Some times I do none of the tasks the night before just so I can rest (eg don’t put the dishwasher on, don’t tidy up, don’t get uniform ready) then when I come down in the morning I regret it. But I really did need that extra half hour rest the night before.
The only thing that has really helped is making lots of lists and getting things done as soon as I get in from work, rather than after my child has gone to bed. It eats into the time we spend together as we don’t get home until dinner time, but it seems to work. I seem to get it done quicker too!
Once a week I usually look at the week ahead in detail, and glance over the month ahead for major events like birthday, nativity etc. and add as much as I can to a to do list. I have one urgent list and one not so urgent list. I do my food shop online and order as much as I can with it e.g stack of kids birthday cards, stamps, wrapping paper, restock medicine in advance. Amazon helps me out with the rest. It helps to avoid needing last minute/late night trips out to the shop with a child.
I’m also not afraid to strike some jobs off the to do list if I really can’t be bothered/don’t have to! Some are ‘would be nice to do’ tasks that really aren’t essential so after a while, rather than stress over doing it, I just don’t!
Also working a day or two a week from home really helps me logistically and mentally. I save 2 hours on a commute and I can get a load of washing on at breakfast and out the machine on lunch. Or get a weekly food shop delivered at lunch for example. Lunch breaks can also be used to do trips to shops I really don’t want to drag a child to!
When my ex moved out I threw money at a few things to make my life easier - dishwasher, Dyson hair dryer to speed up getting ready, a handyman to plough through the 12 job list that my ex ignored, a gardener to trim the hedge and a weekly cleaner. This all helped me no end and got me on an even keel, and as I rarely go ‘out out’ anymore, the money goes towards the cleaner instead.
I’m not sure if you have a dishwasher but I read one tip on here that said try and get it on as early in the evening as you can - that way you can empty it before bed, so it’s ready for the next day when you get up. It felt like such a ballache and ANOTHER job to do, but I’ve done it a couple of times and it makes a huge difference!
Sorry this has ended up such a long post, but finally, a night or two a week I give in and go to bed at the same time as my child! Sometimes I read or watch tv, sometimes I go straight to sleep just for the reset. Might not be doable for everyone but I need a lot of sleep and struggle without it.