Returning to work tips please?

[Adviceonnewjob]

Ive got a new job 🎉🎊

So do you have any tips on how to make life easier as im going from being a sahm to working full time, out the house from 7.30am to probably around 6pm.

Childcare is sorted with a mix of afterschool club and family but what about routines, dinners, etc. Did you think of anything in hindsight that you thought could have made your life easier?

TIA 😊

Congratulations! When you come down in the morning bring a load of washing with you and chuck it in. If you can get it in the dryer before you go out even better, but if not then do it as soon as you get home. Then the washing never builds up. Depends on the age of your kids, but if they are having a hot meal at school then a picky sandwich tea is fine.

Following because I'm also about to start a job with similar hours to you after only working once or twice a week!

I was thinking about using the slow cooker more, but most of the meals often require cooking the meat and onions etc first before putting it in the actual slow cooker.

How old are your children?
Do you have a partner who will pull their weight?

Good tip!

For flavour technically yes, but you can still chuck it in raw and it will be safe and tasty to eat. I just add an extra pouch of seasoning.

I’d say set your machine to finish just as you get up, so the washing is clean at that point and you can hang it up/put it in the dryer before leaving.

Please, don't anyone leave their dryer running if they aren't home 🙈

DH is helpful, kids are 5 and 11 and are definitely being encouraged to do more chores!

If you have a freezer, always make at least double of eg chilli, curry, stews etc and freeze for another time. Slow cooker can be good for making stuff at the weekends when you’ve more time but don’t have to watch it so can be in and out.
Build a repertoire of really quick meals (carbonara, stir fry etc) - if you started a specific thread on that you’d get loads of ideas on here.
A top tip I picked up off MN was ‘never leave a room without doing two things to inporove it’ . Less helpful if you’re extremely tidy anyway, but it’s amazing how those two things add up - eg straighten the cushions/pick up a crumb, remove a cup, throw out a newspaper, empty the bin etc.
if you send birthday cards to families and friends, buy lots at the same time rather than one at a time, at least for the month.

I realised that I would stand and wait for the kettle to boil or the microwave to ping - it’s amazing how much you can get done in that minute or two.

This is a great post! I love the improve the room idea!

I remember reading, 'pick up and put down once rule' which pretty much means don't pick something up to put it somewhere else if you're only going to have to pick it up again to actually put it away. I hope that makes sense?! But that has stayed with me so I often put things straight away rather than putting them on the side to deal with later.

This is a great post! I love the improve the room idea!

I remember reading, 'pick up and put down once rule' which pretty much means don't pick something up to put it somewhere else if you're only going to have to pick it up again to actually put it away. I hope that makes sense?! But that has stayed with me so I often put things straight away rather than putting them on the side to deal with later.

Edit to add: it's called the one touch rule!

Your DH will need to be more than helpful - divide household tasks up between you and take it in turns to cook the evening meal. Whilst one is the cooking, the other prepares the packed lunches and preps in advance what can be done for the following day’s meal. Take in turns to be off work when the DC’s are too ill for school. Do food shopping online and delivered in the evening.

Don't become the default option for time off for emergency childcare. Always discuss whose turn it is before calling in, especially during your probation.

Don't feel guilty about missing the odd school event. Very few parents make it to everything and TBH a lot of school stuff to look at an art project made of boxes or listen to African drumming isn't worth the effort.

Keep everything school related for each child in a basket by the front door to avoid delays in the morning. Keep your own work bag packed in the same way so you only have to put your phone in it as you leave.

Decide what to wear & get it out the night before. Adopt a routine if it helps not yo have to think about it. Same applies to school uniform.

Good luck. Hope it goes well.

DH is a good egg!! His standards of a tidy house may not be as high as mine but he does his share