To ask for your time management tips please?

[TheRealGussieFinkNottle]

Just struggling to keep on top of everything - and am also a champion faffer (can take me 10 minutes to write an email because I never know what to say ).

Any tips welcome :)

Thanks!

I write a things I have accomplished list. Too often I think I have done loads but what I have actually done is started loads of jobs but not actually finished anything.

I have a cleaner that frees up time as she does the big jobs.

Limiting screen time

I truly believe that the key to organization in every level of your life begins with your home. Too much clutter, too many "things" that you simply don't need or have any attachment to, and constant mess add a HUGE amount of "ghost stress", (my silly term). Waking up and returning home to a messy, chaotic home loses the battle of daily life for you before you've even started. It causes a massive amount of stress and anxiety that I think most people don't even realize.

Really good point Aqua - I definitely agree. One thing I definitely need to do is get rid of 'stuff'. Any suggestions on how to sort it and get rid of it please? Especially papers!!

Follow the One Touch Rule. Loads on line about this. Basically dealing with things straight away rather than moving things about.

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo is wonderful, and I've been living this way for well over 20 years. Before I ever read her book. Basically, if something isn't absolutely necessary or "sparks joy", you don't need it. And it's true. As for paperwork, my mother's huge issue, the fact is you don't need 95% of it. For some reason many of us give printed material far greater value than it actually holds.

"Ghost stress" is an excellent term (I call it background stress, but I like your term better)

I am digitising a lot of my paperwork: gathering it into a box and then scanning it in batches as part of a 'slow declutter' as I want to move house in a couple of years. That sounds like a long lead-in, but it's all part of a new step in life, changed money management etc. I find it helps to view these things as holistic.

Aqua, I think you are right. Years ago when I was struggling with my mh, my dear mate came over. We went through my house tidying, chucking and cleaning. Then did the car. Then she chucked me in the shower, ironed my clothes and did my hair. I cooked a healthy dinner and suddenly things felt so much more manageable. I often feel the state of my house is a direct reflection on how I am feeling.

My plan is to have a massive sort out before xmas, before the deluge of plastic tat descends.

I need this thread in my life. Last night I had to condense all my to do lists into one

I found flylady kind of annoying and patronising, but at the same time a lot of the habits have stuck and it gives me a Base to come back to when things start to get a bit overwhelming.
Now I work during the day as opposed to night shifts, I make sure I spend some time each evening preparing mine and kids clothes for morning, breakfast table laid, kitchen cleared and bags etc ready by door.

If I don't have a mad scramble in the mornings I am in a much better state of mind when I reach work.

I still need to work out the best phone app diary system though, as currently I rely on a large diary and if I forget to look at that I'm stuffed!

Thanks so much for your ideas everyone :) keep your tips coming!

Make lists tasks that must be done, tasks that can roll over to another day, tasks with dates start early. Use a diary. Get things ready for work, time off or holiday the day /s before. If necessary so no to some tasks. Do some tasks every day even if is a small one, so that you keep the momentum flowing. Feel good when tasks are successfully completed even if small

Thrilled to see this thread.thanks. Trying to reclaim my life after a crohns/depression assault on levels of order in my house.

chezbot I'm so sorry. How's everything been going for you?

Good thread :) please keep the advice coming!

I know it's been said on loads of threads. Batch cooking!!! I actually only cook once a week; something like curry, or chilli, or lasagne. I make about 10 portions each time and freeze it, meaning that I have a huge stack of meals in the freezer which just need heated up on weeknights; giving us more time with our son!

Meal plan (co-ordinated with family Diary) + food shopping delivered.

I have also started cooking dinner in the mornings (sounds mad I know but I get everything to the point that it only needs to be heated up in the evening eg potatoes peeled, put in water in the pot or bolognese fully cooked and only needs to be warmed up.

I also have now carved out time after food shopping arrives to peel, chop and, if necessary, freeze as many ingredients as possible.

So not quite batch cooking but batch ingredient preparation. It makes life so much easier. And you can freeze practically anything! Eg carrots And parsnips get peeled, chopped and frozen then on the day they’re to be eaten I just chuck them in the oven from frozen.

Great thread, really useful!

Thanks for the batch cooking tips :)

A good saying- don't put it down, put it away!

Time spent on meal planning will save you a ton of time later on.

Start by writing a list of the meals you cook. Then work out what nights you are busy and need something quick and what meals you can cook extra portions of and what meals you can start preparing while you cook that evenings meal.

Then allocate them based on what your week is like.

I know lots of people who just do a one month rotation so it means that each week their shopping list is sorted and ready to go.

If you start getting the evening meal ready in the morning it does make it easier to finish it off at night, even if its as simple as getting out the chopping board onion and frypan before you leave for work.

Batch cooking saves time not only on the cooking time but also the washing up time. You only wash up the big and greasy pots and pans only once.

Apart from a kitchen calendar which has everyone's schedule for that day (to the extent it affects family life) written on it, I also have a shopping list in the kitchen that if anyone uses something up (or sees that it is close to finishing) to write it on the list immediately so that it gets swept into the weekly shop and we don't run out.

Oh, and just a weekly shop, cutting out on little trips to the shops every day. This of course goes with meal planning and batch cooking.