Hey IMs,
How do you all of you single working mums keep on top of your washing, cleaning, cooking and shopping when you are really fatigued? What organisation and systems do you use? I would appreciate any specifics you can share with me please.
Thanks!
2 Replies
I have a lot of washing baskets. I have a dryer so I do a wash and straight to the dryer then into a laundry basket and it’s ok if that’s where it sits until it’s used or kids sort and put away. It helps because I can do loads any time of the night, some nights I just get four loads done and it doesn’t feel like work it’s just switching loads and starting machines every hour.
Shopping I do a click and collect order, again I can do that on my phone at night. I book it for collection after work on Fridays so we have good meals on the weekend and ready to go for school lunches and then easy dinner Wednesday and takeaway Thursday if we run out or I’m tired.
Cooking, I barely ever cook a whole meal from scratch. I’ll buy meat that’s ready to go into the oven (put baking paper on the oven tray) then do beans/ broccoli in the microwave. Microwave rice. I buy shredded cheese and slices. Frozen veggies, frozen roast potatoes, frozen mash. Or with salad or eggs - fried or omelette.
Through the work week I prioritise the self care ‘jobs’ like washing hair/ nails/ lunch prep/ clean bed, clothes etc. housework just has to wait until the weekend. We do a big clean on the weekend of all the major jobs - tidy up, wipe down surfaces/pets/floors/ rubbish/ dishes and kitchen. I do it Saturday so that I can relax for the rest of the weekend.
I do washing once a week on a Sunday. Sometimes I will do mid week if we need something but I have a dryer to dry everything. One load in washer, one load in dryer. Wash the dishes every night when I am cooking so once we've finished dinner it's just the last plates and pots/pans. Once kidlet is in bed, I do a quick tidy up. Best thing I purchased is a robo vacuum. I program it to do two runs a week so come sunday its just wiping down, small vacuum of couch, windowsills, architraves etc (we have cats - hair!!!). Cooking is my biggest chore which I haven't mastered yet.