How do i simplify???????

**baxjul** · 08-10-2010, 08:28 PM

I'm having such a hard time adjusting to going back to work 9 hours a day, keeping up with the housework, school started, and my niece and great nephew moved down and are living with us!

Please help me with ideas! ANY ideas, for anything would be appreciated.

Seems like everything is getting away from me! From housework, to shopping, to laundry.....

**NikoSan999** · 08-10-2010, 08:44 PM

Is the niece an adult and the nephew a child/teenager? If so and the niece isn't working put her to doing a large amount of the housework in exchange for room and board. That's fair. And if the nephew is older have him to his share also. Not fair for you to work all day and come home to cook and clean for them.

**baxjul** · 08-10-2010, 08:49 PM

Niece is 31, she has been making the meals, getting my dd and her son (7) off to school. She is buying most of the groceries. And doing laundry, and vacuuming. It just seems like I can't get organized, all of the sudden.

**McD** · 08-10-2010, 09:02 PM

I felt the same way when I started back to work after having MooCow. Things are just now starting to feel back to normal and under control.

I am a big list maker. I usually take 5 minutes before I go to bed of things I want to accomplish the next day. I save the big things for my weekend lists so that I don't get overwhelmed.

Also, it seems that I can keep caught up on my laundry if I start a load at night, throw in the dryer in the morning and start another load in the washer. When I get home, one of the first things I do is to fold the dry clothes and swap out from washer to dryer.

If you don't already, meal plan! It makes dinner time much less hectic for me if I know what I am cooking before I even get home. Also, if you meal plan, you will know exactly what you need from the store.

Something that has helped me is to run errands on my lunch break. Is that feasible where you work?

**baxjul** · 08-10-2010, 09:34 PM

It's hard to run errands, because I don't have alot of time. And by the time I get to lunch, the afternoon patients are on their way in. I usually eat upstairs, or while doing the messages with the doctor.

**ms.mel.who** · 08-10-2010, 10:15 PM

Lower your standards. That was what I did when I was working full time with three kids. It was either that or go completely insane. You will figure out routines and it will get easier.

Oh, a habit I formed then and still do now, keep a pen and paper on my night stand to write down all the things I forgot to do during the day.

**frugalfranny** · 08-11-2010, 12:38 AM

I am a big list maker too. If it isn't on the list I will forget it.

Pull everyone in to do something.........have a list of what they will do. Even the little ones can help fold laundry, (towels at least) and make their own beds (at their quality - but hey --it teaches them).

Maybe try cooking one day a week .....for the following week.

Use the crockpot!!! A wonderful tool if you use it!