Best tips for returning to work

[Unfcukmylife]

I don't like the term life hack... but I need life hacks!!
I'm going back to work 4 days a week after maternity leave. I've got a 1 year and a 3 year old. I'm not the best at being organised so I'm worried that life will quickly descend into take aways, or pesto pasta every night, washing piling up... And eventually living in total squalor. What are your best tips for staying on top of things? Particularly interested in good lunch options which travel well.
Thanks!

Oh should say that I had, but can no longer afford, a cleaner 😭

On your one day a week try and enjoy your time with your kids rather than spending it washing/cooking

If you have a DP make sure you've had a clear, sit down chat together to discuss how the share of jobs/childcare will need to change once you're back at work. Get some basics into a rota that you both agree on and have it visually displayed somewhere you can both see it.

Make sure you have a shared calendar and both be good about putting stuff into it.

If you're cooking something that freezes well always cook double and freeze half so your freezer stock builds up.

Keep on top of stuff as you go, it's much easier than letting it fall into chaos and then trying to claw it back.

Declutter before you go back to work, particularly kids toys/clothes, so mucb easier to keep ordered if you don't have too much.

Have a think if there is anywhere you can lower your standards slightly. For example, if you're the type to change your kids if they spill a bit of lunch on themselves see if you can bring yourself to give it a wipe and let them wear it until dinner, will halve the amount of washing you need to do go!

Well this is a really important message. Thanks for this. You're totally right 💕

Great ideas thank you! A shared calendar is a really good idea. Also the division of tasks. One of us likes tidying, the other cleaning so it should work... But doesn't!

If it helps, I have three children under 6 and we don't have any help in the way of cleaners etc.

We both predominantly WFH. One of us FT, the other 4 days.

We basically tidy all the time, definitely have everything tidied away each night. We do most loads of laundry at the weekend, usually have one drying on the line, another on an airer and sometimes another in the tumble dryer. Then maybe a midweek load. Partner and I re-wear our clothes at least for a few days depending on weather but the kids get through a lot.

I do easy meals during the week; pasta, pizza, beans on toast etc although currently trying to improve this.

Cleaning wise, we blitz at the weekend. One of us will hoover downstairs with the kids while the other is cleaning a bathroom. Then later on one may watch a film with the kids while the other does the other bathroom and bedrooms. Wipe down sinks and toilets regularly throughout the week. Clean kitchen while cooking dinner etc.

The trick is good storage to hide things and not having too much clutter.

Online food shop. Use Amazon for lots of stuff to save time (regrettably).

Honestly, it's fine. Although I would say we probably only have 1 thing planned each weekend like a party or family get together and have 1 day saved for chores/pottering.

I mean you'll have to do some but if it doesn't get done don't sweat it.

Get rid of a lot of stuff !! A lot !!
I literally keep nothing now and house looked great and then I have a few ottomans and baskets for toys or bits and pieces

this will make your life so much easier. We put in a quick wash every night and hang in the dryer in the mornings

batch cook mince (Bolognese) curry and I have bags of diced chicken and veg that I defrost and have with microwave rice

sometimes stew in the slow cooker (prepped the night before) with baby potatoes and that lasts two days

I have a hairdresser I can visit on a Sunday so that’s a little treat

Good idea to book the hairdresser in advance. I'm really bad for leaving it last minute at the point I cannot live with my hair a minute longer 😂

It’s a nice idea to treat yourself! Have you got a slow cooker ? Gammon is another great one for the slow cooker.

Washing in and dishwasher loaded every night, empty them in the morning. Get yourself ready for work before you get the children up. Get school stuff ready the night before. Don't sit down until those things are done, and accept that it will be 9pm or something before you can chill

I have the same age gap but DDs are 6 and 4 now. DH and I both work.

Bags always packed and by the door. So nursery or school bag is emptied/restocked when they get home and immediately hung back up so we can just grab and go in the morning.

Rota of tasks to share with DH. E.g. I do laundry and cooking, he cleans the kitchen and changes the bedding etc.

One day at the weekend for a day trip, seeing people etc and the other day for catching up with chores and chilling out.

Not having too much stuff, and having good storage for the things you do have. Regular decluttering. DH take it in turns for one of us to do bedtimes for DDs and the other one runs round and tidies up each evening.

Batch cooking when you do have time and freezing for another day. If I cook jacket potatoes, I make loads and freeze them or if I make chilli/curry/soup/spaghetti bolognese/lasagne etc I make double and freeze half. It's barely any more time to do that and then we have quick dinners ready to just heat up. Otherwise we eat quick meals.....pasta with a simple sauce, egg on toast, beans on jacket potatoes, omelettes etc.

Do you have a partner? They might need a little prodding to pull their weight

Apologies, I didn't notice there were new messages on here. Thanks so much. Some great ideas. I'm going to try and set some routines up now before I go back so they're embedded hopefully!