How do you keep on top of it all?

[confusedlots]

I'm completely drowning and seem completely unable to get on top of anything. I told myself that once I got the chaos of Christmas out of the way, that I'd have more time to get the house sorted and just get myself generally more organised, but it's the end of January and if anything, things have got worse!

House is an absolute mess. I try to tackle a room and despite spending a lot of time, you wouldn't have any idea I'd done anything at all. There is an actual mountain of clothes to be washed which I am working through, but then there is a mountain of clothes to be folded and put away.

By the time the kids are home from school then it's homework's, getting dinner ready and a club or activity on some nights. I literally feel like I don't stop, but have nothing at all to show for it.

I work part time, and keep thinking that I'll make progress on my days off, but I just can't get on top of anything. Help! How can other people keep on top of everything so much better than me?

Cleaning a bathroom shouldnt take long. I have 2 drawers under the sink and a bathroom cupboard in main bathroom and 1 drawer and bathroom cabinet in en suite.

I keep all bottles, potions, deodorants, hairbrushes, toothbrushes, make up etc in the cupboards/cabinets and drawers and it’s ruthlessly decluttered and organised regularly so we only keep stuff we’re going to use and is easy to reach/find. Nothing gets left out of the cupboard/drawers other than 1 lot of shampoo, conditioner and shower gel in the shower.

So when it’s time for a clean it’s just spritz round with the cleaner, mop floor and done.

I saw a tip once where they suggested getting a box and going into a room, and anything that doesn't belong in that room goes in the box and gets put away in it's correct place (you have to complete the job though, don't be tempted to put the box down and leave it til another time 😂)

Another tip was to set a timer for ten minutes and try and do as much tidying as possible in that time (you can get a lot done in ten minutes)

I also find Olio a good app to get rid of stuff if you don't have time to go to the charity shop. It attracts a more reliable clientele than free pages on Facebook! I've got rid of a variety of things on there from clothes bundles to old tennis rackets to a giant marrow.

• have a work uniform (two cashmere jumpers for winter, two shirts, 3 pairs of trousers, Uniqlo base layers, underwear and socks in same colour) and wear nothing else in the week
• instant pot pressure cook eggs for breakfast at the beginning of the week and buy lunch at work and don’t eat dinner
• Don’t wear make up to work so not wasting time doing it in the morning
• Have a husband that does the laundry
• and the most amazing reliable trustworthy dog walker
• Not have children

Even then it’s a struggle

I would love someone to come and help me declutter, I am seriously the ideal candidate to be on Sort Your Life Out, but I couldn't deal with the whole world seeing me on there! Are there really people locally who I could pay to come and help me do that? How do I find them? I feel like if I could get rid of at least half the stuff in this house that it would be so much easier to manage.

Oh I have just googled and found a local professional organiser/declutterer. So tempted to make contact! Has anyone done this before and how did you find it??

I was in same position and 'The organised mum method' app changed my life especially the Tomm Rocks guided cleans within the app. Gamechanger !

My only tip for this is to ensure that I don't put (anything) down, I put it away. And to train everyone else in the house to do this too. (Mixed results at this). Otherwise I was spending 20 minutes putting everyone's stuff away before I could clean or do anything else. Fine when I was was working part time but now I'm full time out of the house I'm trying to clean for half an hour a day (rotating the rooms), and invent got time to pick up after everyone first.