People who “do all that AND work full time”. HOW??

[Mickeymackey]

Please share your secrets!

I’ve seen people say stuff like this a few times on threads and I’m baffled. I only work 20 hours a week and I’m pretty much flat out 6am-9pm as it is and my house isn’t anywhere near as clean as I’d like.
For example yesterday
Up at 5.45 with dc 4, stripped bed, emptied washing machine and put another load on, made breakfast for dc 3 and 4, emptied dishwasher, cleared draining board, wiped over sink, cleaned oven (just a wipe over). Hung out 1st load of washing, got dc 3 and 4 ready, got myself ready, wiped round bathroom, made dc1 breakfast. School run for dc3, home, hung out 2nd load of washing, remade bed, dusted one and a half bedrooms, made dc1snack, took dc4 to toddler group, came home made lunch for dc 1and 4, took dc1 to medical appointment, straight on to school run, got home, made dc1 and 3 snack, finished dusting remaining bedrooms, hoovered bedrooms, fed plants, listened to dc3 read, transferred not quite dry washing to tumble dryer, folded the rest, cooked dinner and made packed lunches for dp and dc2, tidied up from dinner, folded washing from dryer and put it all away, got dc3 and 4 into bath, read stories, put them to bed. Finished tidying downstairs, had a shower, made a drink, sat down at 9.15 and watched one episode of something. 10pm made dc1 bedtime snack, straightened up lounge, went to bed.
Today basically the same just different housework/appointments/activities. Tomorrow toddler group in the morning straight from school then a bit of housework, make lunch, get dinner in slow cooker, work for 3 hours (from home) pick up dc3, take them to club and work for another hour in the car while they’re at club. Come home, put away laundry, dish up dinner, go to yoga, come home read stories and put dc3 and 4 to bed, eat my dinner, make lunches for everyone, shower…Thurs and fri usual morning jobs, get dinner in slow cooker do school run and then go straight to work, home at 5.45 straight into dinner, clear up, bath and bed for dc 3and 4…

I must be missing a trick. How on earth do people do it all AND work full time hours. Are you all doing your housework at midnight? Any tips welcome because I’m meant to be upping my hours soon and I can’t see how without letting things slide around the house!

Snacks are stuff like
Nutrition shake, flapjack and fruit
Smoothie, cheese& crackers and a chocolate bar or cake
Hot chocolate and toast/bagel/crumpet with nut butter. Sometimes custard or rice pudding as well.

Nothing complicated but it all adds up I suppose. I do bulk make flapjacks etc and buy prepackaged stuff as well but tend to use that when I’m out as 1) it’s more expensive so can’t afford to do all the snacks that way and 2) the snacks are meant to be 250-300 kcal each and it’s easier to load them if I make them myself.

Dc1 is meant to be on bed rest but does get up for meals and some snacks.

I’m sure it will all get easier when they return to school and dc4 starts preschool

Bunch of bananas?

1. What is ironing? I'm not familar with that concept. I don't know what dusting is, either. That's several hours a week saved straight away .

1. I hoover downstairs in the areas where small children drop crumbs every afternoon otherwise mice move in . It keeps it very clean and is easier to maintain. I never used to do this and it makes a big difference to how clean the house feels.

1. Own less stuff, it is so much easier and quicker to be tidy/clean when you have less stuff.

1. Tidy/clean little and often. Tidy up as I go along this is tough if you have four children though.

1. Washing every day so it never builds up too much. It still builds up and I'll try and clear the back log.

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1. Overall cleaning attitude is "fuck it, that will do". Something is better than nothing, a quick clean is better than nothing and only showhouses look perfect all the time.

1. Try the Organised Mum Method or Flylady. Decluttering is part of them and will help make your house easier to clean.

It's very hard to be tidy when you have small children and they are at home all day, they make so much mess. Cleaning up is like baling out water from a overflowing bath.*