How do you find the time?

[LovingTheseAutumnSnippets]

I don't need any recommendations for skin care, or makeup, or how to apply it. I don't need any more clothes or new Autumn boots. The reason being is that I have not used the stuff I have, or the things I've bought to wear (mostly bought on recommendations on here) because I just do not seem to be able to find the time.

It's just that simple. When do you find the time?

I work 25 hours a week, so am not working FT. I just always seem to have something more important to do. It's like today. I haven't even had a shower today as I needed to clean up after a long weekend, 2 school runs, do 3 loads of washing, 3 hours of ironing and now it's dinner. It's my day off and I'm knackered.

How do you find the time, to look gorgeous?

Could be about priorities? I mean, I have a toddler and a new baby and I had a shower this morning in the 10 minutes between my husband finishing his/getting dressed and needing to leave.

Perhaps the issue is that you’re leaving everything til your days off? Not tidying and doing laundry as you go? Obviously if you’ve been away for the weekend that’s a bit different but if you’ve been at home at least some of the time you could probably have zoomed around for 20 minutes after dinner tidying up and put a wash on each evening to run overnight?

Also do you need to iron everything? And can you buy yourself more time with some breakfast or after school club?

Unless you have a day off to do this stuff because that’s your preference. But surely a shower is worth spending 10 minutes on.

I would prioritise a 5 min shower over tidying up every day.

3 hours of ironing? I'd rather have a shower!

Yeh you have to prioritise yourself. I ALWAYS get showered and do make up before I start the day. It takes about 20 mins and it’s a non- negotiable; just like brushing my teeth.

So today so example you’d have done 20 mins less tidying, would that have been such a disaster?

I always thought of self care (shower, skincare, minimal make-up, supplements, 30 min exercise/day) as non negotiable. Remember: you can't pour from an empty cup.

3 hours ironing 😮

I'd ditch the ironing myself and take the shower and put on basic make up

What the fuck are you ironing for 3 hours?! Cut that shit out for a start. And take a shower. Don't be a martyr.

I iron about once every other month.

Not sure why you iron for so long.

I pop my make up and get myself ready before DP goes to work. Means getting up a bit earlier.

I don’t iron anything 😂

Seriously, I make time. I get up at 5am to prioritise working out/taking supplements/quick meditation/skin care/quick make-up/hair/body lotion etc. I’m all ready and done by the time my DDs get up.

I also set aside either Friday evenings or Sat mornings for a pamper - face mask/microneedling/LED mask/dye eyebrows/ nair/ bath/hair wash/fake tan/nails. Prefer to do it on Sat mornings as I have more energy - don’t have to leave the house until 11am for DD’s classes and it is bliss! I don’t even look at the house on Sat mornings - I’m the priority. Hit the housework around 3pm - it all gets done but I look good 😂

I've never met anyone in my life who ironed for 3 hours. I do a 5 min with the steamer if a shirt needs it. That's it.

We've been in our house for two years and I can't say whether we threw out the iron when we moved or it's still in a box somewhere. One of my criteria for clothes is that they won't need ironing. 😂

As for wearing nice clothes, you have to get rid of all the not very nice things - then you have no choice but to wear the nice stuff, even if it's just around the house. Even nice pyjamas.

I used to iron - I guess I grew up thinking everything needed ironed. Then I had DS (now 8) and I've not ironed since...this reminds me of my friend who commented to me once that she'd been so busy she hadn't washed the front door that week. Not suggesting you do lots of unnecessary things but ironing for 3 hours definitely is. Maybe just think about how you spend your time.

Washed the front door that week 😂

You DO have time, you're just prioritising ironing and housework over yourself! As PPs have said, you dont need to be doing 3hrs of ironing at the expense of a shower and doing whatever routine (however short) you need to feel nice.

Washing your front door 🤣🤣

The bare minimum of ironing is done in Chez Sponge.

I don't iron unless I really need to.

I don't look gorgeous, but being clean is a non-negotiable for me. Every single day begins with a shower during which I can slap on a hair mask, or use a moisturising shower gel, or even brush my teeth if I'm stuck for time. A quick body lotion/hand or foot cream when I comb hair, and clothes on. Takes 15 mins.

Start with the shower.

So, yeah: stuff is getting on top of you, and/or you're doing a lot of unnecessary stuff.

Doing 3 hours of ironing but not showering yourself is madness. What are you even ironing? In our house, DH irons his own shirts, and he gets through 10 or so in an hour while watching TV on a Sunday night. I iron the very few items of my own clothing, mostly cotton shirts for work, that really have to be ironed. Nobody irons the DCs' clothes.

There is no ‘cleaning up’ in the world that couldn’t be ten minutes shorter so I had a shower. And as for 3 hours ironing!! Just no. You clearly have loads of time, you are just prioritising the wrong things!

I'm firmly in the non-iron camp. Been considering a steamer for the few linen items I have, but I chucked out my iron in 2015 and have never looked back.

I have a fulltime job, and a child at nursery school. I start work at 8 so I leave at 7.15. I'm with my child until 7 and get ready in 15 minutes; that includes a shower, facial toner, moisturiser, tinted moisturiser, tooth brush and hair brush. Oh and obviously get dressed.

In the evening, I do the kid's bed and bath and they are asleep by 7.45. If I need to wash my hair, I do it then while husband cooks. I have a 5-step night time skin routine which really doesn't take long. Once a week I put on a face mask while sorting laundry, and once every 2 or so months I go out for a pedicure and a facial while my husband takes DC to some fun activity. You make time. I do occasionally end up putting my mascara on on the tube but hey, mornings are hectic.

I always pack my bag the night before & get my outfits ready, including underwear and accessories. That's essential.

Don't do ironing. Just don't. I have genuinely not ironed anything for at least 20 years and it's all been fine x

just always seem to have something more important to do

This is your issue. For me, looking/feeling my best is what's important to me, it sets the tone for the day ahead. So I prioritize it. Getting myself ready is literally the first thing I do. I might have breakfast and scroll online first if I'm having a slow, lazy start to the day. Nothing else will get done though before I'm washed, dressed, hair and make-up and ready for the day. It's a choice. There's nothing wrong with you making a different choice to me, it doesn't make me a better person or you a lesser one, but if your choices are making you unhappy I suggest making different choices

Washing the front door 🤣🤣🤣

Are you a morning or evening person. I'm really not a morning person and I always rush into the day so I have a short routine at bedtime - shower, dry hair, moisturiser etc. It only takes about 15 mins. I don't bother with makeup if I'm at home.