I need to make my life significantly easier -- "hacks" to make life, and parenting life, easier?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Minimize. I don’t buy stuff and keep an uncluttered house. After my kids are asleep it takes less than 10 minutes to get my house back in order. Quarterly I go through toys and donate those that don’t bring my kids joy. I try to keep a very small wardrobe for myself.

Recently I got burned out meal planning, shopping and cooking. My husband and I had tried to be in charge different nights a week but it was to complicated. We just started switching weeks. He meals plans, shops and cooks one week and I do the next. He typically does the same simple meals (grilled chicken, rice, broccoli or breakfast for dinner) and I don’t complain about what or how he does it.

I love the week on/off idea.

I'm the pp right above you, and I agree - minimizing stuff absolutely helps. Our apartment is small and the kids simply don't have so many toys that it could ever take more than 20 minutes to clean everything up if everyone is helping, even accounting for my 2 year old's interpretation of "help". Many toys that tend to expand to include accessories (toy kitchen with a million plates, pretend food items, etc) are enjoyed just as thoroughly whether there are 10 accessories or 100. I know because I periodically stash away parts as I get sick of picking them up and my kids don't notice. They have as much fun with that kitchen regardless - or will repurpose just about any other toy as a substitute if they're lacking.

[Anonymous]

Oooooooooh...the week on/off idea is very interesting, and could actually work for us since we are both WFH for the foreseeable...might have to give that one a try!

[Anonymous]

Have a schedule for everything. Every night you turn on the DW before bed. Every Monday you wash sheets. Every Friday you do takeout. Whatever it is. Decision making is draining, and it gets you on autopilot.

Buy one gift a year for everyone. For kids I always had the one puzzle or book and that's what everyone got for year. Same with adults. I found a really great bag and ornament. Gave to everyone. Buy cards in bulk, so you always have them at hand. Same with small things on sale/from trips, so that you have on hand.

I do Organize 365's Sunday Basket system. Get a box and put in everything that week that needs to get done/scheduled. So, you put in a permission slip, a bill, and empty bottle of Tylenol. Also, if you have a random thought about something you need to do, put it on a scrap of paper and throw it in. Once a week, she does it on Sundays, you go through and schedule/do everything in the box. If it's for a different month, put it in a future file. I have 12 files for every month of the year. If it needs to get done that week, build your calendar. Then, going into the week, you have a plan.

Finally, change your mindset. This has really helped me. Whenever I feel "overwhelmed" I tell myself it's just an opinion, a feeling. I take a deep breath and tell myself that it will get done. If I really need to recharge, then I plan a time and/or let things go. Now that I have a system, I actually feel better doing it. I used to dread cleaning or bill paying, but now that I've taken the emotion out of it, it helps me not fight it if that makes sense. I want to pay bills because I'm grateful I have the money and I don't want to get kicked out of my house. It sounds a bit cheesy, but attitude is everything. Right now that doesn't work as well because we're in a pandemic and things are crazy. Be good to yourself.

[Anonymous]

Ha, ha! My second sentence could be interpreted two ways, but by DW I meant dishwasher.

[Anonymous]

I’m PP who does one week on, then one off for cooking. I feel like I’m so much happier to cook on my week, as I’ve always been someone who loves to cook because I’m not burned out. I love the cookbook Cook Once Eat All Week. I’ve read a lot of other cook books where you batch cook things but this one is the simplest. You have one protein, one starch, and a vegetable that gets reimagined into three delicious meals.

[Anonymous]

One of the other responses reminded me of this, but I went to JMU where every Thursday was "Grilled Cheese Thursday." We have grilled cheese nearly every single Thursday. It's such an easy meal and we always have the ingredients (some weeks it's totally simple grilled cheese, if we're feeling fancy we can mix it up). Friday we do pizza (order in, homemade using Trader Joe's dough, whatever). So I really only rotate the menu Monday, Tuesday, leftovers Wednesday, GCT on Thursday and Pizza on Friday. By the time Thursday rolls around I'm already exhausted from the week so it's nice having my little routine ready to go.

My 2.5 year old has gotten really good (like, REALLY GOOD!) at vacuuming with the cordless Dyson. I spray the table and the 2 and 4 year old wipe it with paper towels.

Also, this probably sounds crazy with two toddlers but I only use white linens in my house, everywhere. Towels/sheets. That way EVERYTHING is interchangeable and you can bleach the sh*t out of anything that gets dirty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One of the other responses reminded me of this, but I went to JMU where every Thursday was "Grilled Cheese Thursday." We have grilled cheese nearly every single Thursday. It's such an easy meal and we always have the ingredients (some weeks it's totally simple grilled cheese, if we're feeling fancy we can mix it up). Friday we do pizza (order in, homemade using Trader Joe's dough, whatever). So I really only rotate the menu Monday, Tuesday, leftovers Wednesday, GCT on Thursday and Pizza on Friday. By the time Thursday rolls around I'm already exhausted from the week so it's nice having my little routine ready to go.

My 2.5 year old has gotten really good (like, REALLY GOOD!) at vacuuming with the cordless Dyson. I spray the table and the 2 and 4 year old wipe it with paper towels.

Also, this probably sounds crazy with two toddlers but I only use white linens in my house, everywhere. Towels/sheets. That way EVERYTHING is interchangeable and you can bleach the sh*t out of anything that gets dirty.

OMG. You've posted before about your 2 year old with the Dyson. I'm stealing that idea.