Do you recognize this? The days fly by and your head is full of errands, appointments, mail, worries and more. How do you keep a grip on everything that needs to be done - without losing yourself in it? Good planning and organization can make all the difference. Below you will find 7 practical tips that can help:
1. Create a simple weekly meal plan
Imagine: you come home after a long day, and all you have to do is heat up what you made yesterday. That gives air! So plan your meals once a week. Think simple: casseroles, soup or maybe a casserole. By making several portions at once, you'll have something healthy in the house quickly on busy days. For groceries, make a list on your phone and keep adding to it. Have you thought about a delivery service like Picnic, AH or Crisp? That saves lugging and time. Great initiatives like Thuisgekookt.nl connect you with home cooks in the neighborhood. And via Rondjekoken.nl you can ask neighbors or family to take turns cooking for someone who can no longer do it for themselves.
2. One central planning for all
When you keep many balls in the air at once, you need an overview. Therefore, create one central schedule. Hang a weekly planner in the kitchen or work with a shared calendar such as Google Calendar. That way everyone knows where they stand. Do you have a lot of communication around informal care for a loved one? Then consider a separate e-mail address, for example: zorgvooroma@gmail.com. This keeps your private inbox organized. There are also handy apps especially for informal carers, such as CarenZorgt or the Mantelzorgapp. These allow you to share care appointments with others, keep notes or divide tasks.
3. Give your week fixed themes
A different task every day, constantly making choices: that takes energy. Make it easier on yourself by pairing fixed days with fixed tasks.
For example:
Sunday: preparing meals
Monday: administration
Wednesday: laundry day
Friday: shopping
Saturday: clean-up or cleaning tasks
That way you know what is happening when and you don't have to keep thinking, “What needs to be done first” or “When am I going to do this?”
4. Do a “15-minute clean-up sprint” every day.”
Cleaning up doesn't have to take hours. Set a timer for 15 minutes and pick one area: a drawer, a shelf, the kitchen sink. Do this every night shortly before you sit down or sleep. After a week, you'll notice: The house really has become a lot quieter, without wearing you out.
5. Make your stuff work for you
Sometimes it's not what you do, but how your home is organized. By grouping things by category (for example: all medicines together, administration in one place) you save time and energy. Use baskets, trays or transparent boxes with labels. This way you can find everything quickly. Think of a bin for underwear, a drawer for craft supplies, or a basket for charging cords. It seems small, but it really makes your daily life lighter.
In conclusion
Planning and organizing is not an end in itself - it is a way to regain breathing room. Especially when taking care of others, it is important to take good care of yourself, too. Start small. Choose one tip that suits you and get started. Want help planning and organizing? We are happy to help!
