The first day my sisters were here one of them asked, “How do you do it all?” As soon as they were here a few hours she quickly realized I did NOT do it all. Over the course of their visit they did the sewing I’d been putting off, cleaned all the corners I never get around to and scrubbed the baking pans that had turned an ugly shade of brown from never being scrubbed back to their original shiny-ness.
There are many things I don’t get done. But the important things get done, like food on the table, clean clothes and a semi-clean house, and I am able to mostly keep up with my four children under four and the phone job.
I’ve been thinking about what my sister said though. What makes life work around here? What are some things I do to make things simpler, easier and less stressful?
I came up with a few things I do that keep the day on track and help me keep my head and I thought I’d share them while the children are all down for naps this rainy day.
1. I make menus.
I know this probably won’t make me popular with some of you. Lots of people don’t enjoy making menus and honestly I don’t either past the first three meals or so. I do it for my sanity’s sake. Even if I don’t end up using the menus half the time because we have that chicken in the fridge that needs used, or I just don’t feel hungry for stir fry, it still helps to have a plan. That way I’m not scrambling at the last minute trying to thaw meat in hot water while the baby cries and the phone rings. (Remember, we’re off grid. I don’t have a microwave with that handy defrost button.)
I usually plan the week’s menus either Sunday afternoon or Monday. Then I can look through it and write down which day I need to get salmon out to thaw for supper or make ahead a breakfast casserole to bake the following morning.
2. Do certain things on specific days.
Doing this has made my life so much more simple. For example, I do all the laundry I can find on Tuesdays and then one load on Friday to get us through the weekend. This saves me from worrying about laundry every day – because it’s there. It’s always there. But I can relax about the laundry and simply put it off until the next laundry day.
3. I write things down
Some days my brain feels like it will explode with everything going on. I’ve found that the best way to relieve stress when I’m feeling overwhelmed with all the things calling for my time and attention is to simply write it down. Then I won’t forget anything and I can work on one thing at a time until everything is done.
The last few years I’ve had a planner book and it has been worth its weight in gold. It keeps my to do list and menus and grocery shopping list all together and organized. If my day is too busy, I simply spread some of my jobs out throughout the next few days. It’s wonderful.
4. I work ahead.
With four little people in the house I can never be sure how my day is going to go. So when the baby sleeps extra well or the older ones actually use their imaginations and play happily for a few hours, I pull out my planner book and start doing things on my list for the next day or beyond. That way if there’s a day or two when the phone job is busy or Ariel just wants held all day, it all comes out about even.
These are things I’ve found that work well for me, but I love organizational tips and ways to maximize my time. Let me know in the comments what you do to make life go smoothly – whatever stage you’re in!
Interesting, applicable post! Check, check, and check. I do those things too (ok, so I haven’t been doing so great at menu planning, but DO agree with everything you say – it saves stress even if I deviate.). And having lists helps me stay focused when I’m not sure what to tackle next or in what order. I still remember with just baby #1 I had to come to the realization that I might get nothing “extra/fun” or only expect to get one extra thing done a day among all the necessities. My hat’s still off to you as the busy momma that you are!
I will give a hearty Amen to your blog post, even at my stage of life when you get more forgetful and your children don’t all live at home anymore. I do my menus on Mon for 1 and 2 weeks ahead. Then I make up my shopping list off my menus so when I go shopping twice a month, I can purchase what we will need for those 2 weeks worth of meals. Having specific jobs for certain days frees you up to know that eventually a certain area of the house will get clean again (although “clean” never really lasts). As ideas pop into my head throughout the week, I write them down in my book whether it be to make a phone call to line up an appointment or do a certain household chore. I enjoy being able to cross something out to show that I was able to accomplish something with my day, and it also guides me when I have a free moment as to possibilities of what I could be doing next. I write down ideas for birthday / Christmas gift ideas for my family, too. I have a section in the back for planning ahead for the following year to remind me of things like every Jan I want to update my photos albums and redo my photo board, during the winter it is my goal to do some housecleaning of drawers, cupboards, closets, etc, when to schedule dentist appointments, and make notes on when to prune fruit trees, pick fruit, etc. I also slip brochures and appointment cards as well as recipe cards in between the pages for the right week or mark down the page # and which cookbook to find the recipe for the menu that night.
I call my planner book, “My Brain” and don’t know what I’d do without it! It sounds like you are on the right track with all your ideas! Planning ahead does pay off!
Betty Joy
Yes to all this!! You are much more organized than I am, but I also call my planner my Brain. It really helps everything flow smoothly and appointments and jobs don’t get forgotten. Thanks for sharing!