Organisation tips!

[Oodlesofdoodlescockapoodles]

Hi all :)

As the kids are about to go back to school, I want to start of the term feeling organised and on top of things. I work part time and we have a toddler and dogs as well as school aged children, so I feel like once I start to get behind I really struggle to get back on top of things!

What are your best tips for being organised/ keeping the house tidy?

What cleaning do you do daily/weekly? (bearing in mind hair dogs and messy toddler!)

Any quick, easy week night meals for nights they have swimming/dance etc?

Thanks!

Do things the night before - when I head to bed I like knowing that all shoes are lined up at the door, school bags packed, sports bags packed.

Things have homes - so you know where car keys are, coats, shoes. Airtag on keys, purse, etc. Have a rule to touch everything no more than once - don't put it down, put it away (if you put it down, you have to then pick it up again to put it away so you're touching it twice).

The above is made possible by having less stuff. More storage is actually worse I find as then everything gets shoved away. Less stuff and clear surfaces (made easier by less stuff) makes cleaning easier. Be ruthless about donating/cycling through toys if you have a toddler, if you have family members that buy toys then don't you buy more on top of that.

Cleaning - the organised mum method is the one that worked best for me as I could never deal with doing more cleaning/tidying than about 45 mins a day. Do the one-week bootcamp first, and then it's easier to keep on top of it.

Do a load of washing every day and don't bother separating colours out, with modern dyes and stuff I find I don't really need to. This helps the washing not build up.

Quick easy weeknight meals - three options:

1. batch cook and then warm up in the microwave
2. slow cooker
3. very simple quick-cooking things like tortellini with pesto, a rice pouch topped with some cheese, tomatoes and bit of smoked fish, dippy eggs with ham toasties, tomato soup with cheese on toast, scrambled eggs on avocado toast, etc.
   This is useful for some slightly fancier inspiration: https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/collections/10-minute_meals

Thank you! That's really helpful. Definitely need a good clear out, wish id done that before now 😅

I second preparing things the night before. Really helped me when my DC were school age.

I used to plan and prepare breakfast and packed lunches for the week. The same with school uniforms and gym kits.

I have just started using the Alexa reminders feature. I am a single parent teacher with school age children so have a lot to remember... I am using reminders for the days my children have to wear PE kit, return homework etc so hoping that will stop me forgetting anything important 🤞

TOMM for cleaning.
Robot hoover.
Don’t put it down, put it away.
If it takes 30 seconds just do it.
When leaving a room do a sweep with your eyes to see if anything needs putting away or moved.

Little and often. Never let a small job become a massive one. Put the laundry away straight away , get your children to do their own. Lunch boxes and water bottles emptied when they get home and put away/washed up. Change out of uniform, dirty clothes straight in the wash and stuff to be re worn hung up for the next wear. School bag packed the night before for the next day, lunches made, PE kit ready. It’s do Anke but like anything you just need to find your groove.