Want to be a more organised parent?

For most mums and dads, especially in the early days of parenting, life is full on and sometimes too much.

At this busy point in people’s lives relationships weaken, time with friends becomes a luxury and a little “me” time goes to the bottom of most people’s lists. This can result in isolation, feeling sad, not coping and generally feeling under pressure at a time when you are expected to be happy.

Early parenting is challenging, no doubt about it. Parents are expected to run homes efficiently, have clean and happy children reaching their full potential, as well as cope with life’s daily challenges.

So I thought I’d give you a few ideas that you might use to be a little more organised:

1. Clutter. If you have loads of things in the way, you will feel in a muddle. You need a system! Have two boxes labelled as “too big” and “too small”. When you find an item that falls into those categories, pop the item in. Every so often, clear these boxes. The contents can become a charity donation, eBay items, passed to friends or you can get involved in NCT nearly new sales.
2. A plan. Do you know what happens when? Get a diary or a planner and keep it up to date. If you find yourself saying that your other half never knows what’s going on, now’s your chance to sort that out. Check it every couple of weeks to ensure everything like doctor’s and dentist’s appointments are written in.
3. Money. I am no expert, but I don’t know many parents who don’t own a pile of financial paperwork. Sadly my magic wand won’t make it go away, but I can promise you that you will feel better once it’s sorted. If you need help then consider contacting Citizens Advice.
4. “Me time”. I might use my magic wand here. I cannot tell you how important it is to have some time for yourself. Consider a “do not disturb” bath night, a walk with friends, a movie night in together … anything. It’s good to plan ahead so you can look forward to it.

I hope these ideas give you some inspiration to step back and perhaps even make a few changes. Every little thing you do to make your life easier will make a difference.

Until next time, happy de-cluttering.