Managing a household and taking care of kids feels like a 24/7 herculean task. Its hectic, laborious, stressful and its never ending.
It’s especially frustrating for modern age women who do not have any formal training of cooking, cleaning or guidance on child rearing and find themselves learning on the fly. You’re not alone.
Keeping a house clean, cooking satiable meals, along with juggling the needs and wants of your children is a tall order.
But what if there were practical strategies to transform this chaos into a more manageable, even enjoyable, experience?
Discover 10 straightforward tips that promise to simplify your routine, reduce stress, and inject a bit of joy into your everyday life.
So how do we do it? let’s get straight into it.
Image by wirestock on Freepik
Create Large chunks of time by fostering independent play time for children
One of the things I benefitted most from RIE is how this approach fostered my child’s ability to play on his own for long periods of time.
My child would be in his safe play area with open-ended toys (the best toys in my opinion for endless play) and play. His uninterrupted play time would be the time I cooked, uninterrupted.
Make sure to create a safe place, known as “Yes Spcae” by Magda Gerber. A small room with only toys or a play pen/ bed with bed rail for a small baby.
A sectioned off area in a room is perfect as well.
But, I know what you are thinking ” how do I make my child play’ ? He is my shadow, always calling me, following me around or seem bored and disinterested in toys.”
There is a saying “you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink. The same holds true with children.
Janet Lansbury rightly points out; you cannot make your child play but what you can do is foster what every child is already born with – the ability to play – can’t agree more. Want to create independent play time for your child?
The large chunks of time you get while your child is happily playing will be enough for you to complete your household chores comfortably and confidently.
If you get this right there, I guarantee you, there will be no more kids following you around or yelling for Mumma.
2. Create a Predictable routine
I can’t stress enough about how this has changed my life.
From thinking I could NEVER EVER go to the grocery store alone to managing a house hold and raising kids by myself, Predictable routine has been a game changer, life saver, whatever you want to call it.
Any mother can do it with a predictable routine. You have to try it to believe it. More on How to create a predictable routine?
3. Create Routines that are simple and uncomplicated
With so much already going on, make your life easier by choosing to simplify it.
Simple recipes, no over the top to-do-list, just having a simple layout to your day.
If you are cleaning four times a week, think about making it twice. If you are taking kids to the park every day, maybe take them every other day.
Stick to the basics to begin with and then as per your comfort level scale it up. If you are feeling burdened and resentful, it’s really time to scale it down.
4. Manage your time efficiently
Be attuned to your body’s energy and do activities as per how you feel.
For example, heavy duty works should be done when you are most alert and energetic (example cook and/or bath the baby in the morning).
5. Master Multitasking
Multi-tasking might seem like a fancy not so useful expectation in real mummy world. I am not so good at multitasking either.
However, I am suggesting a different kind of multi-tasking – making the best use of each dedicated work slot.
Do multiple activities in slots where it makes most sense.
For example, for me cooking lunch and breakfast at the same time made most sense, because I would invariably be spending around an hour and a half in the kitchen.
At the same time i would also unload the dishwasher. This way i get to do a lot during a single time slot.
When I am in bathroom for shower, or taking my baby for shower, I think of ways i can optimize that slot – Yes!! load the washing machine.
Every minute counts, doesn’t it? Those who know know
6. Train your children to become part of the team
And by this I do not mean asking them for help with chores. You can also do that.
But what I mean here is letting them know your expectations clearly and respectfully.
If they are supposed to remove their shoes, put their bag away and go for shower after school, train them persistently each day, till they begin to organically do it themselves.
Ask them politely can you remove your shoes. please put your bag over here and so on and so forth.
Teach them how to wash their hands properly by communicating and modelling it correctly till they learn to do it themselves.
The efforts that you put into communicating and teaching your children will pay off big in the long run.
This way you don’t have to be the one doing each and every little work in your house. Your kids will be trained to do it.
Believe me, children are great, quick learners and love to do things themselves. In fact you will create a pattern of independence and dependence in your house, just what children need to thrive.
7. Use gadgets that save time and energy and give peace of mind
I have used so much of my grey matter to find ways and methods that would reduce my workload. That’s what I used to do in my free time and I am more than happy to share with you what I have used and what worked for me.
You can do your research and try your own gadgets, but some of these really reduced my chore time. So, check it out.
- Vegetable chopper – chopping is a time-consuming job, let’s admit it. So I bought two choppers that save so much of my prep time.
- Wonder chef chopper and NutriBullet Magic Kitchen Express, Food Processor & Chopper 250w, – A compact and powerful chopper that will fit on any kitchen counter, without taking up too much space or being annoying.
All preparations prior to cooking easy -blend, puree, chop, slice – can be done in this one. It really is a winner in my opinion, as it lessens the time I need to be in the kitchen. it is also economically priced
- Stick vacuum
For easy clean up, especially with kids, it is definitely needed. The one that i have used is black and Decker. Very easy to use and operate and makes cleanup a breeze
- baby monitor – a Definite must have if you want to keep an eye on your baby, without having to be nearby. I have used vtech. it has good features and it operates on Bluetooth which also makes it safe.
- Dishwasher
I have been using the dishwasher for the longest time now. I know some people find loading a dishwasher to be a cumbersome task but here is a tip that will help.
Use the dishwasher daily and load dishes in the same order. I more or less use the same dishes every day and I know which one goes where in the dishwasher, so my loading time is very quick.
I think mostly people give up after a few trials and that’s where the issue lies.
- Dishwasher tablets, so that i do not need to do much again.
- Vileda Light & Soft Cloth 6 Pcs, – again makes cleaning super easy and quick
8. Take time to organize your workspace, that’s works optimally for you.
In order to make my life easier, I have organized my kitchen cabinets in such a way that allowed me to stay near my cooking range while cooking.
All the spices and condiments used regularly have been kept in the nearest cabinets at the front. Same has been done with utensils, arranged as per usability.
I also keep my dishwasher open till I am done with my kitchen work so i can easily load the dishes, as and when dishes are getting dirty, keeping the sink and counter free.
Once my dishes are washed, I keep all cabinets open while putting the dishes. This way i am saving time to open cabinets every time.
9. If possible, take help
If you are anything like me you are probably suffering from “”i want to do everything myself syndrome”. Relatable?? Thank GOD i could make the shift.
Please realize you are doing yourself a disservice.
Whenever possible take help. There is nothing wrong with it. Depending on which part of the world you are living, consider hiring a part-time house help.
Or ask your husband politely to do a couple of things when they are home. Always show gratitude when they do. If help is not available scale, it down. see point 3.
10. Accept and be kind
My last suggestion would be to accept and be kind, first to yourself.
Do things that refuel your mind and body. At least take 1 nap so that you feel recharged. Remember you are the captain of your ship who’s doing a lot, so wear your own oxygen mask first.
Managing a household and raising kids who are well fed, well rested, clean and nurtured is no small feat. Pat yourself on the back every night before going to bed. Be your best friend, say good job Mumma and think of ways you can help yourself more and more.
Some situations will not be in your control, accept that, maybe mold yourself a little. Take a pause, a breath, smile, reflect, say a prayer maybe, remind yourself that it won’t be perfect, but it will pass.
Until my next one, share your thoughts, delights, pains and surprises of parenting
Leave a Comment