Here’s How to Get it Together Without Losing Your Mind
Just for a moment, let’s be honest.
Some mums seem to have everything figured out. They are the mums who have it all figured out. They have a faint scent of freshly baked muffins and lavender. Their “home command center” probably has colour-coded birthday gift bags and a calendar. What’s the real kicker? They love organizing.
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I’m not one of them. If you’re here, you probably aren’t either.
I thought that when I became a mother, my DNA would be magically reorganised. I would wake up one day and crave detailed meal plans and cleaning routines.
What I got instead was the real world.
Toy explosions are everywhere in real life. Sometimes dinner is scrambled eggs and toast, because I forgot to defrost the chicken. Unmatched socks, hurried trips to the store for milk, and realizing too late that we are out of toilet tissue. (Cue paper towel improvisation. Don’t judge.)
Here’s what surprised me: in the middle of all the chaos, I came to a realization. A revelation, even.
I am doing well.
I am more than fine. My children are happy. They are loved. Each night, they go to sleep with a full stomach, a clean face, and a brushed tooth. Every night, we play, laugh, and read books, even when I am exhausted. Even though our mornings look like a hurricane swept through the house (mostly), everyone leaves the house wearing clothes that match and hair that has been combed.
If you are anything like me, you may be prone to dropping the ball and relying on coffee or leftover crusts to get by. You might also wonder how other mothers make it seem so easy. I’m here, however, to tell you that you are doing a great job.
But I won’t lie and say that being a little better organised would not help. It would.
The good news? You don’t need to become a Type-A, colour-coded, routine-perfectionist mum to feel a bit more in control. You can simplify your life without changing into someone else. It’s not necessary to change your personality or spend Sunday nights laminating menu plans. Even small changes can make a big difference.
Here are five practical tips that I found useful for moms who want to be more organised, but don’t have the natural tendency to pin their pantry.
1. Stay on Top of Your Washing (without letting it rule your life)
Laundry is never-ending. You think you are done, but then someone spills their juice on you, your baby blows out, or your toddler decides to swim in the garden.
Here’s what I did that changed everything: Instead of treating the laundry as a huge, one-time job, I started to treat it more like a daily routine. One load. Every day. Every day.
Once the load is finished, I fold and store it that very day. It sounds impossible, but once I developed the habit, I found it easy to keep up. Why? A small pile can be managed. A laundry pile? Motivation dies there.
Bonus tip: Lay out your clothes the night before. If you can, lay out clothes for the next day.
2. Shop Online and Save Your Sanity
It’s an Olympic challenge to take toddlers to the grocery store. It’s an all-body workout, a mental breakdown, with tantrums, demands for snacks, and disappearing acts.
Now, I buy almost all of my groceries online. I fill up the virtual cart while sitting down in my pajamas (which is usually what I do). I can compare prices and avoid impulse purchases while shopping. I can also check my pantry. I’m able to do this without having to fight with the car seat. You’ll pay a delivery charge, but how many times have you tried to shop for groceries with a toddler screaming in your arms and a baby in a carrier? This fee is well worth it.
What’s the best part? It doesn’t have to be elaborate. I can follow a simple meal plan. I’m talking about basics, like “Monday = spaghetti, Tuesday = stir fry”, and so on. You don’t need to be Nigella.
3. Be Nappy Savvy (Changing tables are a luxury)
In an ideal scenario, nappy changes would take place on a beautiful change table while classical music played in the background. In reality? Cocomelon is blasting from the TV as you wipe your bottom.
It’s important to have a diaper station in every place. Seriously.
Stock them with wipes, bum cream, change mats, and inexpensive baskets. You can keep one in your living room, another in your bedroom, and even in the car. You won’t have to run back and forth each time a disaster occurs. Let’s face it, it will always strike when you are just about to sit down.
Reduced running = reduced stress = more time to drink your tea before it gets cold.
4. Keep Your Nappy Bag at Hand at All Times
Have you ever been in a hurry to leave your house only to find that the nappy bags are empty except for a crumpled-up receipt and a muesli bar half-melted? Have you ever been there?
Now, I always keep a nappy pouch stocked. The bag contains wipes, a hand sanitiser, and a change of clothing, as well as snacks. Glorious, mess-free snacks.
You know those mini bubble wands and party bag toys you get at birthday parties? You can keep a few in your side pocket. These are great for when you have to wait in line at a chemist, or if you need to keep a toddler entertained while at the doctor’s. Tiny toy + big distraction = peace.
After an excursion, restocking can take as little as five minutes. Future-you and your cranky child will be grateful for the convenience of grab-and-go.
5. My Punctuality Trick: Lies to Yourself about the Time
This book changed my life.
I’m always running late. I am always running late.
So now? I always leave a buffer of 15 minutes. If I have to leave at 9 am, I tell myself that we must leave at 845am. I set my phone alarms to the fake time. Why? My brain is slow to register urgency, so I have to trick it earlier.
It’s just a little trick that works like a charm.
Do I always arrive on time? Nope. But I am closer than ever to being on time. That, my friend, is progress.
Let Go of the Guilt. Focus on What Really Matters.
It’s a truth that no one ever says: Your kids won’t remember if you had a Pinterest-worthy kitchen or color-coded toy bins. Your kids won’t care if you forgot the defrost meat or if they thought your home was “visitor-ready.”
You’ll be remembered by.
You will be remembered for playing with them, embracing them when they were crying, and making them feel loved and safe. You’ll be remembered for bedtime stories, dances in the living room, and pancakes you made just because.
It’s not about perfection to be a mother. It’s all about connecting.
Yes, being a little more organised will help to reduce the chaos in your life. Don’t think that being “organic d” equates to a good mum.
You are already enough. You’re still the most loved person on earth, even if you are tired, sloppy, and overwhelmed.
Conclusion
You don’t have to do it all.
You only need to do.
Start small. Start small. Start small. Keep showing up and forgiving yourself when you get off track.
When you feel that you are failing, look at your children. Watch how your children light up as soon as you enter the room. This is your proof.
You don’t have to be supermum. You only need to be mom.
That’s more than enough, my friend.
