Weekends are for fun, right?
RIGHT!
You’ve made it through mad Monday, hump day Wednesday, and now it’s Friday night. The next two days are all yours, to do as you please. Perhaps the calendar is full, perhaps you have a to do list to check off…perhaps the kids have their own ‘to do’ list and would love to get #todoing.
But despite making it through the week, reality hits. There’s still plenty that needs doing around the house and, come Sunday, the inevitable planning for the next week.
HOWEVER, don’t let this reality stop you. You can make your own reality, your weekend, the way YOU imagine it, whilst still feeling organised. We have compiled our top 8 tips to help your family get #todoing over the weekend, whilst being ready for the week to follow.
Tip 1 – Plan your planner
Calendars take many forms. From the good old month by month hanging on the kitchen wall, to a shared family calendar from your PC or device, find a system that works for you and STICK to it. On a Sunday night, review the upcoming week, including the following weekend. Think about your normal routine, any exceptions to routine and what you need to do to make them happen. Remember to find some time to get #todoing.
Tip 2 – Plan your gear
We all have a friend or family member who does the dash back because ‘I just forgot…’ (insert: sunglasses, water bottle, jacket, banana…) Or even worse, the person who remembers what they forgot just as you turn out of the driveway. I find my mind is clearest the night before, and it is then I can run through what I need for the next day. Pack what you can, prepare the food you need (see below) and make a list of items that need to be grabbed last minute.
Tip 3 – Plan your food
Whether you’re a person who likes to take your food with you, or someone who buys lunch, it is handy to know what you intend to do for food, especially with hungry kids in tow. 90% of the time, our family pack our food. It is the best way to ensure we eat healthy food, and save a tonne of money. We like to have pre-prepared tubs in the fridge such as grated carrot, sliced cheese, meats, lettuce, feta, sliced cucumber, etc that can be easily laid out on the bench to make a sandwich or salad. Our boys help us prepare the fillings and are able to grab the tubs to make their packed lunches. Easy. Work smarter, not harder.
Tip 4 – Plan your departure time
To avoid being late, work backwards. How long will it take to reach your destination? How long will it take to get ready in the morning? Do you need to eat breakfast before you leave? By working backwards, you now have your wakeup time. Set the alarm, allow for snooze time if you like to hit the button, and stick to it.
Tip 5 – Unpack as soon as you get home
OK, so we’re not always perfect at this. Especially the boys. This is definitely an area for our family for improvement, but it is tough when you have tired children at the end of a day out. Make allowances depending on their age. Put shoes away, unpack backpacks, put everything where it belongs. This makes it easy to find next time. Shake out or clean bags as needed. I promise, it doesn’t take long, but makes a big difference to your preparation next time.
Tip 6 – Wash your clothes
This one is a game changer…as you are unpacking and the kids are showering, sort the washing and turn on a load. It may feel like an unnecessary chore for the end of a fun day out, but trust me…when you wake the next morning you will thank yourself. Instead of waking to find you have no clean uniforms, or wet towels that have soaked through your basket, all you need to do is put away the clean clothes. We ensure after a day out, particularly involving swimming, that all clothes and gear is washed and hung to dry. One less job you need to do during the day.
Tip 7 – Online grocery delivery
Gone are the days of spending an afternoon shopping, transferring bags to the car, carrying them inside, then unpacking. #todoingfamily use Woolworths to order and deliver our groceries. We have a standard list (think milk, cereal, staple items that you need every week), then add or remove specific items for the coming week. Select a time for delivery, and it will be brought straight into your kitchen if you choose. Even better, you can schedule a delivery up to one week ahead, meaning that if you know you have a busy weekend ahead, you can order your groceries on Thursday night or whenever it suit you the week before. This tip saves hours of time.
Tip 8 – Plan some down time
We all need down time. Including the kids. We find that at least one weekend day in a fortnight is a rest day. This doesn’t mean you stay home for the whole day necessarily. Importantly, you are not rushing off in the morning. It means the night before is free from food preparation and packing bags, and you can take it east in the morning, enjoy a family breakfast or see what you feel like at the time.
We hope you can take something from these tips…have fun #todoing with your family. You will have everyone asking you how you do it so much!
