Organised mums - what tips and tricks do you have for me!

[DisorganisedMummyTurningOrgnaised]

So I’m not totally disorganised, but I think I can do better… watching the Kardashians (don’t judge me) Khloe mentioned that she makes her daughters lunch the night before… and it got me thinking maybe I’m not great at forward planning! What do you guys do to plan ahead? Meals, clothes, cooking, etc.?

Lunches night before
Plan on a sun what tea is for the week so I don't have to think - just make
Try to limit tea to easy meals
Clothes out ready the night before
Homework on one designated night

I still feel exhausted and not v organised !

PE kits ready the night before.
Always have a stash of birthday presents and cards ready so you aren't caught on the hop when you find a grubby invite in their book bag the day before their friend's party.
Pens, everywhere, for filling in the reading diary (and writing last-minute birthday cards).
Get them stripping their own beds as soon as possible, and making their beds up ditto (they should be able to do both in Y5, really)
Wash dirty school uniform and kit as soon as it hits the laundry basket.
Set as much of breakfast as is feasible out the night before - something else they can help to do.

Friend gave me a brilliant tip - make sandwiches for the week, bag and put in the freezer in little sandwich bags. Then they are made for the entire week - throw in the lunchbox still frozen and will be thawed out easily by lunch break. She had 5 kids so knew what she was talking about.

Meal plan all evening meals and get a food shop delivered Sunday morning for the week ahead.

Prep lunches the night before, fill water bottlers and place in the fridge.

Pack any and all bags needed for the next day and put them by the front door. Also lay all clothes out for you and kids the night before.

Put a load of washing on before bed on a delay timer to finish when you get up on a morning.

Get up one hour before the rest of the house, have a coffee in peace, take the washing out and get showered and dressed before everyone else. This gives you time to focus on the kids and making breakfast.

I love these! Thanks ladies!!! My little one is still only 2.5 but I’m struggling with meal prep - we order groceries on a Saturday and then I end up in a mad rush to get food cooking whilst Im on calls… it’s not a great look!

Also… folding clothes?? Any tips here on when to do it! I’ve resorted to just using the unfolded ones in the clean clothes basket, to save from having to fold them… I’m not proud…

I can't meal plan for a week.. because l never know what l fancy come tea time.
But there is only me usually.
This Morning l fancied Chicken so threw a chicken breast and vegetables in slow cooker with a casserole mix.. just had it and right enjoyed ..so I've no advice.. but really hope others on here give you great advice.
Good luck.

Clothes get folded when put away. I have a basket for rejected clothes and if I can I use those.
I pack her nursery bag with enough changes of clothes for the week on a Sunday. I also pack the bag for my day off on a Sunday. I pick out 3 sets of clothes on a Sunday which covers Monday and Tuesday and do the same for Wednesday -fri on Tuesday night

Meals everything is made from whole foods no short cuts as she has food allergies which means no prepared meals are an option. Pork mince with veg and mustard is the basis of most of our prep meals. It gets turned into cottage pie or Bolognese or lasagne if we are feel adventurous. Quick cook pasta cooks in 3 mins rather than 10 minutes. Frozen or tin veg just needs a quick blip in the microwave.
Tumble down meals where you make double of a base and then convert it to a second meal with a minor adjustment helps keep variety to our diet. We do this on a Saturday and Sunday and have the second meal on a Monday and Tue which makes the start of our week easier. For us we have various pesto like jars in the cupboard to be mixed with pasta, some frozen veg and any leftover meat or pulses (tinned for ease) from previous meals. The jars aren't compatible with my daughter allergies

Work when you work best. I am terrible in the mornings and the week is tiring which is why I do as much as possible on Sundays.

It depends whether you’re more of a morning person or an evening person. I don’t mind making lunches in the morning- I do a fruit platter for later and any dinner prep that might be needed. But my will power and motivation drain away after 6 o’clock.

I fold clothes while the dc do their homework. Or do any paperwork that needs doing. They seem to benefit from a quiet presence to keep them on track, and it helps me focus on those things too

Other things-

every activity has its own kit bag and clothes go from dryer straight to bag.

Freeze in small portions rather than family sized - several portions will defrost in 20 minutes, instead of a big block taking hours.

We have a family WhatsApp group called shopping list which everyone can add to. Helps keep track of what’s running low. The rule is if you open it pop it on the list.

“We have a family WhatsApp group called shopping list which everyone can add to. Helps keep track of what’s running low. The rule is if you open it pop it on the list.”

This is GENIUS! Thank you!

Everything ready in advance
all clothes and uniforms washed and ironed in the weekend
meals planned and bought in advanced
money taken out for anything and popped in envelopes eg snack for school the night/week before
all uniforms laid out the night before
bags and lunches packed
shoes by the door
coats ready with hats scarves gloves etc

On meal planning - what worked better for us was doing a grocery order every 4-5 days rather than once a week. I just find planning for a whole week doesn't work that well - something doesn't turn up or goes off faster than I have planned for or I forget something - every 4-5 days just takes the pressure off

Ok so my friends and hubby think I'm OCD organised lol . I work full time
2 kids a house to run and dog, hubby works away 2 weeks on/ off- so it's just me to run this ship really. Sunday afternoon make sure all the kids school uniforms are washed dried and ironed for the week, kids pack there school bags and PE kits and polish shoes, put all things in hallway ready for Monday am, fill in reading diaries and do homework. I have two weekly planner (£2 from home bargains ) I plan the week ahead meals
On a meal planner. The other planner I jot down what's going on that week, clubs, activities, appointments, what bins due to go out etc. the kids have a laminated tick sheet that can be wiped down daily - am tasks eg breakfast/ washed / dressed for school / make beds tidy room/ empty bathroom bins/ clear lawn of dog poop etc. the lists and 2 planner sheet sit ins clipboard on top of microwave so everyone can look what's going on and not ask me a million times what we're eating or doing. Night time after day at work , picking up from after school club doing tea/ dishes etc, I do a quick reset, washing on, quick Hoover. Wash floors few times a week and then prep what I can for pack ups ( non fridge items etc ) then in the am rush I just need to make the sandwiches/ fruit pots etc. there's probably a million other things t
I do that I'm super organised about but can't think as it comes second nature !!! Works for me x

I have a separate uniform wardrobe. All washed and dried as we go through the week and folded to one side, and then Friday evening I iron it all and organise. Every night after dinner, before they can do fun stuff, they get their bits for the next day out and hang on the back of a dining chair. I find they magically are able to get their school uniform and bag ready when there’s no chance of telly or playing until it’s done. If I get them to just get their things on in the morning then somehow it’s carnage.

I’ve started getting my clothes ready the night before, too. No idea why but it truly does make a difference to my stress levels in the morning!

These are fantastic guys! You’re all such super mums!!!

What sort of sandwiches freeze well and still taste nice the next day?

@Passingthethyme - anything except mayonnaise and salad. So plain sandwiches work best like - ham, cheese, marmite, jam - no lettuce, tomato, cucumber which does not freeze without going mushy. It's a brilliant time saver.

Activity stuff lives in the activity bag. So my daughters swimming costume never goes in her cupboard, it comes out of the wash and goes straight back in her swimming bag with towel, goggles etc. Same for dance stuff. Nappy bag is kept stocked with carton of ready made formula, nappies, a snack for the big one etc. Never have to faff around getting stuff ready as it’s usually ready to go