Working parents have to navigate a sea of responsibilities; between juggling deadlines, school projects and the inevitable ‘Mum, can I have a snack?’. Life can get overwhelming. I’ve never been the type of person who is effortlessly organised but as a mum of two, I’ve had to master the art of organisation to keep my sanity intact. So, grab a cuppa and get ready to dive into my top 10 life organisation hacks that will help you tackle that never-ending to-do list and lighten the mental load.
1. The Magical Family Calendar
If you don’t already have some form of shared calendar, then I don’t know how you survive! Get yourself into this century, and get a family calendar that syncs with everyone’s devices. Don’t make the mistake of just putting big events in there, instead you need to put everything in there; daily recurring events like school, your shifts, who is driving who to football practise. Colour-code each family member and you’ll never miss another dentist appointment or school play again. Bonus points if it has a reminder feature that nags you like a digital mother-in-law.
For any kids too young for their own device, have a calendar they can see on the wall.
“A family calendar is like a GPS for your life.”
2. Meal Planning Like a Boss
You walk in the door after a stressful day at work and are met with the dreaded question: “What’s for dinner?” Save yourself the stress with a weekly meal plan. Spend a few minutes on Sunday mapping out meals, and make a shopping list that includes everything you need. HelloFresh and Gousto are great if you want to take the guesswork out completely. This might take a bit of practise, but I promise your future self will thank you.
Make it simple by having a plan that rotates, or have themes such as ‘Wednesday Curry’ or ‘Fish Friday’. If you get bored you can always mix it up, but this is about taking away the day to day decision fatigue to make you more organised.
I like to plan all my meals on Notion. Download my exact Notion Meal Planner template here.
3. The Power of Lists
Get it all out of your head and written down. There’s something incredibly satisfying about crossing tasks off. Use apps like Wunderlist or Todoist to keep track of everything from work deadlines to kids’ playdates. If you’re old school, a good notebook works wonders too.
Don’t just write a huge list of tasks. Write down everything you can think of that you need to and want to do, then prioritise, schedule, delegate and delete.
4. Declutter Like Marie Kondo
A cluttered house can lead to a cluttered mind, especially if you’re an ADHD parent. Set aside time to declutter one room at a time. Donate or sell items you no longer need and keep only what truly “sparks joy.” A tidy space can significantly reduce your mental load and make it easier to stay organised. Do this regularly in order to keep the clutter from creeping back.
5. Create a Home for Everything
Following on from decluttering, you must also ensure that every item in your home has a designated place. In addition, create systems for everything coming into your home, from toys to mail. Use baskets, boxes and labels to store everything. You don’t need to make your house look perfect with clear tubs and labels for everything, just find what works for you.
6. The Evening Prep Ritual
Spend 15 minutes each evening preparing for the next day. Lay out outfits, pack bags, and set up breakfast. It sounds simple, but it makes the mornings so much smoother and less chaotic.
Before I go to bed I also like to check the weather, remind myself of what meals we have planned and plan my tasks for the next day.
7. The Two-Minute Rule
This one may seem more like common sense and less like a life organisation hack for some people, but others will need to remind themselves of this multiple times a day. If a task takes less than two minutes, do it immediately. This prevents small tasks from piling up and becoming overwhelming. Plus, you’ll be amazed at how much you can get done in just a couple of minutes.
8. Use Technology to Your Advantage
Smart home devices can be lifesavers. Set reminders, create shopping lists, and even turn off the lights without lifting a finger. Alexa, Google Home, or Siri can become your digital PA, reducing your mental load.
9. Create Routines and Stick to Them
Consistency is key when it comes to staying organised. Create morning and evening routines that work for your family and stick to them. This helps set expectations and makes daily life more predictable and less stressful. Remember that your routines may have to change with the seasons, so be sure to review them every now and then and change them up as needed.
“Let action and routine build your life, not emotion.”
10. Self-Care Is Non-Negotiable
With all this planning, don’t forget to schedule time for yourself, even if it’s just a 10-minute coffee break or a quick walk around the block. Self-care isn’t selfish; it’s essential. You can’t pour from an empty cup.
Conclusion
Sometimes, the house will be a mess, and that’s okay. Accepting that you can’t do it all perfectly all the time is liberating. Focus on what truly matters to you, and try to let go of what you can. After all, life’s too short to stress over crumbs on the carpet.
Remember, it’s all about small, manageable changes that make a big difference over time. So, go on, give these tips a try and watch as your life becomes a tad more organised and a lot more enjoyable.
