If you find it quite easy to run a household, would you mind sharing your wisdom with me?

[Janni]

I'm starting to think it's not about how many children you have (I'm better now I've got three than when I had one), nor how much space you have (I've lived in all sorts of dwellings and struggle wherever I am). I don't think it's about whether you have a cleaner (when I did I half-killed myself shoving things in cupboards and drawers before she came). I've tried Flylady - I just spent even longer on MN.
I know all about decluttering and I don't think clutter is the problem. I'm not interested in a debate on the division of labour between partners. What I want to know is this: What do you say to yourself each day to keep on top of things? How do you do the same things over and over and not give up? How do you stay on top of things even if there are unexpected events that throw your routine out of kilter?

In short, HOW DO YOU DO IT?

I've definitely had to lower my cleaning standards since having the kids (one is almost 3 and the other is 15 months) or I'd go out of my mind trying to achieve the impossible.
Being organised really helps but you also need to be flexible and not stress about it too much - mess is not the end of the world!
Planning meals a week in advance, doing a load of washing every day, having lots of plastic Ikea boxes to chuck all the toys in and having regular clear outs of unused toys and clothes works for us.
I always try to keep in mind that the kids will only be little for a short time - playing and having fun is more important than cleaning!

Forgot to say - get shopping delivered by Tesco, Asda, etc. It saves times, you don't get tempted to buy stuff you don't need and you don't have to go shopping with the kids, hallelujah!

delegation is the key
and internet shopping for food

I delegate a lot to dh
and everything else to the cleaner

I am shite at housework

Ocado make life easier (and cheaper amazingly)

I do cook (which I love most of the time)
so am not totally useless!

Any more tips?
Since reading this last weekend I have been inspired and my house has been better and my life generally more organised
Thank you