1. Handy Kitchen Tips that You cannot Miss : Solutions for all your Problems
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Time management - cooking, cleaning, and exercise

Discussion in 'Spotless Kitchen' started by kkrish, Apr 22, 2012.

  1. dimple7

    dimple7 Gold IL'ite

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    can you share that?
     
  2. BDivya

    BDivya Platinum IL'ite

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    Hi everyone, I have been away from IL for quite long now, as I'm busy with my second baby!

    This baby is keeping me awake all through the night giving me only 3 hours max of sleep that too not continuos...

    I'm not set in to any routine as of now as both my kids are keeping me way too busy. In my mum's place so enjoying without the need to worry about cooking!

    The thought about returning back to my home gives me mixed feeling though the date is far away. The pressure of taking care of new born, sending elder one to school, cooking, cleaning, laundry, phew.. Not sure if mil is going to drop in and stay permanently! If so then it's going to be an added tension in my head. Before coming for deliveryi had been telling h that mil should not come for which I'm ready to sacrifice my job and stay at home to take care of both kids but seems mil is brain washing h now as she and fil are already at my home and doing their manipulatings! Not able to take all the pressure that is coming from pil though h... It's frustrating to the core. Not able to talk to h without ending up in arguments, ask because of them. H as usual not understanding me and yelling. I have already started thinking if I made mistake by going for a second child!

    Sorry about the rant. I'm feeling very much frustrated at the same time feeling self pity. Hopefully I get peace down the lane!
     
  3. BDivya

    BDivya Platinum IL'ite

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    @Bubbles I have not been using microwave too much as my inmates say that the electric waves created in microwave is not good for heath but at the same time ur options seem to be cool.
     
  4. Bubbles

    Bubbles Silver IL'ite

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    You might find this interesting.. Is microwave radiation harmful?
    It talks about how microwaves actually work, and addresses concerns regarding safety and effect on nutritive value of foods, in a simple easy-to-read way.

    For more details, this is what the FDA has to say..
     
  5. Bubbles

    Bubbles Silver IL'ite

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    Coming back home after childbirth can be a stressful transition, and I totally understand how you wouldn't want your MIL's presence to add to it. It is natural to feel anxious, but don't worry dear, you will be able to deal with it - and feel so proud a few months down the line when you look back..
    A few suggestions from my end:
    • Try to get into a routine with your kids and some small work couple of weeks before you move from your own place.
    • You are not getting any sleep! How old is the baby? If you could share how old the kids are, we can work out a kind of schedule..that would be essential for your sanity. We need to get that baby sleeping.
    • Prioritise. Baby & Kid & yourself, Cooking, Laundry, Cleaning whatever is possible only.
    • Mentally - if you're husband is going to insist on in-laws coming, let him. Pick your battles. You stay strong and talk to him well in advance what you will and won't do. Tell him calmly that you will be able to barely care for the children and yourself, and maybe some cooking and he will have to manage himself and in-laws by himself, even if he doesn't help with the kid/baby. And then stick to it, don't bother about any drama. Keep yourself detached.
    • And to make that kind of detachment work, ensure you do stuff you enjoy too. You are not going to get time, so you'll have to do it while taking care of the kids.. listen to your favourite music, take walks with baby, chat up with friends/family while going for a walk.. Come vent to us whenever you need to let of some steam.
    • COOKING - keep it simple. Use all possible feasible shortcuts. Have weekly menu, and quickly finish it. use your pressure cooker, rice cooker etc so you spend less time actually standing in kitchen.
    • I'm assuming you can't get help, but if that's an option, go for it!
     
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  6. BDivya

    BDivya Platinum IL'ite

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    Thanks for ur detailed reply.
    They are 4 years and baby is 2 months old. My baby is not sleeping in the night totally. But sleeping throughout the day.
     
  7. Thyagarajan

    Thyagarajan IL Hall of Fame

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    :hello:very pragmatic sound matured advice. Thank you madam sister.
    GOD BLESS US all always.
     
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  8. Bubbles

    Bubbles Silver IL'ite

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    I need some advice..
    I'm a full time SAHM, with a ~3 year old, and living with ILs.
    I need to find time to study to get back into track professionally. I need around 6 hours a day at least - I have a competitive exam to prepare for and ace, in order to work again. This is lesser than what most other people spend preparing for this, so I can't reduce it further. And it is time sensitive, so I have a deadline.
    My LO doesn't go to daycare/playschool etc yet. I've been pushing for it, and my family has finally agreed, but will be starting only with a few days in the week initially, and then slowly increase to regular. My problem is, I do not have the time to wait until she becomes a regular.
    My ILs are currently on an annual pilgrimage, and will be away for around 3-4weeks. I want to maximise on this time to study.
    With my ILs, my schedule goes like this:
    6:30 AM Start Cooking Coffee for ILs, for husband, grab a cup for myself, keep veggies n rice for H in cooker. Clear up dining table 7 AM Lunchbox prep - some gravy or prep the rice. 7:30 Pack the lunchbox, grind chutney. Put dosa for H's breakfast. Clear up.
    8:00 AM H leaves for work. Load and run dishwasher, laundry 1 load. Take bath.
    8:30 AM Keep idlis for ILs. Handwash dishes. LO gets up.
    9 AM Breakfast. Set the table. Serve+/- Get LO ready, brush etc. LO has breakfast. I try and eat with her. Keep dal if needed for today's lunch.
    10 AM Post breakfast clear up. Wash idli plates and cooker. Put laundry in dryer. Coffee, drink for ILs and LO
    10:30 AM Give LO her milk. Yep, it's a task! ;-) Quick phone call to family to check in.
    10:45 - 11 AM Start making lunch.
    12:30 PM Lunch is ready.. Take LO for bath.
    1 PM Lunch time for LO. Set the table. Get LO settled for Lunch. Serve, feed.
    2 PM Clear up after LO. Eat. Clear up.
    2:40 PM Take LO for her nap, I'm already running late now. Sigh.
    3 - 5 PM LO Naps. I haven't got a real break till now, so I sit back. Take a nap sometimes. 1 hour I chill out. I can take 1 hour here to study.
    5 PM
    Coffee for ILs. Unload and reload dishwasher. LO's drink. Grab a cup for myself. Make-LO-drink-milk saga.
    6 PM H is back. Coffee for him. Serve snacks for everbody. Try to prep for dinner or finish off dishes or grind idly batter while everybody makes up their mind what to snack on;)
    7 PM Keep rice n veggies for LO's dinner. Go out - playground / shopping / walk for LO. I get away with this now thanks to summer.
    8:30 PM Make dinner - idli & chutney. Heat up lunch leftovers. Set the table. Meanwhile, MIL/H start feeding LO dinner.
    9:15 PM Everybody else has dinner. I go help LO finish dinner or serve dinner.
    9:30 PM Have a quick dinner. Clear up somewhat
    10 PM Take LO to bed.
    11 PM LO is sleeping. I have ~1 hour. And some chores. Have to clear up. Want to study. Sigh. What should I do? I end up clearing up the kitchen so that I can start cooking directly the next day.
    12-12:30 AM Go to sleep.

    Currently, I wake up ~5 and study till 6:30. But I don't get any other time to study the whole day.
    I am planning to wake up earlier and study 4-7AM. Then steal 1 hour during LO's nap. But then I will have to go to bed with LO and will not be able to clear up the kitchen and my morning kitchen work will get delayed. And even then I need 2 more hours to study.

    Now ILs are not here, I finish up lunch prep in morning itself (simple lunch just for me n LO) so I get ~1.5hrs in the morning. I should be studying then, but I end up either playing with LO or taking her out or skyping home so that my family gets to see my LO some..
    It's like I feel I barely get to spend 'real' time with my LO except for eat-sleep-brush/bathe-poop...so I instinctively end up lounging with LO. Sigh. And to think everybody thinks I just stay with LO all the time he he. Okay, but that's a topic for another day...

    Please advise on how to streamline my schedule further so that I can find time..to study.
    Its also a little frustrating because all I do is cook, clean up, dishes. No home care / cleaning, no self-care... and already my schedule is full.. Feel like I'm doing it wrong - I know others manage to do more... What am I missing? Is there some way to do things differently so that I can do this too?
     
    Last edited: Jul 10, 2018
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  9. lazy

    lazy Silver IL'ite

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    Hello bubbles,

    Me too sailing in the same boat, my dd is 2 years old. I dont have answer for all your queries, but sure experienced peoples will guide you here.

    My 2 cents

    Instead of preparing separate bf,lunch for your dh and in laws, you can do it as a single task. So that you can complete it before 8.

    Reg cooking, there is new technique trending now, its called opos. You can save more time on following that method. You can google about it.

    Then while you are taking bath, try to give bath to your lo too. It may save some time. If you are able to complete the cooking before 8, then once your lo wakes up you can have your bath along with her. Then you both can have breakfast.
     
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  10. justanothergirl

    justanothergirl IL Hall of Fame

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    Bubbles. How old are ur inlaws? Can they pitch in?
    Its hard to take care of 3 adults + one toddler all by urself and then study. What about ur husband?
    OK while I wait for u to reply I will assume worst case scenario - no one will /can help u and try to see where you can optimize ur time.

    U are in the kitchen too many times. We need to bring that down.
    a. Buy a big flask .Make coffee once and fill up the flask. Leave it on the dining table with tumblers/cups. Folks can serve themselves. Clear it once when u clear breakfast.
    b. Every one eats the same (except perhaps ur toddler) . U really need to insist on this . Either this or they take care of something . Keep the breakfast same for everyone in the family. Dosas only for weekends. Make simple dishes like idli ,upma ,pongal which can be made in bulk for all. Keep it in a hotpack on the dining table.
    c..When u make lunch for ur husband triple the recipe and make it for the remaining 3 of u. (PIL+ u)

    This is key u need to wrap up breakfast and lunch at the same time and leave the kitchen . Handover toddler to ur PIL and head to a library or a room. If they cannot take care of the child insist on a maid or a day care for few hours respite so u can focus.
    With lunch already cooked (max u need to do is warm it up in a microwave which hopefully ur PIL can do ) u should be able to study for an hour or two .

    Gotto go to meeting more in the next when we see how to optimize ur afternoons.
     
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