I really really wouldn't underestimate the powers of sleep. If you have enough rest, you can achieve loads.
I do things like keeping cleaning spray and a few Jcloths (we only use yellow ones for bathrooms) behind the bathroom sink upstairs, so it is very easy to clean that one (the main use one) in a few minutes after I have a shower some mornings, or on a Saturday morning while I have a facial scrub/mask on (slap on mask, spray sink, bath, toilet, wet cloth and swipe around sink, bath toilet (toilet always last!), bleach down loo, wash off mask, walk out and throw jcloth in laundry hamper).
We got a much easier to handle vacuum cleaner - so its easy to spot clean a room.
Always clean up the kitchen after meals.
Try to keep hot spots of clutter under control - but tackle those if they build.
Pay bills as soon as they come in if possible, and I keep a few envelopes in the kitchen drawer for sending cheques or returning forms/money to school etc. Main stock is upstairs in the office, but those few downstairs means I WILL do things as we run out the door in the mornings.
Make lunches the night before and fill bags (school, work, sportsgear etc). Also put out clothes for morning before going to bed (extra points if you lay out breakfast things - but we don't do that every day). Makes it so much easier when you want to rush and get gone.
Try to always bring something up or down stairs with you that belongs somewhere other than you found it - never have 2 empty hands if you can. So you are going up to change your jumper, but there is a school jumper on the back of a dining chair that will be needed in the morning - bring that with you to the DC room or the landing at least. Bring down a load of laundry when you are going down after changing your jumper and throw it in the machine but set the timer to run at a time that suits you.
Learn about any timers you have - oven, washing machine, heating, etc. And use them - a hot dinner when you get in at night is great!
And lists are great for things you really want to get done. But specific lists, with small things - not a big aim that needs a lot to achieve.
Break down projects into milestones - what is the next step I need to get done, and what are the tasks within that to get to the milestone? What can I achieve, what do I need others to do? Are there deadlines?
And if you can't do something the direct route, can you achieve it indirectly?
So say Flumpy you missed your swim this morning, can you get out for a walk to the shop at lunch to buy something you need, but go a longer route and get an extra long walk in? Or bring the DCs for a walk this evening? Or do some yoga/pilates/stretches at home once DCs are in bed, even if you are not getting to a class?
And yes, don't look on things as failures, see small hurdles not got over but how can you get over the next small hurdle instead - the power of a positive attitude is also not to be underestimated!