Balancing it all

DM-ME-CATS · 2019-12-08T21:35:59+00:00

Keep a planner? Limiting your phone time helps to

ShootingDanks · 2019-12-08T23:46:50+00:00

Accept help if you can get it (babysitter/cleaner, food and grocery delivery, etc). Relax your standards a bit. With young kids in the house, it's never going to be perfectly clean and neat. Avoid social media. Not only does it take up time, but it can also make you feel worse, because you're seeing curated versions of other people's lives.

I don't really have a timed schedule (apart from meal times, those are set), but I do have a chore list. I like ticking boxes, so have lists for daily, weekly, monthly and seasonal chores. So beds get made daily, but curtains only get washed once a year, for example.

Put your freezer to good use. Make extra meals for freezing, in foil containers. Simply reheat/finish cooking from frozen, serve and throw out the container. I also keep desserts in the freezer (cheesecake/pies/homemade ice cream) in case of unexpected guests. I can whip up a quick cheeseboard, with nuts, olives, dried fruit, crackers and cheese, if anyone shows up on short notice.

You can find activities for the kids on Pinterest or Instagram. Let your husband look after them whenever possible, so that you can get important things done. Important things should include self-care.

Xtergo · 2019-12-09T00:04:44+00:00

Another tip, (may not be everybody's thing) is to invest in technology, save up for that automatic washing machine that gives you dry clothes when you put dirty ones in it and can forget about it for a couple of hours. That rice cooker or electric pot that will keep things warm and prevent it from burning if you get occupied in something else, dishwashers, nonstick pans, smart electric kettles and sometimes cleaning bots. These things have become somewhat affordable & even though not perfect they will atleast take off the stress from you while keeping you very organized.

neverbringsajacket · 2019-12-08T23:37:03+00:00

I get lazy when I get overwhelmed because I don’t know where to start. Make sure you’re communicating with your partner and have emotional support!

2019-12-09T01:10:08+00:00

Teach yourself how to clean as you go. I'm naturally kind of messy so I had to actually make myself a list of basic clean-as-you-go rules. For me, the upkeep revolves around the kitchen and the entrance, so:

clear and wipe the table after every meal, wash dishes, clean counters and stovetop

put away coats, hats, and bags when you get home, and teach the toddler to do the same

once this is under control, housework is a lot easier. I have weekly chores (clean bathrooms; vacuum and wash floors; dust; change sheets).

It's hard when your kids are small. for me, it actually made things easier when I had some basic guidelines.

Sodds · 2019-12-09T05:37:10+00:00

3 kids (5.5 and 2x4), both full time jobs.

Kids in bed by 7.30 to give us a few alone hours in the evening.
We spend as much time outside with kids after kindergarten to make sure they are tired enough to fall asleep by 7.30 or in case of bad weather we cook and tidy together.
At some point I stopped caring how tidy the place is but I keep it clean. Giving stuff their designated place makes it easier to tidy (takes 10 minutes daily). Dividing some chores helps.
Cook simple and healthy, I don't make big dinners/suppers (I cheat though because our kindergarten serves very good quality food)
I exercise 3 times a week, evenings, while my husband sorts the kids out.

BeginningSomewhere3 · 2019-12-08T21:48:16+00:00

Block scheduling could be helpful for you. It'll keep you on track, but give you the flexibility you need here and there.

I found it works wonders for me on days when I just feel overwhelmed with everything that has to get done, albeit I don't yet have children.

AquaSerenityPhoenix · 2019-12-09T03:07:02+00:00

All of these responses are extremely helpful. I have a 2 year and a 8 month old. Lately I've been findng it hard to keep up with housekeeping and self-care.

I love this subreddit.

wontsayanotherword · 2019-12-09T06:34:57+00:00

At those ages there isn’t much balance to be honest. Figure out the priorities for you and your family and be okay with the rest not being perfect. My priorities are sleep (if I don’t sleep things are bad very quickly for everyone), meals (and the areas for meals to be tidy - kitchen & dining table), relationship with my husband (dates, sex, quality time), other areas to be kept clean - bathrooms & my bedroom.

You have a really little baby (mine were spaced like that too! Now my youngest is 3 and my oldest is 11). It takes time to adjust and work things out. As for resources - the fly lady is really helpful in setting routines. I also like Managing Your Home without Losing Your Mind.

Establish bedtimes early on. My husband and I thrive on that alone time in the evenings. Decluttering makes a big difference. Less stuff = less mess.

2019-12-09T10:38:02+00:00

Could you get a once a week (or more if affordable) maid to help with chores?

2019-12-09T11:22:38+00:00

Imperfectly lol.

I have four kids—10, 8, 4, 17 months (and one on the way). Now that my girls are older they can help a lot. We also combine things—quality time can be spent with the kids doing chores (have a dance party dishwashing session for example).

I if I notice something is being neglected, I set an alarm on my phone and if I haven’t addressed it by then it reminds me. Being super organized and methodical helps. But honestly it’s just a hard time, and not everything is going to be done perfectly every time.

It can be easy to get overwhelmed and not to anything, so it’s important to form systems that work for you and your family. Think about the thing that is causing a problem, like laundry, and then implement simple solutions to work around your problem areas (like I had trouble getting clothes hung up in my closet once I had brought them upstairs so I started hanging them up right out of the dryer in my laundry room every time)

bahnahnahnah · 2019-12-09T13:57:37+00:00

For me finding a friend who has the same struggles helps a lot. My husband is gone for work for long stretches of time and my son is just about to turn 1, we have two dogs and I work 60ish hours a week most weeks. I have a childless friend who struggles keeping everything together because she works full time and goes to school full time. For whatever reason going over to her house I feel more motivated to clean and vice versa so on weekends when we have a day off one of us will pick up coffees, head over with some cleaning supplies, and we’ll just knock out a good amount of chores. We also help each other out by watching the dogs so we have less to worry about while we clean or run errands. Another great thing I’ve done is I just offer chore money to older kids in my church community so when their parents need a break the kids will come over and help me with light chores like sweeping, Swiffering, dusting, bagging yard waste, or just keeping my son or dogs entertained. Parents are happy they get some time alone, kids are happy they get some chore money, I’m happy I have a (relatively) clean house lol

schielegirl · 2019-12-09T05:18:15+00:00

delegate. delegate. delegate.

Title	Balancing it all
Author	Lizziloo87
Upvotes	29
Comments	30
Date	December 8, 2019 9:31 PM UTC (6 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/RedPillWomen
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/RedPillWomen/comments/e7ztjr/balancing_it_all/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/RedPillWomen/balancing-it-all.298391 https://theredarchive.com/post/298391

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