How do you organise your weekends?

[Saythreehailmarys]

Mum of 1DC (1.5) and a high energy dog. Just wondering how others structure their weekends to get everything done?

I’m feeling really overwhelmed with trying to fit in everything - dog walks, some kind of family time, laundry, DIY, downtime for both me and DH. I feel either we have to be really regimented (which is super stressful), or more chilled (and then I feel stressed because we didn’t get stuff done).

Many thanks!

Following because I’m going back to work shortly and would also like to know :)

We normally do more jobs on a Saturday and family day on a Sunday. Saturday is my lie in day. Dh is up with kids at 6:30, I get up 8 latest. One of us will do the food shop first thing, one walk dog, dc choose who they're going with. So both get done before lunch. Sometimes family dog walk after lunch. We only walk dog once a day. Jobs Saturday afternoon, eg DIY, sorting clothes, shops, running dc about. Sunday I get up with dc, run club at 9, dh walks dog before lunch, usually see gp's, cook a roast and watch some family TV. Laundry is done every day. And I clean every day in the week, roughly follow the organised mum method (but a lower standard version) so there's not so much to do at the weekend.

So my tips are, organised mum method, Saturday jobs day, getting on it first thing, and having an older lazy dog!

Lists, prioritising, more lists, procrastination, rearranged lists.

In general Saturday is the day we make plans, go places, chores.
Sunday is more low key, less chores, more go for a walk, potter about, invite people over, gardening..

If it’s dry we get out both days walking, on bike, something active for Ds (age 2.5)

We dont have a particular structure for our weekends but a few things we have started doing in the week have made them a lot easier: we do all household admin Monday night, we have a cleaner Tuesdays, DH wfh wednesdays and puts all the laundry through the machine, Thurs eve I put it away/ iron. Obv depends on whether one of you can wfh one day. I have wednesday evenings to go out/ exercise, dh has thursdays, so we both feel like we have had some downtime in the week also, rather than depending on the weekend. Cut down any jobs you can - edit down toys so less tidying, batch cook, rewear clothes/pjs that are still cleanish before washing. While we have 2 young dc and 2 careers we have accepted DIY is not for us! You’re definitely not alone finding it overwhelming sometimes!

Are you both working full time outside of the home?

Get as much done in the week as you can, each have a few hours to yourselves, make a plan early in the week so you know what you're doing on the weekend so you're not procrastinating.

Definitely get as much done during the week as you can - I put a wash on pretty much every morning and it goes out either at lunchtime or in the evening, kitchen is cleaned down every night after the dishes are done, I fold laundry while DS is in the bath, I'll often do a dinner that last two nights so not having to properly cook every night. DH and I both exercise on different evenings so we split bedtimes.

Weekends are a mix - we each get a lie in and then it depends on what we're doing. This weekend we didn't really have much family time because we took DS to things separately but this coming weekend we've got a Santa visit booked so that will be a nice day for the three of us.

Thanks everyone, some excellent ideas I’ll definitely be implementing!

Yes we both work full time. I’m in London several days a week (long day, out 0630-1730), DH mostly WFH but tends to have back to back meetings all day so isn’t great at doing stuff in between meetings.

Will definitely try doing chores in the evening to get them out the way, reducing the amount of stuff to do at weekends.

Glad I’m not the only one who finds it hard sometimes!

Something came up on Facebook, one of those reels, about doing cleaning and tidying on a Thursday evening. Thought that was a good idea. Put some tunes on. Free up the weekend.