Being a working mum is a juggling act filled with endless responsibilities. The need to stay organised while managing various tasks can be overwhelming. I have lived through countless mornings of chaos, thinking I am organised but somehow still have a thousand things to do before I walk out the door at 7:30am. For years we lived like this, until I had an epiphany that something really needed to change. I started to make small investments in items that I thought could assist with the organisation of my household and relieve my anxiety of the clutter around the house. I needed things that would save me time (because I simply just don’t have it), easy to use, not bulky in my house and have a clear purpose. My husband’s pet peeve is having unnecessary items in the house that I say I ‘might’ use one day. So, here we are. I have created a list of 7 ways to simplify your household routines with links to my favourite products that have made my life much easier while working and raising three kids.
1. Meal Prep Containers: Planning meals in advance helps save time during busy weekdays. I usually meal prep on Sunday evenings and Wednesday – just so we are eating fresher food. Investing in quality meal prep containers ensures that your family enjoys healthy, homemade meals. Whether it’s overnight oats or you’re wanting to prep your lunch a few days in advance, these glass containers have you covered! If you’re looking for something with dividers but still want glass, these glass containers are a hit in my house.
2. Smart Planners: A multifunctional planner allows you to organise schedules, set reminders for appointments, and track important tasks. The Skylight Calendar is currently the best on the market, but you are paying for it. If you’re looking for something a little more affordable but still want similar Smart functions, then opt for the HeartyBay Smart Calendar
3. Laundry Organiser: We are low on space in our laundry, so this Lights, Dark, Towels and Colour Laundry Hamper lives at the top of our stairs and the kids now know how to separate their dirty laundry and pop them in the right sections. Long gone are the hours you didn’t have, separating the washing. Game changer in my household!
4. Linen and Bedding Organisers: I’m not sure what your linen cupboard looks like, but mine is tiny and fits absolutely nothing. So I invested in these Linen boxes to organise my bed sheets with labels and all! We have 4 beds in the house and it feels like we have endless sheets, but I can always access them easily with the linen boxes and they go right back in the same box because they’re all labeled. Melt!
5. Kitchen Aids: This is one of my biggest ones – invest in kitchen appliances that will make your life quick and easy! Of course there’s the air fryer, and my favourite one is the Ninja XXXL Dual – seriously the best one I’ve ever owned! It’s easy to use, large enough to feed your whole family in one cook time and extremely easy to clean as it’s non stick. You can bake, roast, fry, crisp and reheat. It will become your best friend, no doubt. Another appliance that is simple but makes life so much easier, is a rice cooker! Pop the rice on and walk away, when it’s done, it will simply sit on ‘warm’ until you’re ready to use and turn off. The Tefal Rice Cooker and Slow Cooker is an affordable option, other wise if you’re after something a little more high tech and advanced, then go with the Phillips 3000 Digital Rice Cooker. Finally, my slow cooker has saved me many times when I know I will be coming home late from work and the kids will be hangry by the time we get home. Again, so many are on the market right now but an affordable one (that won’t break on you) is the Breville Smart Slow Cooker otherwise the Greenpan Slow Cooker is always a winner. I have the Breville one and have had it for 5 years and it is still going strong.
6. Washing Baskets: To save space and time, invest in these Collapsible Laundry Baskets. Not only do they collapse so you can slide them into any cupboard or place them on top of your washing machine, they are also 43L, which means you can probably fold 2 loads into one basket making it easier to pack it all away.
7. Multipurpose Drawers: If you have weird shelving under your laundry sink, or your kitchen or bathroom sink, then these Pull out Drawers are the solution. They come with the necessary tools to put it altogether and it is so simple to set up and pack down. They have helped me organise so many cupboards in my house!
Every mum deserves the tools to manage her life effectively. Reclaim your time and alleviate unnecessary stress. Making small changes similar to these will change the way you manage your home and life! Thank me later Mumma