Getting anything done - how?

[LottieMary]

I just feel like I can’t do anything really beyond basic shopping and housework. 3yo in nursery 2 days/week an on May leave with six month old. My house is a fixer upper and the garden is absolutely exploding and needs some serious attention

what practical ways are there to get things done? The 3yo does love helping but some proper things eg hedge trimming I don’t really want him around for! Husband does a lot, currently working full time.

I know some will say it’s just a tough season and let things slide, but I just feel like I need to do some things with house and garden to keep them maintained

Introduce an hour of 'quiet time' for your eldest. Time for him to play by himself in his room/watch a movie depending on your preference and your child's personality. Make it an absolutely key part of the routine so they get used to it. Use this time to get stuff done or just sit down and have a cup of tea.

Make sure you're encouraging independent play so that he can entertain himself for brief periods (best to do this following a trip out/burst if activity and not when they're bouncing off the walls).

Make some busy bags and/or treasure bags/boxes so you have something to whip out and keep him busy. Rotate toys. Look on Instagram for ideas of things that are quick to set up but keep them busy for ages (e.g. painting with water, getting toys out of ice or 'washing' teddies/cars/Duplo/dolls).

Do gardening while he's pottering in the garden. Maybe put something new out to occupy him. Tuff trays are great. We love the speed track in the garden for him to race his cars on.

Don't feel guilty about tv time. I find it best to carefully schedule it in for when it's needed the most.

At those ages i just cracked on in the garden, 3yo can play with toys in the garden, and the 6 month old can either be on a picnic blanket with some toys, or wait till they're napping ao you just have 1 out there with you

Days toddler is at nursery strap your baby onto you. Learn to Backwear with a wrap. I did this with my 6 month old and he loved it. He would be happy and content awake and would nap there to with the motion. Out the way so not Hazzard for him. I would get 1.5hrs like this sometimes 2.
It meant I could clean the house or even cook a proper meal and both of us are happy.
I would only do this once a day.