What's your routine? How do you structure your day?

[jetsmummy]

Hi Mums,

I'm relatively new to being a SAHM. I have a 31month old and a 14week old. I went back to work when DS was 6 months old and I felt like I couldn't give 100% to work or 100% at home which left me cranky at myself and exhausted!

So after giving birth to DD in May this year, we have decided that i will be SAHM until they start school.

I'm finding it quite hard to get into a good groove at home and was hoping some of you lovely ladies could share your tips and routines that you use.

I am a major list/ routine person so without it, I don't get an awful lot done.

In particular i'd like to know:

1. How do you structure your day including housework and time with kids
2. Any tips on getting chores done faster?
3. Any super fast, family friendly recipes you want to share


Thanks so much in advance!!

Jetsmummy:)

[jadee22]

Congrats on being at home!

I've just started making a weekly list on the computer of all of the house work I have to do and printing it. Each day has the usual jobs eg dark load, vacuum, fold clothes etc but I also include a room to concentrate on. Today is master bedroom so I strip sheets, dust, vacuum etc. That way I always feel like I am achieving something.

I also have a column on my list of the weekly dinner schedule because by that time of day I'm not in the mood for thinking:).

We do a sit down lunch but morning/arvo tea is just as we are playing etc.

Oh and I also knock off at 8pm each night. Whatever isn't done by then waits until the next day!
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[august]

.......

[littlegreenhaus]

I think making slow cooked meals helps. You can do the preparation while the baby is occupied in a bouncer chair / on a play gym / taking a nap and then you just wait until it's ready in the evening. Women's Weekly have a pretty decent slow cooker cook book.

Same goes for marinating meat like steaks or lamb - you just have to take the time to prepare the marinade - the cooking doesn't take long and because they taste so delicious you can just throw together a simple salad and it's still a really enjoyable meal.

I cooked the chicken pie out of the Jamie Oliver 30 Minute Meals book this morning for dinner this evening (we'll just reheat it) and it's easy to prepare and tastes delicious.

In terms of chores I'm pretty slack during the week and try to make up for it on the weekend. I always do the baby's washing though I don't let that pile up and tend to put it on when the baby's sleeping and hang it out at my next available opportunity hehe.

[trishalishous]

Our rough daily routine is:
8 am ish up and breakfast
9am drop off DH
10-12 swimming lessons/toddler gym/playgroup/rhyme time etc
home for lunch then nap time
(I eat lunch, clean the kitchen daily, put away clean dishes, hang out washing, start dinner, pick up toys and books, and clean the toilet, and once a week for each I mop floors/dust/linen/scrub bathroom
4ish bubs is up and we Pick up DH
we have a coffee, she has afternoon tea and we grocery shop/run errands etc
Vaccum before dinner twice a week. Garden if its nice out.
6pm ish Dinner, shower bed
9pm put washing on (DH) and do dishes (DH)
then its my time :smiliedance: