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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask for your top simple organisation tips that work

109 replies

caninecalamity · 03/01/2023 22:51

If you're a naturally organised person or a procrastinating nightmare like me who has somehow managed to change, please help. I need you. I was also going to start a thread on cleaning tips that work after using a tip about cleaning my wood burner glass with ash that worked! I've had a tumultuous 2022 and facing change this year and Im looking to turn over a new leaf on my house and life. I think I might be another undiagnosed ADD person - I spent all 2022 chasing my tail, never knowing if it's PE day/ non uniform day etc and with a heap of laundry / overflowing junk drawers/ ad hoc meals and spending too much on top up shops etc.
i listened to a declutter podcast tonight felt for the first time that change might be possible with small steps. I managed to do my son's clothes without it feeling a bit effort which felt a big win. I just need to charity one bag and put others on Vinted. If anyone wants a mix of medium men's clothes look out on there soon! I've also done two bedroom tidies using the TOMM app. This might be enough for now tbh but was also thinking of ordering greeting cards for next 6 months - think I read that on here and seeing if I can find a meal planning app
Mental load is all on me - DH will offer to go to shop "if you make me a list" or run errands "if you tell me what needs doing" and I'm exhausted.

OP posts:
Poppyseed14 · 03/01/2023 22:53

Following with interest as I'm determined to declutter my whole house this year but I'm overwhelmed by the thought of it!

Findyourneutralspace · 03/01/2023 22:55

What was the podcast? I also need help! 🙋‍♀️

DelurkingAJ · 03/01/2023 22:56

I have a whiteboard over my desk - it means I don’t forget things that need doing. If I’m WFH I will often do a couple of tasks at lunchtime.

Testina · 03/01/2023 22:56

I doubt you want to hear this - but not accepting this crap from your husband is my best tip.

In terms of organising physical things - I always keep in my the saying, “you don’t need more storage, you need less things”.

See that junk drawer? Bin it. Send your lazy arse husband in (so you don’t end up picking out all of it to keep!) and just empty it.

Eekle · 03/01/2023 22:56

How to keep house while you're drowning is great.

It hasn't turned my habits all the way round, but it's definitely helped with how I think about things.

Robots1Humans0 · 03/01/2023 22:57

Also here for ideas- the clutter in my house is getting me down! What was the declutter podcast ?

caninecalamity · 03/01/2023 23:02

Podcast was the DeclutterHub as recommended on here on a podcast thread the other day. It didn't have a secret method just encouraged me that I could make a start - they have episodes by room sand I started with the one about utility rooms and am going to apply it to my under stairs area - which is more of a poo-tility as it's a loo/ washing machine area and few shelves !

OP posts:
Kbear · 03/01/2023 23:03

I use the declutter hub - found so many useful tips and fabulous support- feels good to check in with other people in similar situation with expert guidance on how to sort things out - it's still a work in progress - don't mention the loft lol

caninecalamity · 03/01/2023 23:04

DelurkingAJ · 03/01/2023 22:56

I have a whiteboard over my desk - it means I don’t forget things that need doing. If I’m WFH I will often do a couple of tasks at lunchtime.

I have one but got distracted and overwhelmed when trying to write a list - how do you use it? Add jobs as they occur ?

OP posts:
Sprig1 · 03/01/2023 23:05

If you have something in your hand put it back where it belongs, don't just put it down somewhere with a view to putting it away later. Don't make journeys empty handed. Going upstairs? What can you take up with you?

DelurkingAJ · 03/01/2023 23:06

Add jobs as they flit through my mind. Don’t worry about an order but wipe them off as they get done.

Also, all school admin done as it arrives…otherwise it’ll never happen…and any events from school instantly onto paper calendar.

TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 03/01/2023 23:09

Household of four. Bought 4 stacking baskets for the airing cupboard. Clean dry clothes get put into your personal basket to be collected and put away by the individual. Eventually they all run out of pants.

I send all the sports kit, swimming stuff, blazer for assembly etc etc on a Monday am. That way I know it's there and it's only lunches and water bottles thereafter.

I bought a new tumble drier which is hugely efficient and cheaper to run. So I tumble dry a lot of stuff which makes the turnaround faster.

DH now does pretty much all the meal planning and shopping. Massive mental load off. He took the piss at my pre Brexit prepping but it was invaluable during the early days of the pandemic. We could probably survive a month without shopping. I acknowledge that you need the space and funds for this but always having a few go to emergency meals is a lifesaver.

Totally skimmed milk freezes well and doesn't split when defrosted. Never run out of milk again.

Many people seem to sign their kids up for all kinds of stuff and are run ragged between work and the rest. Life is too short and this makes it unnecessarily stressful.

Kitchen stuff that hasn't been used in a year gets cleared out. I'm working my way through the cupboards again to see what else I can get rid of.

Kids are now old enough to sort out their own outgrown stuff. I find that if you buy them new stuff and refuse to allow them to wear it until a sort has been done that it's quite motivational.

Toys get done twice a year with random stuff going if I see an opportunity. Grifts that aren't used are regifted or given to charity.

PhilCollinsFanGirl · 03/01/2023 23:19

Stalking 👀👀

AlwaysGoingBackwards · 03/01/2023 23:25

Have one notebook for all your thoughts, to do lists and ideas. Keep it simple.

Take half an hour at the weekend to meal plan and online shop. Clear out your fridge the night before the delivery is due.

School uniform and outfits on hangers for each day.

Children don’t need masses of stuff. Mine have a winter coat and a light rain jacket each and 4 pairs of shoes each. Minimal casual clothing. Buy in similar colours/tones so everything goes. DH and I have capsule wardrobes and buy very little new. It’s bad for the planet to keep consuming.

Declutter one room at a time. You cannot organise clutter. If you don’t love it or use it regularly GET RID. It honestly feels so freeing to have less stuff demanding your attention. Vinted etc are great, but if you are really struggling with overwhelm then just have permission to donate things instead. Packaging and posting is just more mental clutter.

Changingmynameyetagain · 03/01/2023 23:36

My biggest thing is a family calendar, I sit on a Sunday and write the next week out, absolutely everything goes on it, who needs what PE kit on what day, what they are making in food tech that week, any extra curricular clubs, my work shifts, what bin needs putting out that week, etc etc.
It’s a life saver, I can look in the morning and be prepared and we all know where we are meant to be.

PinkArt · 03/01/2023 23:38

One great bit of advice I read was that the best organisation system is the one you'll actually stick to. So colour coding your filing, which is also stored chronologically, in a cupboard out of sight is great if you'll store any new paperwork that way as it comes in. If you won't, having a large box that you throw all the paperwork for that year in that's shoved under the sofa is a better system for your if you know you'll always chuck the paperwork in.
It might not be pretty but if it works it works

AuroraForever · 03/01/2023 23:39

We’ve been overwhelmed with clutter for years and years but have finally started to get a handle on it using these tips:

  1. start small. Sort toiletries etc in the bathroom. This allows you to part with stuff that have no emotional attachment and helps you train your brain to ‘get rid’

  2. family calendar in the kitchen. Write down who’s doing what where and when. Put it where it’s visible all the time ie not inside a cupboard

  3. 4-5-6 week list of meals. Don’t duplicate anything. Each week think of individual meals containing: veg, salad, chips, rice, meat, no meat. Factor in 1 day a week everyone gets to choose and/or make their own meal. Factor in 1 takeaway at the end of the cycle. This can help stop the monotony of having the same meals over and over. Helps to budget. Helps when bulk buying ie 6 weeks worth of meat is cheaper than buying as you go.

  4. if you buy a new thing, sell an old thing. If you bring in something you got for free, give a way something to someone else for free.

We’ve a long way to go still but these have definitely helped us make a start.

caninecalamity · 04/01/2023 07:32

Today is prime example. Was a bit skint before Christmas so didn't pay school meals thinking I'd do on payday and now dithering. And I don't know how to reset a password for a website in iPhone so it always comes up with old one then I have to reset every single time. Hate that website ! Why am I not better at this stuff?

OP posts:
jellyfrizz · 04/01/2023 09:01

Poppyseed14 · 03/01/2023 22:53

Following with interest as I'm determined to declutter my whole house this year but I'm overwhelmed by the thought of it!

I find breaking it down helps. Don't think of it as decluttering the whole house. Pick a room and start by giving yourself half an hour to de-clutter a drawer or a shelf.

Champere · 04/01/2023 09:04

I followed this method last year and it really helped as it breaks everything down.

To ask for your top simple organisation tips that work
Polkadotpjs · 04/01/2023 14:31

I feel less motivated today than when I was reading yesterday but hoping this thread will help. Saw another thread on 21 day challenge doing objects every day so might try this too. Rome wasn't built in a day I guess !

berrycakeandcustard · 04/01/2023 20:55

Thanks for this thread@caninecalamity and for posting the name of the podcast.

I'm reading all the tips here, I need to declutter and organise my home and I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed at the thought. I used to be good at keeping everything in order but the last year or two a lot happened in my life and keeping my home organised took a back seat. I'm determined to sort it all out during the next month or two, that was one of the new years resolutions I made for 2023.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 04/01/2023 21:26

Set reminders on phone and Alexa for PE kit, musical instrument. Swimming days etc

Meal plan - and always have a "quick meal" on store for when it all goes pear shaped. Jars of hotdogs and part baked baguettes, and oven chips are quick. Not ideally healthy, but quick and filling.

Act on school letters immediately.

Set auto top ups for school dinner money.

In my work calendar I make myself an appt for 8 am every Monday, where I list my tasks for the week, and add to it as something comes to mind.

Add all school holidays, inset days, domestic commitments to your work calendar ASAP.

I have just started booking time in my work calendar immediately after meetings to do my actions.

2023istheyearigetmyacttogether · 04/01/2023 21:39

We used to have a whiteboard by the front door which listed everything the DC needed each day. It was divided into two, one side for each DC. At the top was what they needed every day (coat, water bottle, book bag &, for one DC, medication). Then it listed each day and what they needed eg swimming kit or shin pads. If nothing was needed, it said nothing. Then there was a pen blu tacked to the wall to write extra things on.
As soon as info came in from school, I would put it in my calendar for the Sunday before it took place. Then, every Sunday, I planned the week. The exception was if, say, it was harvest festival or another food contribution then I put it in on a Thursday so it could come in the Friday supermarket delivery.
I had a present cupboard, a stack of birthday cards and RSVP'd to parties as soon as I read the invitation and put it on the calendar.

Squidlydoo · 04/01/2023 21:41

Set up a note on your iphone for each month. In this I have simple categories - buy, do, remember and birthdays then I add check box lists for everything as I remember and tick things off as they’re done.

this could also be done weekly.
they can also be shared with my husband so he can’t also tick things off too

In fact i realise I use Apple notes for lots of things!

we also have the TimeTree calendar app and that allows us to add all events to calendar

acting on school letters immediately is also a great tip

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