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How to get housework done while working.

Posted: Dec 18, 2011

The subject of this post says it all. How do you manage a home and work at the same time. I also have a toddler so it makes it difficult. Just wanted to know some ideas. TIA.

;

Guess I should have put a question mark. - OP

[ In Reply To ..]
Guess I should have put a question mark to ask a question and not made it look like a statement.

I really don't get much cleaning done... - blondie

[ In Reply To ..]
When working I really don't get to clean much to speak of. Usually the days I'm not working I do cleaning. Of course, I do manage to wash clothes in between working and will load the dishwasher either before starting or when I get done working. Other than that not much gets done.

Not Much Gets Done - LC

[ In Reply To ..]
I did try putting a pot of soup on the stove once, but of course I forgot about it.

Nope, save for rinshing out a few breakfast dishes and mugs, not a whole lot gets done. Unless there's NJA, of course.

cleaning and working - sweetestpea

[ In Reply To ..]
Hard to keep the house clean and work. I find it hard to concentrate knowing other stuff needs to be done too. Sometimes, just take 15 minutes or so, like a break for work and do the dishes, or straighten up the bathroom, switch laundry over. Sometimes that makes me feel a little better to get some small jobs done. It never all gets done at once.

Cleaning - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
My house is not the cleanest, but I guess it is not the dirtiest either, but with an infant, a 12yo, a sloppy husband and 2 big dogs who shed like it is their job, I think I do okay. One thing is I always clean the kitchen before I go to bed. I hate the feeling of starting the day when I have not taken care of yesterday's mess. I also take 10 minute cleaning breaks a couple times a day as well where I pick up, load the dishwasher, sweep/vacuum, etc. I set a timer. You would be amazed at what you can do in 10 minutes. The biggest thing is I do not worry too much about it. There are more important things in life than having a spotless house. Just do your best.

When during their sleep. - anonymous

[ In Reply To ..]
You're taking the first step by recognizing the problem and asking for ideas. I've known a lot of MTs whose priorities were taking care of their domestic duties first and THEN squeeze in MT when they could. They never understood why they weren't making any money and couldn't hold onto a position very long.

MT requires full mental engagement at all times. We don't have the luxury of attention partitioning or downtime. We don't work, we don't get paid. How I wish I could have one of those jobs where I can do sudoku or gossip between duties.

The most obvious suggestion I have is to work while your baby is sleeping. At one point I had 2 under the age of 3 but was still producing 2000 lines per day (without any expanders or templates). All your chores and other duties have to be delegated to a minion. If you don't have a minion, then you need to hire one (mother's helper and/or maid). I had my best friend come over 3 days a week to watch my first baby. Those were the days I made bank. My husband did the daily chores (mainly washing dishes and laundry) and I did all the drudge chores during the weekends.

Someone with older kids at my old company suggested that whenever one of her sons would bother her because of boredom, she would assign them a chore. After a little while, they no longer suffered recalcitrant boredom AND she had a clean house.

I don't know what kind of breed of kids she had but mine entertain themselves by inventing new ways to make a mess.

In any case, I've been doing this for more than 2 decades, and my kids are now both in college. It can be done. You just have to have the discipline to do it and trust in your minions to do their part.

Good luck.

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