To ask for ideas

[Oxfordnono12]

So, I've been a SAHM for 10 years, completed a degree and other courses. I've finally got the job that I've worked hard to get. Although, I'm getting this ball of anxiety in my tummy. How do you manage working and home life? I basically do EVERYTHING in the house and outside the house. Anything regarding the kids I can drop and go.

I guess I'm really nervous about the transition from home life to actually going out to work and not being able to keep house, look after the kids etc. Has anyone any ideas or tips on how they stay on track or routines that are really helpful? I would really appreciate it.

Take out a weeks worth of clothes and hang them on the back of a door in day order. Sunday at the back, Monday at the front.

Batch cook meals that can be reheated in the oven.

Pre-chop veg when you can so when it comes time to cook, you have it to hand.

Meal plan for the week.

Have a checklist of things you need for the next day and ensure you have them ready the night before.

Get a calendar or diary, write down all appointments and reminders for everything. Look at it daily.

Make a cleaning schedule, stick to it otherwise you may find yourself burning out.

Make sure your DH doesn’t leave everything house wise to you still.

Is the DCs dad on the scene ?
Get him to look after the DCs at least a couple of times a week to give you a break

I’d say if you can afford a cleaner that would be a massive help, getting groceries delivered, good organisational skills and honestly probably lowering your standards a bit. Good luck

Also if you get a whiteboard in the kitchen that's half whiteboard and half notice board.
You can jot down your shopping list as things run low.
And pin important things on the other half.

Do you have a dh/dp?? Surely they should be pulling their weight too!!? This is not all up to you OP!!

Tell your husband to get off his arse and stop being yet another child you need to look after. Why on earth are you doing "everything?"

Thank you for the great advice, I will invest in a whiteboard. Batch cooking will a great idea! I do have a work diary, I suppose it will be just getting use to actively using it. I think I may have to get a cleaner a few days a week.

I do everything because he has two jobs, when he gets home, he has dinner, spends time with the kids then he has to leave again. We both had our roles and it worked for us both, he is far from a man child and helps where he can. He's knows he has to chip in, so that's not the issue. The dilemma is me organizing myself to make everything work and not getting overwhelmed with the transition.

@Oxfordnono12

Thank you for the great advice, I will invest in a whiteboard. Batch cooking will a great idea! I do have a work diary, I suppose it will be just getting use to actively using it. I think I may have to get a cleaner a few days a week.

I do everything because he has two jobs, when he gets home, he has dinner, spends time with the kids then he has to leave again. We both had our roles and it worked for us both, he is far from a man child and helps where he can. He's knows he has to chip in, so that's not the issue. The dilemma is me organizing myself to make everything work and not getting overwhelmed with the transition.

@Oxfordnono12 I think that though his effort may have been sufficient when you were a sahm, but don't think the weight of all of this should fall on your shoulders if you're now both going to be working ft.

Thank you @solomummy. I have my own way of doing things and making sure all is done. So, I think it'll be hard letting him take on a few things. I think being organized and in routine will be very important. His hours can be great but at times very hard to work with, (there are times he needs to leave late at night) Which was fine when I was at home. I suppose it'll be patchy the first few weeks until we do settle in to a routine. I'm just really anxious and nervous.

Change is always scary, you'll be fine. Cheat meals help, and (controversially) I wholeheartedly recommend putting all washing straight into the machine and running it when it's full, rather than having a laundry basket, just exclude whites.

I also separate things I HAVE to do today and everything else which would be nice to do but isn't vital, makes me feel much calmer when I write it all down and there are only, in reality, one or two things I have to do...