How to Get Organised as a Busy Mam: Tips from Organised Living with Dee

Let’s be real: being a Mam is a full-time job with overtime, no holidays, and plenty of spills. Between school runs, endless laundry, and somehow trying to keep everyone fed and alive, the idea of staying organised can feel… impossible. But fear not, Mams, because it is possible! You just need the right mindset and a few tricks up your sleeve.

Here are some ways to get help you get organised as a busy Mam and get your life in order without losing your mind (or at least most of it):

5 Steps To Getting Organised as a Busy Mam

1. Declutter Like You’re on a Mission

You know that pile of ‘stuff’ in the corner? The one that keeps growing like a science experiment? It's time to get ruthless! Ask yourself: “Does this spark joy?” (Thank you, Marie Kondo!) or more realistically: “Do I even know what this half stuff is?” If the answer’s no, into the bin it goes! Decluttering clears your home and your mind, and hey, it’s an excuse to finally let go of that broken toy that no one has touched since 2017.

Pro Tip: If your kids see you tossing things, they’ll suddenly remember it was their favourite toy once upon a time and want to keep everything. Declutter when they’re fast asleep—like a ninja, but with bin bags.

2. The ‘5-Minute Rule’

You’ve got five minutes. What can you tackle? Whether it’s clearing out a drawer, wiping down a counter, or folding laundry, the idea is to make small, quick tasks feel manageable. The best part? Five minutes doesn’t feel like a huge commitment. You can even rope the kids in (good luck with that!) by making it a race. They’ll get competitive, and you’ll get a slightly tidier home—win-win!

3. Meal Planning (or, how to avoid the 6pm panic)

We’ve all been there—6pm rolls around, and suddenly, everyone’s starving. You stare into the fridge like it’s going to magically produce a five-course meal. Spoiler alert: it won’t. Enter: meal planning! Spend 10 minutes on a Sunday jotting down a rough plan for the week, including those ‘life-saver’ meals like pasta, frozen pizza, or that one thing your kids will actually eat without protest.

Bonus Tip: Get a whiteboard for the fridge and scribble down the plan. That way, when someone asks “What’s for dinner?” for the 12th time, you can just point.

4. Baskets are Your Best Friend

Baskets, bins, and boxes—oh my! Designate a basket for toys, one for laundry, one for the things you have no idea where to put, and just chuck stuff in them when the clutter starts to creep. It’s not perfect, but it keeps the chaos contained. Plus, it makes it easier to grab everything at once when you finally find the motivation to put it away. (Or at least pretend to.)

5. The Night-Time Prep Trick

If mornings are chaos in your house (no judgement!), prepping a few things the night before can make a world of difference. Lay out clothes, pack lunches, and line up school bags by the door. When morning rolls around, you’ll feel like a superhero. Well, at least until someone spills cereal all over the floor.

6. Remember, on your Journey to getting organised that, Perfection is a Myth

Here’s the most important part: don’t aim for perfection. Your house does not need to look like a Pinterest board to be functional and organised. Some days will be messier than others, and that’s okay. The goal is to find what works for you, so you can spend less time stressing and more time enjoying the little things—like the 5 minutes of peace after the kids go to bed.