General household competency tips please - sorry long

[penelopecruz]

Ok - I am giving my life and my relationship a massive haulover and I've decided that I need be more ept domestically, as I am a slattern and a bluestocking and have f* all interest in tidiness.
We have a cleaner one morning a week who keeps the authorities at bay but apart from that it's down to me as dp is a workaholic.
At the moment that is not going to change.

So - I have two dcs at school and in the school day I have to
WORK
Do exercise
Do all domestic/household administartion tasks.

What about the evneings? Well dp is mainly working, so by the time I have done tea bath bed homework improving activities and cleared up I normally need to watch shite tv for a bit. Then I do dishwasher hang clothes etc but I never feel quite on top of it.

Please advise of your foolproof routines.I am a freelance worker - an artist - and I love my work and resent domesticity encroaching into my day.thank you in anticipation.

bump please there must be some people with useful tips on organisation/competency.

I feel like I am measuring my life out in pants.

Hi Penelope
I work from home too, and struggle to keep on top of it all without any dc's yet!
Somehow "work" takes priority when often I'm just fannying about (or MNing!)
I would advise you to step the way of the Fly Ladies. It's mildly cringeworthy but you do only have to spend a few minutes every day doing stuff and you gradually get on top of it.
Will be easier still if you have a cleaner as well.
Have a look at any of the threads marked FLY and click on the link in the first post marked something like "today's mission"
GOod luck

Hi Penelopecruz - I too struggle with the dull, boring house-related stuff. I always have struggled to be honest. When I worked in the corporate world, I blamed the untidiness on the basis that I worked full-time and thereby justified a cleaner.

Now I am at home - also an artist - I have realised that actually I just loathe housework in the same way that I loathe trifles, Eastenders, roadrage and skinny jeans. It's just not me to love it.

I discovered Flylady last autumn, and once I'd recovered from the ghastly sentimental emails and utter rubbish that comes from her site, I realised that it's just about building a short but effective routine. And actually, I hate to say it, it has really helped me!! I still loathe it all with a vengeance but I'm doing it without thinking and it leaves me free to do other, more aesthetically pleasing activities. Like shouting at the children in different languages. Or spending time on MN gawping. Or even in the studio...

So join the cult, forget the daily emails, be wary of the Flylady thread on here - although I post on it occasionally, the 'to do' lists on it are probably not in the spirit of only 15 mins a day, and frankly they scare me! And don't worry about doing your shoelaces up.... (it's okay, you'll find out what I'm talking about if you venture on to the Flylady website )

Orlando I have glanced at it before and it terrified me....please tell me it hasn't changed you. The very idea of signing up for something like this makes me feel ill...i saw a thread on CLEANING MIRRORS FFS who has time to do THAT? But if you genuinely say it has helped without changing you into an OCD ridden loon, maybe it's time to take a deep breath. Convince me.

I did a bit of FLY for a while, got the general concept then got rid of the emails and the daft crap about wearing shoes and 'blessing' your house etc. Can't FLY 'properly' and work FT.

I find the 15 minutes at a time thing REALLY good though.
I do 15 minutes - no more- of ironing each night and put it all away straight away.
Before I go to bed I tidy the living room floor etc.
Each room/area has a day of the week to be hoovered, just takes 5-10 minutes a day then rather than a two hour hoover-athon once a month!
If a job needs doing, I set my mobile for 15 minutes and do it.

I think I am at least jogging along side it rather than lagging far far behind staring at it's arse!!

Well, I can't promise that I am NOT a loon...but as for being OCD, fat chance!!!

Like Jessajam says, the general concept is actually really effective. It is the other stuff that sticks in my throat somewhat. But it's easy to ignore the fluffy bits, and I really have found that getting into a routine has helped me.

On the other hand, there are days that I can't do much but hey, I've stopped stressing about it, and I no longer feel like a completely hopeless person for living in a hovel. And the hovel isn't a hovel any longer . It is now a happily lived-in, slightly messy, family home.