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

[DangleDonkey]

Just that really - what things do you do/ habits do you have that make you feel really productive or efficient?

For me,

• a bottle of water and a little gym towel (which comes in handy so often for wiping the windows, wiping hands etc) that I keep in the car, plus a few self care bits like lip balm and a nail file that stay in there
• keeping a pencil inside whichever book I'm reading for making notes in the margins
• when I'm packing a bag, always making a point to note which pocket I've put my phone charger, medication, purse etc so I don't have to scrabble around for them
• buying 2 or 3 shampoo/ hair mousse/ packs of nappies at a time so when I think I've run out, I actually haven't!

Interested to hear any other tips!

i know right??

Totally off topic but... WHY????

I’ve used the ‘flylady.net’ website from time to time which (when I stick to it) is brilliant. It’s full of tips like this, meal planning, breaking cleaning down into manageable chunks etc.
also I feel very ‘on it’ when my car is clean inside and out so I splash out on a valeting from time to time.

I do like the flylady "home blessing hour" but I found the sheer volume of the rest of it a bit overwhelming.

I love the handbag pouch idea. Definitely going to give that a go.

Absolute yes to tidying kitchen before bed- I just cannot stand to come downstairs in the morning to the messy kitchen.

One of those trolley coin thingies in every handbag - mine have those keyfobs inside

couple of pairs of latex gloves in the car , saves me kicking the filth off my hands after doing a tyre pump up

tiny baby nail clippers in my bag for emergency hangnails

Choose the same colour and same style socks meaning there’s no hunting around for matching socks.

You can make real porridge with milk in the microwave. It takes 2 minutes, how is it easier to use dried milk and then hot water?

Boring, but I have a specific colour palette that I will wear, means all my clothes go together and when I look for something new I only bother looking for those colours.
Also got rid of a lot of paperwork by taking a photo and getting rid of the original. Have to keep very little.

Does the method spray leave water marks when dry? I also do the same with the washing up liquid/white vinegar.....genius.

I also take a thin cleaning brush and scrub the grout when in there then just spray down with the shower.

When cooking something like a bolognese, I will do a chilli con carne and maybe even soup at the same time. The chopping board's out anyway, might as well chop up 6 onions rather than 2. You can stir 2 things at once. The oven's on anyway etc. Then I use takeaway tubs and a black marker pen - one cooking session and several meals sorted.

It's not boring at all- I'm currently trying to create something very similar.
How many colours do you have?

@LoobyDop "White wine in the fridge on Friday morning"

You win the thread!!

Try TOMM much more simple.

• 4 week meal plan
• teach kids to empty their bags when they come home
• School party gifts, have a theme per year eg nursery orchard games. Buy a few at a time and wrap them all at the same time.
• shared notes with partner if reoccurring yearly calendar to do list eg MOT, pet insurance, birthday,

Spray mop with washable pad is great - no more smelly mop heads, and great for cleaning up after pets.

In the car I keep a small purse with coinage for car parking machines, pens, tissues, carrier bags, dog poop bags and a first aid kit. When DS was small I kept an emergency change of clothes, wipes, nappies etc.

Cosmetic-type bag in my drawer at work which holds plasters, safety pins, paracetamol, body spray, santitary pad, nail file, vaseline, pack of tissues.

Monthly delivery from Smol for dishwasher tablets and laundy capsules.

Change bedding on the weekend, but wash, dry and replace the same set in one day - if I use multiple bedding sets, the dirty ones sit around for ages and the washing builds up.

All matching hangers in the wardrobe - it actually saves space, and is pleasing to look at.

Friday is the day I water the plants - otherwise they risk being overwatered and drowned if I can't remember when I last did it.

1st of the month - top up rinse aid and dishwasher salt, run a cleaning cycle. This is the only way I remember when I last did it.

Keep a bottle-brush for cleaning out recycling and the detergent drawer of the washing machine, then put it in the dishwasher when running the cleaning cycle.

Small dossett box with my meds in for each day of the week, refilled on a Sunday night. If I can't remember if I took my meds, I don't take any more, which means I am under-medicated which is not good.

Goodreads account - for keeping track of the books I want to read, categorised by whether I own them already in book/kindle format, so I don't buy duplicates. Also helps for recommending a book to someone else.

3 but started to introduce a 4th.

Would you share yourn4 week meal.plan? I've been thinking of doing the same. Thanks

1st of the month plan -

This is every month without fail as it helps keep on top of things that wouldn't be done on a daily/weekly basis as just gets a basic wipe otherwise this is more intensive - This takes me about 3.5 hours in total but it takes bit longer while I am waiting for various things to run through the dishwasher/washing machine but that's mainly me watching TV etc while waiting for it so not actively doing things

Drain cleaner - sinks/shower - pour boiling water down after it

Clean tiles and backsplash - usually use a biological washing powder and hot water for this
Clean front of kitchen cupboards
Clean the front of the appliances

Clean out the vent / outside hose of the tumble dryer

Do a cleaning cycle on the washing machine
Clean the filter at the bottom of the washing machine
Wash out the drawers of the washing machine

Do the cleaning cycle on the dishwasher
Replace dishwasher rinse aid
Replace dishwasher salt

Clean out the oven
Wash oven racks
Replace the oven liner - run it thru the dishwasher

Run the cats feeding mats in the dishwasher - they have bowls that go onto these so they seldom have had any food actually touch them so don't need it weekly
Skirting boards around the house /kickboards in the kitchen - wash down

Clean shower tiles
Scrub bathroom floor
Scrub toilet

Descale the kettle
Descale the showerhead

All windows - inside and out
Power wash - whatever bin is empty at this point

Replace oil in the deep-fat fryer - use an emulsifier on the last use of the month

Nets - monthly -
Living room curtains - monthly (this has to be monthly due to having 2 cats who get into the windows while brushing on the light-coloured curtains and leaving their fur on the sides of it)
Other curtains - every third month (March, June, September, December)

Wash and dry the living room throws and replace
Wash and dry the cushion covers and replace

Fresh bedding on
Fresh towels in the bathroom

Clean around the fireplace hearth

File all paperwork by month in a general file
File everything health related in a separate file

Write all birthday/anniversary cards for the month ahead - put stamps on them with the date on the back of them - add reminders to phone for post
Wrap any presents as needed
Sort out cards for the previous month for next year - put labels on the outside who it's for - add into the big file

I have a little box in every room of the house with all the essentials I might need for DS, so if there is a poop emergency or pain, I don't have to run around looking for everything.
It has a spare vest, baby grow, muslin, nappy rash cream, bonjela, bibs, and breastpads.

In his changing bags I keep ziplock bags with full spare outfits in, that way if he soils what he has on, I can fully change him, and the soiled stuff goes in the zip lock bag to protect his other stuff!

We are fortunate enough to have a shed, and I buy a lot in bulk. In one month, I'll use all our money and buy multiple loo rolls, toothpaste, nappies, dog food, cleaning supplies, wipes, etc. Then, for the next few months, we don't have to buy any of that, which gives us spare money for luxuries, and it means we never get caught short.

I batch cook and freeze so there is always home made food available.
But I love the 4 week meal plan idea! Might be something I incorporate as DS gets older.

I also bought small sensor lights and placed them all around the house, amazing for during the night, having to go to the kitchen or go for a wee, you don't need to turn any big lights on and blind yourself. Nor do you trip or fall in the dark.
Also amazing for toilet training little ones during the night, they aren't scared to go independently because they know the little lights will come on ..

I use both of these styles.

The Glowhouse Premium Style PIR Motion Sensor LED Night Light amzn.eu/d/eZqAyru

Motion Sensor Lights Indoor, LED Cabinet Light Night Light Timing & Dimmable with Remote Control, Rechargeable Cupboard Light for Stairs Wardrobe Closet Cabinet Bedroom Hallway Drawer(6 Packs) amzn.eu/d/cVrD2I7

Wear two watches, one on each wrist.
Saves vital seconds looking at the wrong wrist.

Exercise clothing stored downstairs, so I can grab it and go to the gym late night without having to climb stairs and look at an alluring bed.

That's great! Where do you keep them? Is it not very bulky?

Teachers and hcp have these folders too. They don't flaunt them because they don't want you to tremble.

For my primary school aged DD I have one of those hanging organisers in her wardrobe.

Every section is used for a different part of her uniform. So top section has polo shirts, second jumpers/cardigans, third skirts/trousers, fourth PE kit, and last tights/socks.

Every morning I just take one item from each section (or her PE kit) and she's sorted for the day.

Love the latex gloves in car idea! Will be adding them to my supplies, thank you.

What is a trolley coin thingy with key fob please 70isaLimitNotaTarget?