Organisational tips for mums!

[littleraysofsunshine]

I am in need of tips. I have three small kids. Some days fail me with being organised. Or prepared with stuff.....

Tips please!

Littlerays, I am trying to be more organised too. Just had dd2 and am finding leaving the house, cleaning and generally keeping on top of things very tough. DH is back at work next week and i am determined to sort my stuff out! I am not naturally clean or organised but have started making small changes. It is just do hard to find the time to get things done though - dd1 is 3 and is shocking at bedtime at the moment so that is about 2 hours or more of my night gone.

I think I am going to sit down and make a list of all the points in our day that feel chaotic- e.g getting ready for nursery, dinnertime, bedtime and have a think about what I can do to organise things better. Am going to start doing a packed lunch in the fridge for us the night before. Also need to do a load of batch cooking

Sorry this has just been a ramble and moan but will come back to you with more ideas. Do you do online grocery shopping? It is amazing!

Batch cooking is a saviour as is preparing dinner during naptime or when DC are eating breakfast or lunch. Make lunch the night before. Never start a new activity before the first one is tidied away. Never go upstairs empty handed. Go out daily, that means less mess at home.

I used to feel the same as this and still do some days I've really really tried to get more organised because I just felt like I was drowning. Don't get me wrong I'm not perfect and have days (weeks!) where it all goes totally wrong!
Some of the things I've found helpful are

Online food shop
Online clothes shop
Doing as much as I can the night before, clothes out for everyone, know where bobbles, hairbrushes are, shoes and coats by the door, packed lunches made pretty much everything I can do done the night before.
I try and keep on top of washing and ironing
I have a cleaner once a week, I know this is not an option for everyone but I have 3 children, 2 dogs, 2 cats and I'm 39 weeks pregnant I would rather cut back in other areas and have my amazing cleaner once a week.
When I cook I make extra and chuck it in the freezer
Everything on the calendar as soon as I know about it

That's it really nothing groundbreaking but it has helped a lot. The one chore I hate more than anything is the ironing so now I set a time limit of an hour it's amazing how much I get done. My ironing marathons are a thing of the past!

Don't ever sit down and do nothing. (sorry not v helpful, been one of those days)

Not very radical but get everything ready the night before...

Clothes put out in piles on the kitchen radiator
Book bag packed
PE bag/swimming/Beavers/football bags all packed
Table set for breakfast

It might not work for everyone but we stick to one room (kitchen) in the morning. Clothes are there, toothbrush on the windowsill, book bags etc. in the same place. DS comes down in his jammies, has breakfast, dressed, teeth etc. but doesn't move from the kitchen!

Internet shopping is fab. Start making The List during the week, order and have it delivered once children are in bed. Make sure that anything that you run out of during the week is added to The List immediately. Ensure that DP also uses The List. Meal plan where you can.

Never go up or downstairs without carrying something.

Also hoping that these tips are for dads as well as mums, bearing in mind the other thread about dads not doing enough round the house!

Agree with being organised the night before, bags packed, lunches ready, clothes out, water in kettle and coffee/flask breakfast stuff out waiting.

Luckily my partner does a lot of tidying. We try and be a team about it. I just find myself running out of time then I'm just too tired then go to bed... But then I'm left unprepared the next morning creating a vicious circle! I need to fix it.

Along with meal planning..... That's a whole other post I guess but any tips welcome

Use your phone for reminders to aid your sleep-deprived brain (library books/ swimming stuff/PE stuff/reading books) as well as appointments.

Why not get your DP to ensure breakfast stuff is ready the night before while you organise kids' stuff (or vice versa)?

How old are they?

Almost 4, 2.5y, and 8.5months.