How do I fit it all in?

[AiryFairy1]

I’ve accepted the offer of a job! After a very long time being out of work I’m now panicking slightly about how to organise myself and get into a good work flow!

How long to give it until it should start feeling “easy” and the child and housework isn’t suffering as a result?

It’s WFH in the first instance which should help, but are there any tips/ tricks I can deploy to ease the path a bit, please?!

My tips would be:

Get up early
Ensure OH pulls their weight around the home, childcare and life admin
Get a cleaner
Get DC to do chores to help even when small
Use a tumble drier (I know not so good for the environment but it saves my sanity!)
Online shopping (use Alexa shopping list!)
Don't have 5 pets

Oh and good luck in the new job 👏

I'm 15 years in and it's still a juggling act - I do work very FT and single parent now though!

I would prioritise child over housework. Although I like a clean house, when I found myself ignoring the child so I could clean and feel better, that’s when I knew I had my priorities wrong.

Congratulations

Accept some days you will be winning at life and others days won't be perfect

Batch cooking
Keep on top of your washing
Take some time out with your DC or to yourself of an evening

Wash load a day to keep on top of it. Use the delay function on your washer if you have it, so set it before bed to be ready when you get up.

Have all school uniform ready for the week, on a Sunday night.

The same for your clothes.
Meal plan and do one big shop a week.
Take supper out of the freezer before you start work in the morning.
When you make anything, make double the quantity & freeze half.
Fill up with fuel at the weekend.
If you have a partner, discuss allocation of chores now.
Keep a calendar on the fridge that EVERYTHING goes on.

FT working single mum here too. I clean one room early each morning (or get a cleaner). Don't beat yourself up if occasionally it all goes to pot. It happens and your dcs won't notice.

Amazing, thanks for these great tips!

I’ve been swaying wildly between crippling imposter syndrome and thinking I’m Wonder Woman, but with all this practical advice I’m feeling much more level-headed!

@SummerSazz we have 1 pushy and attention-seeking cat which is more than enough

I do the laundry on a Sunday for uniform.
Dds made/helped make lunch the night before. Actually, it’s kept nice and cold until lunchtime at school.
Dds went to ASC. Some days I picked them up, others dh did it.
The cleaning was done as and when. We used to have a cleaner, but haven’t replaced her.
I do one big shop a week. I don’t batch cook, but in a Sunday do a huge roast meat and use that in another dish like pasta or stir fry on a Tuesday. We have take away on a Friday at the end of the week when it’s been long.

@AiryFairy1

Amazing, thanks for these great tips!

I’ve been swaying wildly between crippling imposter syndrome and thinking I’m Wonder Woman, but with all this practical advice I’m feeling much more level-headed!

@SummerSazz we have 1 pushy and attention-seeking cat which is more than enough

We started with one grumpy cat.

Now have 2 cats, a dog and 2 guinea pigs so just be careful and don't get caught off guard by your kids and agree to it in a moment of work tiredness