Organized people: How do you do it all?

N

NurseLRT

Cathlete
Hi everybody,

How do you do it all? How do you keep your house clean, spend time with the kids, workout, spend time with your spouse, have a social life, etc?

I am looking for some tips on how to workout 6 days a week and still keep my house and life in order! There just doesn't seem to be enough time in the day.

Is working out in the morning the key? Does anybody have a good balance? I know exercising is top priority, there is always time to exercise, but how do you do it all?

Thanks,
Lori
 
Hi Lori,

I don't post often, but I can definitely identify with your post. I don't have any children, but I do work full-time and have a home and large yard to take care of. I workout first thing in the morning and that is the biggest benefit to getting things done. As for the cleaning, I am kind of of a clean freak and I just make sure that I do the things that I consider my rules for cleaning every day. I always do the dishes after each meal, vaccuum, dust and clean the bathrooms twice a week, and I don't collect clutter...everything I have must have a place to go and if it doesn't I either get rid of it or find a place for it.

As for the big things, I pick one or two each week to tackle. Like washing the windows, wiping down woodwork, cleaning out fridge, cleaning wood blinds (we live on a gravel road, so they get quite dirty). By doing it this way, I don't ever have to "Spring Clean"...it's always done.

Oh, and I should add, that I find it enjoying and actually stress-relieving to clean.

Maybe you'll find some of these helpful...I always think a little each day helps prevent a big mess at the end of the week to deal with.

Those are my tips!
Jen:7
 
I am organized to the point that it's sickening! I however don't work outside of my home. I am a neat freak and find that by keeping up on the house work, it takes less time to do it! I do workout as soon as I can in the morning. I reserve my evening for the kids and hubby. If some house work didn't get done, it'll keep.
I give much respect to you women that work full time, have hubby and kids and still manage to get those workouts in. If there one thing I am afraid of.. it's going back to work in 2 years and not knowing how or if I'll be able to do it all! Susan
 
Hi Lori! Yes it can seem like a challenge sometimes to workout. However, for me its a priority. I need to get up at 5:30 am to get myself ready for work then DH & son off to school. I have no time in the morning to workout so I workout in the evening. My son is now almost 13 so doesn't require me to look after him too much anymore nor to look over his homework. After I get home from work at 6:30 I have to cook dinner, clean up, pack my meals for the next day & do my workout at 7:30 p.m. I usually can do 1 - 1 1/2 hrs. for my workout before I start it all over again the next day. DH cleans the house & will sometimes clean up dinner dishes too. Laundry I do on Thurs., Fri. & Sat. as I only have time to do one load at a time. On weekends when I workout on Sat. its early afternoon & on Sun. morning. You just have to make it your priority & schedule your day accordingly. Some women have to workout at 4:15 a.m. Find out what works best for you & go for it! HTH, Kathy:D
 
I schedule my workout for the same time everyday - right after I get home from work. It's on my calendar as if it's a real appointment.

My house is relatively small, so it only takes about 3 hours to clean - I do the upstairs one day and the downstairs another day, so I don't have to ignore my daughter for too long in one day.

Also, I'm lucky enough to work for an employer who gives TONS of paid time off (because we're non-profit, they can't pay much and give good benefits instead). I've started to take one day a month where I send my daughter to preschool and I stay home alone. I do the heavy cleaning on that day and the rest of the month is just surface work.

I'm by no means organized. I just pay attention to what's important and blow off the rest.
 
How do I do it? I don't. Ha ha!

Social life? What's a social life? Clean house? What's a clean house? Someone once told me that they don't want to spend their life cleaning up dust just to get buried 6 feet beneath it! Ha ha!

Seriously, I work a full-time job, go to school in an adult advanced learning programming for my Bachelor's, and try to squeeze in exercise, eating, sleeping, when I can. Oh, did I mention that I spend almost 1 1/2 to 2 hours on the road every day to commute to and from work? Egads! That's the killer right there.

I keep myself sane by keeping my life simple during the week. Only 3 things are done after work: exercise, dinner, study. I get about 3 hours in the evenings, so I allow an hour for each one of the above...then I pack it in and watch TV until I fall asleep (I'm usually out by 9:30-10:00).

So, hubby has to do the dishes and help with dinner and housework during the week so I can work and study and exercise. I make up for it on the weekends when I pitch in and do my share of the cleaning.
 
Hi Lori,

I am by no means a neat freak or highly organized. I workout in the morning before getting my 3rd grader up and ready for school and myself ready for work. My two sons in High School holler downstairs to me when they are leaving for school, usually in the middle of my workout. Each of my 3 kids have daily and weekly chores. For example we have 2 areas to be picked up nightly:
1. front room, family room and laundry
2. kithchen and all 3 bathrooms

One child is responsible for one, the other child for 2, and the 3rd child has that day off. They each have 2 days off a week and my house keeps picked up. After all is mostly their stuff left haning around, backpacks, books, papers, shoes, coats etc. We do real cleaning on the weekends as a family. The two older boys are responsible for cleaning their bedrooms and 1 bathroom (then if I'm lucky I get one of them to cleam my bathroom for 5 bucks!)

This of course would not work with very young children. We started doing this when my oldest was 10 and the middle one was 8, he is now 16 and the middle one was 8 (with supervision around cleansers), now 14. My youngest is 8 and I'm not ready to start letting him handle bathroom cleansers etc. But he definitely can clean his room, vacuum, take out trash, empty and load the dishwasher etc, wich he does.

We started this because the kids became involved in sports and I just wasn't home enough to keep the house picked up. It works great for us now, and teaches the kids some responsibility.

Diana
 
I am a conundrum: very organized mentally, but a mess and a half on the outside (a clean desk is the sign of a sick mind!). People have come into my office and actually gaped at the piles of "stuff." (Though I'm not as bad as a couple of my colleagues...one of whom is about to retire, so I'm getting close to holding the title of "messiest office in the department."

Our secretary is very organized. One of her "secrets" is to clean her area at the end of every day. She takes about 5-10 minutes to organize and even dust with Pledge. I've heard about web sites that help you get organized, and this "little bit every day" was one of their suggestions as well.
 
I know this is going to sound a little anal, but I actually have a schedule for my week that I rarely deviate from. I grocery shop once a week for the whole week. I plan all my meals for the week. I have a cleaning schedule and I take a 15 min. to a half hour a day, after the kids go to school, to just straighten up the house. I also work 30 hrs. per week. The key is to keep up with the chores and to have some structure. It works for me. Sunday is my lazy, relaxing day. I like doing less per day versus trying to do everything in one day. I have learned to also keep the tv off and radio on. Those Lifetime movies were really messing up my schedule. }( I usually work out after the kids go to school, but if I work or have a busy day, 9 p.m.
 
Ah, but my house isn't that clean!! Actually we're still in the process of having a grown daughter move back in...long story. And she brought her three large dogs along and we have two of our own. And my dh is a certifiable, first-class pack rat:)

DD does help with chores and the dogs, (I work full-time and since our work day starts at 6 a.m., there are no a.m. workouts.), and since DH has had it explained why I must workout, he's pretty cool about the time I spend on that. I really make the most of the time I devote to him...easy to do:) And the girls (we have two DD's) and I just enjoy the time we have together.

Somehow it all gets done...but I can't be as fussy about it as I used to be.
 
Absolutely morning workouts are key. That has helped me be consistent. However, you must then consistently go to bed on time !! :)

Also I am using the system outlined at

www.flylady.net

to keep the rest of my life on tract, household and habits wise. It is awesome! Routines are key.

Jen
 
I don't post here much, but here's what I do to (try!) keep it together.
I work 50 hours a week and am now a single mother of a four year old.
I get up at 0415 for coffee and my own quiet time. I start my workout by 0500 and finish by 0615. That takes care of my private workout time.
I do netflix for movie rentals (no trip to rental store or late fees!)

I have my utilities and other bills send me on-line statements and I pay online (no late payments, no forgetting to pay - it's all in my inbox!)

I clean 2 rooms in my house every day. Keeps things relatively neat and I don't have to blow saturday getting my house cleaned (I clean the bathroom right before my morning shower, clean the kitchen while I am making dinner ect).

I cook meals ahead and freeze them in small containers so I have lunch fast or dinner in a pinch.

I shop for groceries when I pick my daughter up - she gets to help and we have time to talk.

I have all my retirement/investments taken out automatically and manage them on-line.

I do about 70% of my gift shopping online, saves a TON of time.

I set my email to remind me a week ahead so I don't for get birthdays.

I set aside 3 hours saturday and sunday to just play with my daughter and an hour every night to talk with her, color, play , do letters, numbers - just whatever to stay engaged with her.

I do little things like get a load or 2 of laundry done while we watch a movie on friday nite (movie nite at my house).

I get my car serviced on saturdays when it needs it, and my daughter and I go to Starbucks, have coffee and just hang out. Counts for our weekend play time and the car is taken care of!

Lot's of little thing you can do like pack lunch for work the night before, buy 2 of things you use the most to avoid a "stat" trip to the store, take 15 min every day to power clean, and get your family to participate - makes it fun and you don't carry the whole burden!
 
I am also a user of the Flylady system. Although I am just a "flybaby" at this point. I highly recommend reading the book Sink Reflections by Marla Cilley and checking out the Flylady website noted in the above post. While you are at it if you celebrate Christmas, check out the holiday journal too.

I also exercise on weekdays at 6:00am.

Best of luck to you. Once you fly you will be grateful!

PS I am a SAHM of 4

Judy

AKA likes2bfit !
 
I think this is one of those gray areas where each person has to find the balance that's right for them. I also think some people have an easier time organizing things than others. Don't know if that's genetics or how we were raised or what it is, but I know people who have less to do in their day than me and can't seem to get anything done, and I also know people who have more to do in their day than me and manage to accomplish about ten times more than I do!

I've always been a very organized person, and my mother was obsessive about it - making lists constantly and feeling like she HAD to stick to the plan. I definitely don't take it to that extreme because I don't think it's realistic, and you'll drive yourself crazy trying to do it all, every single day. We're human beings, not machines.

You prioritize, and take care of the things you feel are most important first. Some things can wait, but again I feel that's an individual decision.

For instance, my workouts are a priority for me, but to fit them in I have to sacrifice sleeping an hour or so later every morning. Obviously child care is a priority, and to fit in getting Nik up to school or to the bus stop in the mornings, I have to workout and be ready myself when the time comes to leave. Obviously my job is a priority, hence the getting up early thing again. Spending time with my husband and Nik are priorities, so I'm selfish with weekends. We try to do housekeeping things and shopping in the evenings so we have our weekends free. When I go out with friends, I do it during the week. Nik has music lessons in the evening, and we take turns driving here there so other things can get taken care of by the one not driving her. That's how we free up our weekends. We clean parts of the house at a time, instead of trying to do it all at once. It's overwhelming otherwise. It takes me alone six to eight hours to really clean it well. No way would I give up a weekend day to do that unless you're talking near the holidays and people are coming over. And still in that case, all three of us would be cleaning and it wouldn't take long then. In the nice weather, my husband and I do yard work in the evenings, or Saturday mornings so the rest of the weekend is free.

These are just a few of the things we do, but again everyone's household and lives are different, and you have to find what works for you. Hope this helps!

Carol
:)
 
I'll also send in a recommendation for the Flylady system. It has helped me tremendously and my house (and life) has never been as clean and organized as it is now!
 
Thank you so much for all of the helpful replies.

I am sort of ashamed of myself that I can't keep it together more. I stay home with my children. I do have a lot of time. I am just not using it wisely! I am very busy with the kids and do a lot with them. It seems I am never home. We are always at a playgroup here, a park, shopping, or library there. Along with poor time management I need to stay home more.

I love the tips about cleaning a couple rooms everyday. I usually do it all on one day and it takes forever.

I think planning things out and writing them down is something I am just going have to do. I fly by the seat of my pants. An example of this is I have a baby shower to go to tomorrow but I still don't have a present.

I have heard of flylady.net If I just implemented these practices my life would be so much easier.

Thanks everybody.

Lori
 
I am glad to hear you stay home. I don't know how women can "do it all." I am thankful, like you, I am able to stay home to raise my children. Just because you are home doesn't mean you have lots of free time. Enjoy your children, sounds like you are doing just that! Like others, I clean only certain areas of the house on certain days. Sounds like you have your priorities straight so don't worry so much about the "small stuff."
 
Maybe you should hear from someone who ISN'T keeping it all together.

For me, work is the priority. I'm often gone from the house for 12 hours each weekday and sometimes even work on weekends. I also have additional seminars and committees in the evenings. I have no kids, and the maid does a thorough cleaning every 2 weeks. Even with the maid though, there always seems so much to do around the house like loading and unloading the dishwasher, and endlessly sorting mail and catalogs and magazines. I HATE the mail at home. Sometimes when I don't have time to look at it, it just piles up all over the place.

I have no time to cook, and don't eat the things my DH cooks (i.e. franks and beans casseroles. yuck.), so I wind up lugging home take-out every night or ordering in.

Since I usually come home tired, I try to be a weekend warrior and do most of my working out on weekends. During the week, I keep it simple and fast, like doing one or two songs from Power Hour each evening before dinner.

My dream is to someday be financially independent, maybe work part-time and spend 2 hours a day working out. My DH and I try to save as much money as we can so that we can one day be free to spend our time as we choose and not work so much!

-Nancy
 
I am another who is/wasn't keeping it all together. In fact DH & I just had a long conversation about this very topic. I have just begun closing shop on my in-home business that was supposed to be a p/t/hobby thing & got out of hand. I made the decision that my DH & DD needed more attention than my career -- for now.

Sure its a small blow to my pride to admit that I can't do it all. For me personally, its not being able to "do it all" its being able to "do what counts well". Not sure if I'm articulating myself properly, but I felt like I was doing many things "half-*ss", including some things more important to me than my career. So for now, until my DD is in school I am trying to simplify my focus to family, home & our farm.

On a side note, I am a Flybaby myself, following flylady.net and I get the erecipes from savingdinner.com. Both of these systems are helping me tremendously.

Best of luck to all the busy ladies here!

Kim
 
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