear the night before. Hair brush, hair band, tights and tampax in the glove box of the car at all time.

I think I met to add tights to my car stash. Genius!

OP posts:

Original poster

DangleDonkey · 02/05/2023 10:45

*need

OP posts:

Kyse · 02/05/2023 10:56

Cleaning the shower - I have one of those washing up brushes filled with washing up liquid and white vinegar to scrub it while I'm in the shower
Method daily shower spray afterwards works so well

MuggleMe · 02/05/2023 13:50

I fold laundry into individual baskets so they can go in each room to be put away. So even if I don't get to it right away I know I'm looking in the right basket for someone's clothes.

goodkidsmaadhouse · 02/05/2023 13:54

I love the home made instant porridge idea.

If it's going to be a nice day then I do the wash overnight and get up 5 minutes early to hang everything out on the line. So nice coming home in the evening to dry laundry smelling of fresh air.

MarpleFan · 02/05/2023 13:58

I'm definitely still working on this, but a few of the things I try to do are:

Prep the tea mugs the evening
Put out my vitamins and supplements next to the tea to remind me to take them
Lay out my clothes each night ready for the morning
Write my to-do list for the following day

I also have an "in case of emergency" basket in my car - warm, hooded waterproof coat, waterproof trousers, wellies, hazard triangle, hi vis jacket, etc.

hexsnidgett · 02/05/2023 14:07

keeping a pencil inside whichever book I'm reading for making notes in the margins

TillyTollyTully · 03/05/2023 01:00

@BoogleOogle

For instant porridge I mix 400g of normal porridge oats and 100g of skimmed milk powder. Whizz it in the nutri bullet. That's it!

Some people add brown sugar to the mix but I prefer to make it plain so the kids can add sugar/honey/fruit as they fancy it.

I portion it into plastic mugs and when you make it up its just add hot water to cover the mixture, stir really well (a bit more of a vigorous stir than the ready made pots, to ensure it doesn't go lumpy) and leave for 2-3 minutes.

We got into a really bad habit of buying a ridiculous amount of ready made porridge pots a month because the dc all love them. Oldest two dc would often grab one as a mid afternoon snack as well as for breakfast and we could easily go through 30-40 a week 😱 We must have saved a couple of hundred quid in the last few months since we started making them!

echt · 03/05/2023 05:14

In the car boot:
Gymkit in backpack
Dog leash and poo bags
First Aid kit
Microfibre towel
Rain poncho
Sunscreen
Eating utensils
In car storage
Nail file
Hand cream
Pack of tissues
Pens
Post-it notes
Novel
Bird guide
Prescription glasses - sunnies and clear
Reading specs.

sashh · 03/05/2023 05:35

I have a mini first aid kit in my handbag - it is about the size of a packet of cigarettes. It's mainly just plasters but I have used the scissors and safety pins.

Shoelaceheaven · 03/05/2023 05:41

keeping a hairbrush, hair ties, small magnifying mirror, nail file, and tweezers in car

exercise clothes folded on bedroom chair and ready to go at night for following morning

meal planning by theme per day eg veggie on Tuesday and Thursday or fish on Friday

keeping wet wipes in car (or eco equivalent) to clean inside while waiting for dc

gathering two “best” outfits together (one for summer and one for winter) including shoes, handbag, jewellery, underwear etc for weddings/funerals/special occasions, so that it’s not a big chore when we receive invitations and also one beach outfit for holidays

(for parents with small dc and teens) having an emergency vom “action pack” at the ready consisting of plastic bowl lined with pedal bin bag, disposable gloves, small bottle Dettol, small jar of Vicks Vaporub, (to rub near your nose to disguise smell) kept under bed or in bottom of airing cupboard

for Tupperware : number boxes and corresponding lids with indelible Sharpie

for bedding: leave entire ‘bundle’ for each bed ie fitted sheet, flat sheet, four pillow cases, duvet cover all folded together in laundry press so they’re ready to go.

FrogsHiccups · 03/05/2023 05:58

Love some of these ideas. Definitely going adopt some of these!

I've have a 4 week rotating meal plan (exactly like the kids have a school/nursery). I have 4 saved online grocery lists, so each week I just add that list and remove what I don’t need. Saves us an absolute fortune and a huge amount of time.

I also have a 4 week cleaning schedule, so it feels like I’m on top of the house work and everything gets done at some point in that 4 week period!

I’ve created a capsule wardrobe for myself (which includes colour!) as I was feeling completely overwhelmed by the sheer amount of clothes and jewellery I had. Ive now got good quality separates and a few dresses that I can mix and match to make a huge variety of outfits.
I’m selling all of my old clothes and jewellery - some of which has been sat in jewellery boxes for 15+ years and has even moved house with us 🤦‍♀️ I’m about 40% through and have made over £1000! So definitely recommend this!

WeWereInParis · 03/05/2023 06:22

This only saves about 30 seconds but it makes me feel organised. On days when I'm in the office, so short of time in the morning, I weigh my porridge oats the night before and put them in a pan, then measure out the milk and put it in a jug in the fridge. So in the morning I don't have to measure anything out.

goodkidsmaadhouse · 04/05/2023 14:13

@FrogsHiccups I thought your 4 week meal plan was a brilliant idea and just making up my own. I’m wondering if you’ve got any suggestions for meals that take 10-15 mins to get on the table? I’ve got stir fry and noodle soup both appearing each week but got a couple of empty spots on quick nights I can’t think to fill. Annoyingly kids don’t like filled pasta.

dumpling123 · 04/05/2023 14:26

FrogsHiccups · 03/05/2023 05:58

Love some of these ideas. Definitely going adopt some of these!

I've have a 4 week rotating meal plan (exactly like the kids have a school/nursery). I have 4 saved online grocery lists, so each week I just add that list and remove what I don’t need. Saves us an absolute fortune and a huge amount of time.

I also have a 4 week cleaning schedule, so it feels like I’m on top of the house work and everything gets done at some point in that 4 week period!

I’ve created a capsule wardrobe for myself (which includes colour!) as I was feeling completely overwhelmed by the sheer amount of clothes and jewellery I had. Ive now got good quality separates and a few dresses that I can mix and match to make a huge variety of outfits.
I’m selling all of my old clothes and jewellery - some of which has been sat in jewellery boxes for 15+ years and has even moved house with us 🤦‍♀️ I’m about 40% through and have made over £1000! So definitely recommend this!

I love your idea for a four week meal plan! Would you share it please?