The Organised Mum Method

[IcanDorisIwillDoris]

Does anyone fancy joining me in following the organised mum method?

Back to work tomorrow after the summer off (work term time only) and need to get on top of a house work routine after struggling this last year or so to stay on top of things.

I suffer with anxiety and can easily get lost in my mood without structure and I like what I saw on the website. Will probably tweek the method as I go but it's a good structured plan to kick things off.

I work odd hours around the kids being at school but have a clear hour each day to dedicate to this. Plus I am sick of losing my weekends to playing catch up when I could be doing nicer things with the kids!!

Four of us in a 4 bed semi which is clean, just full of stuff that comes with having kids. It can get pretty messy!

Have done the odd bit of decluttering over the summer which has made a bit of a difference!

Looking forward to having a house that doesn't embarrass me on the odd occasion a guest arrives unannounced

I was pretty sceptical when i first read about this on MN but did a bootcamp for everywhere except bedrooms over the summer and having been following the method properly for the last couple of weeks.
It is definitely working for me, and best of all DH is finally getting on board properly with housework.
I have the list up on a board in the kitchen and we just share out the jobs.
I work full time and he is a (reluctant) SAHD/part time student and I was feeling so resentful about the division of labour, but this method is helping us both to keep on top of housework and just takes the stress out of it.
I think you need to tweak it to suit your own routine (I leave bed changing until the weekend) but it means I don't spend my weekends doing housework (or feeling guilty for not doing it!).
The bedrooms all need a good de-clutter and deep clean but we'll get that done gradually.

Not done as much as I had hoped today, but did manage to clean the outside of the doors, sweep the step, cut some brambles down and put away all the garden toys.

I’m also doing the organised Xmas and managed to book panto ( cheaply ) as normally I leave it to late and pay double, I also managed to find a book an autism friendly meet Santa experience, feeling very organised but but now broke.

Hopefully going to mow the front lawn tomorrow and change the beds, all things I’d not got done this week.

@ItWillAllBeOkayInTheEnd ah right yes that makes sense! Haha

It’s so much easier! I can get everything done and feel like I’ve achieved things! I don’t even feel that bad for the last few days when I didn’t achieve what I wanted to because I still achieved something.
Now if dp joined in that would be great. The lazy idiot went to work this morning and left his bath water in the bath!?

Wow I had never hear of TOMM before this thread! That’s it, I’m in! I did a lot of decluttering using the Konfo method last year which has helped a lot, but I’m struggling to stay on top of everyday tasks and let them build up until they are massive.
I’m off now until next Thursday night (another shift worker here!) so will start the Bootcamp tomorrow. Ideal timing and I’m strangely excited!

Is anyone else still waiting to be accepted by the Facebook group? I tried to join on Wednesday, and said in the comment section that I had heard about it on Mumsnet and I haven't heard anything from them. Should I start to feel paranoid?!

Hmm, maybe arborea - I did the same earlier today, and got accepted within a couple of hours. Mind you, my fb feed is now full of people talking about cleaning products so you may be better off where you are

@arborea (this is probably not the done thing at all, sorry!) but I didn't want you to feel paranoid! We have a team of 10 mods who all work on a voluntary basis and get 100s of requests to join every day. We work on a strict rule that people need to answer both questions. 1) Where did you hear about us 2) do you promise to read the pinned post. The second question is really important because it means we know that the group won't be full of ads etc.

If you have answered both questions then I am really sorry, it will have been human error. As you can imagine after this thread we have had a lot of requests.

Also FYI the Facebook Group closes for new posts and new member requests at the weekend, purely so the admins can have some time off. But the Facebook and Instagram pages is still active over the weekends.

@beela you can turn notifications off for the group, if it is filling your feed full of questions about hoovers . We are a busy group so there are lots of posts!!

Thank you all for your support on this thread. I promise not to interrupt again!

Gem

Two blinking days I have been decluttering dd's bedroom. Anyway the rest of TOMM goes well. Last bh dh and dc all joined in on the half hour listening to the tunes and cleaning away.

@theorganisedmum it's ok I'm learning a lot

@theOrganisedMum hello I've been following you for a few weeks now and loving it! Thank you!

So, to Gem and everybody else...enjoy housework free weekend!

(presume we are still meant to make the beds, not live like slobs )

I love this method. I discovered it over the summer too. Really motivating to have a guide to follow.

Did anyone else think that this is like how our grannies tackled the housework? I’ve been bootcamping and amazingly have managed to start on the loft. Done 2 large cupboards of doom and even ordered more appropriate storage for them ( www.plasticboxshop.co.uk if that helps anyone else - even has a fit finder search, amazeballs).

For the past 5 years it gets to December and I think it might be good to go to the panto then can’t get tickets. I booked ours last weeks

How is everyone cleaning their ceiling fabric lampshades? To get up to the ceiling rose I’m going to have to get the stepladder out.

Can somebody please tell me how I can find the playlists? Are they on YouTube? I’m starting Bootcamp today, need some motivational tunes!

Oh my days Gem is that you?! @TheOrganisedMum I have been resisting the urge to message you via Facebook to say 'hi' after I saw the thread mentioned on the Facebook group page.

You are more than welcome on this thread!! Please do feel free to 'interrupt' any time you feel. I am overwhelmed by the response to this thread and am absolutely chuffed at the state of my house after following your method loosely for just a week.

You have no idea how much of a difference this has made to my crazy hectic life, thank you judging from this thread I am not alone in this!!

From your newest biggest fan!

Yep it works so thank you Gem / Original Organised Mum! Our house is generally feeling more sparkly. It's funny how the daily level 1 stuff just lifts everything a little bit, including the feeling of overwhelm.

Planning to do level 1 stuff today and then might tackle one random pile of crap to tackle. Bedroom unit and the pile of doom down the side of the sofa are prime contenders!

I'm on day two of bootcamp, attempting living room but everyone is off today so DH and DS1 currently playing Minecraft! I've taken over the dining area part and so far cleaned and tidied the cd storage, sorted two drawers (totally emptied one) and two big baskets (cables and stationery!) from the sideboard. Bag of rubbish and bag of recycling. Still got another basket and a shelf to go, plus whatever crap is down the side and underneath it. I've done around two hours just on this!

Also on second load of laundry. I now have 4 loads to put away, two on the line and one in the machine (two of these are bedding). Plus about two more to do. Hope the weekend stays dry!

I saw your OP and have been lurking/trying it out at home for the last few days. Yesterday I tackled the lawn for the first time in weeks (Friday focus!) and today I have been sorting/cleaning while listening to the play lists. What I have noticed is it has taken away the overwhelmedness - normally I see stuff that needs doing (eg doors wiping) and I think OK I will do them after I have done x, y, z... Oh god there is so much to do, it is too much!' And then I do nothing! Instead I am seeing the doors and thinking' OK, I can maybe get them done when I do this room during the week, if I don't get round to it then I'll get them the next week'. It's made for a much calmer mind. 😊
off out to B&M to bulk buy microfiber clothes and zoflora

I’ve just focused on level 1 stuff today but I can see how being stricter with myself & just doing the room focus & level 1 stuff has produced a cleaner & tidier house.

Upstairs is still spotless & organised. I just need to hoover the living which I haven’t needed to do since Monday but that’s it.

Meal planning has gone smoother, OH has said I’m a lot calmer & I can sit down in the evenings.
We’re going away week after next & I won’t have to deep clean anything. Means I can focus on packing & the admin.

I’ve also managed to clean the downstair’s toilet cupboard & get the washing machine on its clean wash. A bag has gone to charity & ive started another one.
Means I can finish painting the bathroom once DC are in bed & get on upstairs tomorrow.

Even DC are tidying up after themselves & making beds.

Week 1 done, and although the house is cleaner than before, you can't tell from all the clutter! I guess I need to keep going to see real results.

I'm a sahm, but I'm thinking of trying to get it all done before school as the DCs want to bring friends home and the house is not in a suitable state (unless I have 2 hours notice) I also need to get non housework stuff done when the youngest is at preschool, so if it's all done before we go, I won't feel guilty.

How long before tidying as I go becomes natural?

It doesn’t!! Not with children in the mix. I turn around and my spotless room is in chaos! I find I just have to find a metal attitude that works for me.
Currently it is making sure I collect all washing and out a load on every day.
That I never leave a room without taking something with me that doesn’t belong there.
It try to go to bed with no dishes waiting for me.
If I’m in a room I ‘do a bit’ while I’m in there, no matter how small.

I’m hoping that the cumulative effect will be a tidier house, which is quicker to clean. And I’m also decluttering as I go. I’m focusing on one area at a time. At the moment it’s clothes and I’m bagging everything that - doesn’t fit, hasn’t been worn in ages, I’ve gone off it. Currently have two bin bags for the charity shop.

A little probably does go a long way. I never know where to start whenever the rooms get messy on again. I keep hoovering and sweeping downstairs but by the time every one is home it looks as bad as before.
Also depressing when I go to other people's house and they apologise for the mess when I thought their place was pristine....

Haha! books yes I know exactly what you mean!

Books, don’t let them in

Haha, I knew the solution would be easy 😀