Community› The Bump Message Boards› Stay at Home Moms
Stay at Home Moms
New Discussion

Organization/Scheduling help

ToastieSimonsToastieSimons member
in Stay at Home Moms
I'm normally so good but these past few weeks I've gotten so behind and now I feel like I'm so over my head I'll never get straightened out

It was both boys birthday, I've got wicked allergies, DH is now getting home at 7 instead of 6 and I feel like I have ADD.  I can't remember where I put anything.  I'm struggling to finish anything.  Maybe because I was so focused on getting DS1's school stuff organized and the birthday party stuff finished.  Our bedroom is a mess and I feel like no matter how much I clean it doesn't help.  I feel like I'm constantly running back and forth from appointment to appointment.  And now that DH is working even later, he is NO help around the house.  His laundry can't even make it to the hamper no matter how much I beg and plead.

So where do I start?  What is your first steps?

Do I make a visual daily To-Do list?

I just spent an hour cleaning up my bedroom and it looks just as bad as before.  I cannot find the boys handicap pass to the state parks.  I just feel like I'm losing it.
To my boys:  I will love you for you Not for what you have done or what you will become I will love you for you I will give you the love The love that you never knew
Report Reply to Post

Re: Organization/Scheduling help

  • JeffandLeslieJeffandLeslie member
    When I get overwhelmed I have to laser focus. I tell myself I will clean for 15 minutes, or I will focus on one counter - stuff like that. Usually that helps kickstart me a little.
    photo 3104d09c-3cc7-4177-aed6-da3344fdf17f_zpsbb1f9ce7.jpg

    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker

    Report Reply
  • Loading the player...
  • Aussie45Aussie45 member
    edited June 2014
    ToastieSimons said:
    I just spent an hour cleaning up my bedroom and it looks just as bad as before.  I cannot find the boys handicap pass to the state parks.  I just feel like I'm losing it.
    When you say it looks just as bad as before, do you mean because it's still not clean or it's cluttered? When I feel like things are getting too cluttered, I spring clean everything. It's up to you to decide if you want to do it bit by bit, or spend a whole day cleaning. If you could get someone to watch the kids (whether it be a baby sitter or family), you could a lot done in one day.

    I always go through and clean out everything. I get so used to throwing stuff in our closets, on the counters, etc. that it just sits there. Going through and finding spots for things can really help, and then you can clean along the way. I don't write out things, but I do rooms one at a time so everything gets cleaned out and taken care of. You can write down on a list if that would help and then work your way through it.

    I would put important papers, like the pass to the state parks, all in a folder somewhere. I lose important documents too, so I put them all together and file them away (we have a small folder holder, not a filing cabinet or anything big like that).

    Lastly, once you get all that done, I find that having a weekly cleaning list helps. I know what I need to do daily (put dishes in dishwasher, do our CDs, etc) so I don't have daily lists. Do whatever works for you. If you need reminders to pick stuff up, then write it down :) A little cleaning each day makes a big difference (I feel) in the state of a home.

    ETA: Also, tell your husband how you feel. If you explain that you are feeling overwhelmed by the state of things, he might start pitching in and at least put his clothes away or maybe clean something else up as well. My DH told me just to tell him what to do. Since I've started doing that, he has been WAY more helpful. He just doesn't think about what needs to get done like I do :P
    BFP #1: DD born on 08.25.12 BFP #2: 09/08/15 miscarried at 6w BFP #3: DD2 born on 02.07.17
    Report Reply
  • Cherryblossoms07Cherryblossoms07 member
    It sounds like you need to work on destressing first. I am pretty organized, but when I get stressed out nothing seems to go the correct way or is in the correct spot. I have hit the spot you are in and on those days I try and take a step back and focus on me. When I am refreshed then I make a list of what needs to be done ASAP(laundry, dishes, time sensitive stuff...), what needs to be done, what I want to get done... and deal with the list in that order. It is much easier to accomplish things when I am not stressed.
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
    Report Reply
  • raraavis28raraavis28 member
    I am definitely a to-do list person....once I have all the tasks written down, they seem more manageable....and then there's the joy of checking stuff off the list!

    As for the clutter, DH's cousin (w/ 4 kids) had a great suggestion: take a laundry basket through each room and gather anything that doesn't belong. When you move to the next room, take out anything that belongs there to be put in its exact place whenever. I haven't tried this, but it seems to make sense.

    Sorry to hear about the overwhelmed feeling....totally there w/ you right now!
     image
    Report Reply
  • AKB090609AKB090609 member
    I'm a huge list person, I always have a bunch going and feel really successful when I get to cross something off. I also find that if things get really bad I need to do what I call the 'laundry basket approach' I will put all the crap in laundry baskets and put it in one room. I then get every other room clean and organized. I will then commit myself to putting one basket of stuff away every day. I try to take the opportunity to get rid of as much stuff as I can I feel better knowing I have one messy room rather than a whole house.

    Good Luck!
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
    Report Reply
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"