Please give me some tips so I can be more organised!

[redvelvetmooncupcake]

I live with my DP and 11mo DD in a rather small house, work three days a week and feel a bit like everything is a mess!

While I was on mat leave I was pretty organised and the house was clean and reasonably tidy. Now I'm back at work I'm struggling to keep on top of things, haven't changed the sheets for three weeks for example :(

DP is great and does washing up, his own ironing, probably more than half the cooking so I can't delegate anything out to him.

Any hints on how I can get things in hand? My DD is lovely but not the sort of baby you can leave to play, she is also walking already so I have to be able to see her if she's awake! I do as much as I can in her naptime but to be quite honest I usually just take the opportunity to have an uninterrupted cup of tea and do a bit of admin or the washing up.

My really weak area is cooking, I hate it and I hate meal planning. I don't have a car so don't do the shopping myself.

(We don't have a cleaner or a dishwasher and these things aren't an option either!)

Sorry, I meant to say thanks in advance :)

And I already do the following - get clothes ready the night before, and I have had a present cupboard since I left home!

I'm the most disorganised person I know, but when I get my act together and do the Flylady thing, it makes a huge difference. Can't do links I'm afraid, but I'm sure someone who can will come along soon

I'd start by doing internet shopping. Sainsburys is good. They also have recipes that you can print out and add the ingredients to your trolley to make it easier.

Can you negotiate with dp that he does all the cooking and you do the cleaning?

Prioritise! If your sheets haven't been changed for 3 weeks, make that the next job you do. Wash the old ones straightaway and put them away so they're ready for next time (if you have a tumble drier it will become your best friend!)

Have a 2 week rolling timetable of jobs that need to be done on your days off and stick to it as much as possible. If your dd's needs mean you can't, then just do the essentials. To me, that would be cleaning the kitchen and bathroom.

Flylady is good, although it's a bit intense for me. I pick and choose bits from it.

Do as much as you can as you go along so it doesn't build up. eg. I wash my face then use the flannel to give the sink a wipe over. I use Flash wipes on the toilet after I've used it in between cleans.

Little and often works best.

Flylady

Lots of good ideas on this thread too.

Thanks!

Sheets are now in the wash and clean sheets on the bed (I don't tend to get behind with the actual washing, but the putting away sometimes leaves a bit to be desired). I quite like doing laundry, it's putting it away I'm not keen on! General tidying also a weak point. I just don't seem to have any TIME any more! I suppose as baby gets older she will be able to help, ha ha.

Will read the ideas and try and implement some of them.