Best Housework Tips & Self-Care Secrets!

[grcafterburner]

@ostronic yeah I’ve definitely had to lower my expectations as well, I just want a little control so when I do have time I can relax xxx

 

[ostronic]

@grcafterburner follow the @moraiah x

 

[cpetrainingo]

This post has reminded me to brush my hair, I've not done it in 4 days "fuck it" seems to be my approach recently

 

[grcafterburner]

@cpetrainingo fuck it is my approach too but I thrive when my house is organised and tidy can’t win xx

 

[cpetrainingo]

@grcafterburner oh me too! It gets me down when it's a mess but I try and focus on what I have done rather than what I've not. It's hard but the fuck it approach helps

 

[punishedone]

We clean as we go, your 6 and 5 yr old are old enough to be tidying up after themselves and giving you a hand now and again. Then I have a chart, we do certain things on certain days and then one for monthly jobs. Get it down before it builds up so its quicker and easier. Whatever I don't get done in the day, my partner picks up when he gets home and also had to lower my standards

 

[silverwings6154]

I do the bulk of it on my one weekday off in the week they're at school do it in the morning. Then have a coffee and a nap ( harder with a baby) my kids help out and ag the end of the month they get their pocket money ( because things have to be earned, I know that sounds tight but don't want them to grow up thinking everything is free) so they'll help with little things like putting dishes away ( not sharp knives) taking their clean washing to their bedrooms and putting it away and they'll even offer to hoover. It works a treat and means I don't have to do it all cxx

 

[lovingsheep429]

4 kids here, age 1, 4, 7 and 9. I do breakfast and school run and then come home and will set the kids but now only the 1 year old up playing in the living room, tidy the kitchen, chuck dinner in the slow cooker or prepare what I can for that night.. clean round, hoover etc.. usually takes me until about 12. Haven't worked on the self care bit yet, but I thought it would be a great idea to start college so I can get on to a degree, he usually walks in on college day and I walk out lol, maybe book yourself nails, hair or something for monthly or something x

 

[kennesawwife]

My laundrette is a god send, £20 for and 18kilo bag of clothes, washed, dried and folded.
I've felt the same as you over the years. Never had a day off as don't have any family or friends to have the kids. Now my older two are 12 and 15, they help loads, even cook dinners. Train them well and it gets easier, eventually. My 15 yr old can now baby sit so am finally having nights out after not having any for soooo many years.

 

[grcafterburner]

@kennesawwife I’ve never thought about a laundrette! I’m not even sure where one would be, fab idea though thank you!

 

[jimadkins]

I changed my mindset to "tidy house, tidy mind". I used to be messy and realised that the mess was making my mind cluttered and depressed, whereas if I have a tidy, clean environment, then I feel calmer and more content. My advice as a working mum myself is little and often. Try and do some things daily like the dishes, cleaning the kitchen sides afterwards and a quick vacuum of the home. Even that will make a difference. And get the older children involved with simple chores like tidying away toys, making their beds and helping lay the table. I put music on and make it fun to help with motivation for all of us. Then set certain days/times aside for when suits you best to do bigger jobs such as cleaning the bathroom, dusting, and decluttering. I personally do a house blitz on Saturday as I work very hard and like to spend time with my family in the evenings so I just do little things to help me stay on top of it during the week, then a full blitz on Saturday morning. I love the results and even if it's not perfect I always like seeing what I've done. In regards to self care, try and find yourself little things that bring you joy or give you a sense of self. I agree that I totally lost my identity when I became a mum but I've started little hobbies like gardening, drawing and reading and they just help give me back a sense of self when I'm done running around at work and looking after everyone. Hope this helps lovely!! Sending good thoughts! Xxxx

 

[danimalman]

I too would love the answer to this! Mum of three (11,9,16 months) and a childminder to boot! My house is somewhat organised chaos…

 

[grcafterburner]

@danimalman I feel ya

 

[psalms2317]

why just mums?

 

[grcafterburner]

@psalms2317 because I’m asking mums x

 

[psalms2317]

@grcafterburner Do dads not clean or participate in home and family admin?

 

[eastgrandkids]

@psalms2317 usually they don't, as I see and read. Can't believe it, but it is sad reality many mothers. My hubby is and was very helpful, from the begining, but sadly it isn't reality to many others.

 

[pandahat]

@eastgrandkids mine is really good. He knows it's a job looking after kids and home.

 

[grcafterburner]

@psalms2317 my husband is super helpful, but he is at work most of the day and the vast majority who stay home are mums so that’s more what I meant, not that he didn’t help

 

[camford150]

@grcafterburner This infuriates me! It’s the woman’s job to keep the house clean because the man goes out to work is nonsense because she is working too! If you’re at home with the children, you’re working. And you don’t get a lunch break, or someone making tea, of conversation with adults, or a commute to listen to music and u wind. When he gets home, you’ve both worked a full day so he should now be doing 50%!! And not the 50% you tell him to do, buying the food, laying the ingredients out in front of him and telling him to cook then is not pulling his weight- the mental load is real. He should be meal planning, cooking, cleaning, adding items to the shop, knowing you’re low on nappies and picking some up in the right size- the biggest trick of our patriarchal system is that men are incapable of handling tasks such as childcare and housework but also make better leaders. They can do it they just don’t want to.