Meal planning


If your day-to-day life is pretty hectic, then having a structured home routine could make a big difference and alleviate some of the stress that you may feel at times.

You may think that it’s easier said than done, particularly if you have a family to take care of too, but with a bit of planning, it’s certainly do-able. Here are 4 things that will help you run an efficient and organised home.

Meal planning

If you regularly reach mid-afternoon and realise that you have no idea what's for dinner, meal planning could help immensely. If you know what you will be eating and have all the ingredients on hand, it will save loads of time and hassle.

Each week, write a list of what you intend to prepare each day, then make a separate shopping list. Once you get into the habit of meal planning, you will wonder how you ever managed without it.

Keep heating supplies well-stocked

If you have log burners, open fires, or oil-fired heating, then you will know that running out of coal, wood, or oil can be a nightmare, particularly during the winter months. Not only can running out of oil leave you with no heating, but it can also seriously damage your boiler. Keep a close eye on oil levels, and make sure that you have stocks of dried logs or coal to hand at all times.

Oil suppliers like speedyfuels.co.uk can restock your heating oil at short notice, but it's better to place a regular monthly order in advance. As well as making sure you never run out, it will also allow you to budget more efficiently.

Cleaning routine

If you find it hard to keep on top of cleaning your home, a cleaning routine might be what you need. It will help break up the household chores into sections, make them more manageable, and ensure that nothing gets missed. It's also a great way to get the rest of the family involved and spread the workload.

There are lots of cleaning checklists online which you can use, many of which can be adapted to suit your household set up. A workable routine can make a huge difference and make your home feel far more efficient and organised.

Don't leave things to build-up

After a long and tiring day, it is easy to let things slip. Perhaps you have lots of laundry or ironing to do, or your recycling is taking over your kitchen. Leaving things for a day or so is perfectly normal, but you need to try and make sure that it doesn't build-up to the point of being overwhelming. By all means, give yourself a day off and don't get too stressed but try to keep on top of things and it will make things a lot easier in the long run.

Another option is to consider employing some outside help. Many people have cleaners or someone to do their ironing. If you can afford it and feel it will help you be more efficient around your home, then go for it.