Managing Home and Work!

Hi Deepa,
This is what I used to do.
- Prepare lot of stuff like masala powders/mixes, idli/dosa batter, pickles/thokku/chutney/tamarind paste/ginger-garlic paste etc ahead and store them in the refrigerator.
- Try quick recipes, like the quick cooker sambar(put onions, tomatoes, veggies, dal, sambar powder - everything inside the cooker and pressure cook), Simple kootu/gravy with all the veggies, instead of going for a separate gravy, vegetable and rasam.
- On days when it is really overwhelming, go for easy dishes like Dosa, upma, poha etc which take less time.
- Wash clothes once in 2-3 days or during the weekend. Though it was a 2-3 hour job during the weekend, saved a lot of time during the week(much better if you have a washing machine, just run it over the weekend or once in 3 days).
- Wash utensils as soon as they reached the sink so that they would not accumulate and you do not use all the utensils in the kitchen(all of them ending up in the sink)
- Avoid standing next to the stove when making food, unless when needed, while the dishes are boiling or being cooked etc, go and sit with a book or listen to music or watch television(just make sure not to forget that there is something on the stove).
- If you foresee a hectic week, prepare some dishes like Sambar etc ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator(dishes like sambar can be used multiple times - for idli, dosa, rice etc).
- Try multitasking, cleaning the living room or washing utensils, when you are waiting for dal or rice to be cooked in the pressure cooker. Rolling chapathis while sitting in the living room, watching the tele or listening to music etc. That way you wont feel too overwhelmed.

It is hard to manage initially and everyone misses the comfort of home and mom's cooking(everything used to come to our hands right ;-), but, you will get the hang of it after some time. It's all trial and error, just see what works for you

 

Hi Deepa,
After reading your post, My legs started trembling(Basement weak) as I am single now & would probably get marry by end of this year. )) don know how I am gonna manage.. Really gonna be my biggest challenge in my life...

 

My two cents..

Stop being a perfectionist. There is no need to be a perfect in all the areas. If you pause and think that one day or not dusting or eating a simple food is not going to crash the life, things will be much easier.

Let go and do not be so obsessed about cleaning, eating, disciplining etc.. Take one day a time, see if few things can wait and take up those which really need your attention. Again, this is a bit of soul searching exercise..

 

I hv been juggling work n home n local train travel for 5 yrs now ... successfully, n not to forget infert treatment too
my ppl are sorta hyper-orthodox n a maid coming into the house is considered blasphemy, while both my sils hv multiple maids .. these rules apply only for me:rant eating out is totally wrong only when i am tired to cook never when my ILs hv guest or they want to /feel like eating out ... the reason given then is "oh my DIL cannot cook for nuts, how can guest have her food" ... these are the same ppl who have gained enormously by plain good food through 5 yrs and look like really "khate peethy khandaan wale" anyways thats me ranting ... commg to tips

1)plan ur week very well in advance,
2)mentally fix up the menu for the entire week eg monday idly for b/f then make rice n sambar n veggie to go with the idly n rice , Tuesday dal, rice n sabzi then make roti for b/f to go with it
3)get ur veggies on sat/sun and spend an hr or 2 watching a movie n cutting all the veggies for the week
4)get ur self tupperware storages...i know they r expensive but ... really useful veggies stay fresh for 3-4 days
5)use a mopper, it works faster

most imp : stop being a perfectionist, if one odd day things r a lil haywire ... np u always hv the next good day:thumbsup

 

Deepa,
Life is how you make it. Make it easy, initially its difficult but not tough. I have seen many girls face the same problem because they are either not independent or they do not have interest. Create interest in your work you will like it and above all when you are working you make sure you are independent. When you can handle things independently in office why not at home?? So try to make a balance between the two and more over who ever feels that its difficult or feel its below their dignity to cook or do household work I really pity them. Try to manage both I know you are going to excel in both

 

My 2 cents.

1. Keep cooking minimal. This is possible if menu is decided in advance. Prepare gravies, batters, chutney, cut veggies in advance. Only thing to do everyday is assembling

2. Delegate as many tasks as possible. Keep a maid to clean, wash, mop etc., if you get home cooked meal go for it once or twice in a week.

3. Keep your travel time minimal. Previously I stated 22kms away from office and it took 14 hours including travel. We shifted close to office and travel time is just 20 mts. Decision was hard in the initial days as we shifted from independent own duplex house to apartment. But I started seeing brighter side of it and we are happy with our decision, check if this works.

4. Sharing is very important, see if your spouse can help you to cut veggies, clean or fold clothes.

As other mentioned, if you plan you can manage well. All the best.