3 Little Organising Secrets for new mums

Having a baby is definitely one of the biggest life changes we experience. Everything we know about how to manage our time and space seems to go out the window, and we can be left feeling overwhelmed with unfamiliar chaos. (This was certainly my experience - and the main reason I chose to work with expecting mums and young families!)

As I say to all my clients, regardless of their life stage - being organised is not about having everything neat and tidy all the time or having everything perfectly under control. It is about having space and systems set up around you which help you to live well, avoid stress, and enjoy your home and life. This may not seem achievable for a new parent, but here are my 3 little secrets to show you how...

Secret # 1: A new definition of "organised"

The most important thing is to manage your expectations. We already know that being organised is not about being neat and tidy, but we also need to redefine what being organised means in this new context. The way your space and life worked before bubs came along is not going to work for you now - you need to rethink your space and systems to suit your new way of life. What is going to make your life easier? What are the causes of stress or frustration for you? Consider new ways of doing things - perhaps rearranging the furniture so that your space works better for you, doing grocery shopping online if getting out of the house is a stressful exercise, and a big one that many new mums struggle with... ask for help! Don't assume your hubby / mum / best friend knows what you need help with.

Secret # 2: A place and purpose for everything

You know the old saying "a place for everything and everything in its place"? Well I like to add "a purpose for everything and everything serving its purpose". This means
- having a designated place to put your keys, handbag, travel change mat, etc, so that you can always find what you need when you need it
- AND not having anything in your home and life which serves no purpose, or wastes your time, space or energy. These are very precious resources, especially now, so anything that consumes them better be worth it!

Secret # 3: Flexibility is key

This might seem a bit contradictory - you may expect an organised person's schedule to run like clockwork, but remember we are talking about space and systems to help you live well, avoid stress, and enjoy your home and life. Expect the unexpected, be prepared for things not going according to plan, and don't over-schedule your day. Having a loose structure to your day allows you to flow through your schedule much easier, without the stress of running late or trying to get stuff ticked off your to-do list.


So that's it! My 3 little secrets to being a more organised new mum. All you need to do is - manage your expectations on what it means to be organised during this stage of life, have a place and purpose for everything around you, and allow yourself some flexibility, and you will feel so much more relaxed and on top of things!

If you would like more tips and tricks on how to get more organised with a little one, I am running a 1 hour workshop on Wednesday 17 September in Preston - why not get your mums group together and benefit from the group booking discount! More details and bookings here.
 

Good News and Giveaway!

I'm not going to hide it - this post is nothing but a shameless plug for my new book "Preparing your home and life for baby" ;-)

It has been on my wishlist for some time, so writing my first book has been a fantastic experience and achievement for me. I'm sure you can understand my excitement and desire to share it with you all! This is the first of a series of four books I am busy with:

1. Preparing your home and life for baby
2. Organising your home and life with baby
3. Managing your home and life with a busy family
4. Freeing your home and life from clutter and chaos

If you are time-poor, or simply overwhelmed with the sheer number of decisions you need to make while preparing for the arrival of your baby, then "Preparing your home and life for baby" is here to help. It serves as a basic guide to help navigate through all these decisions. Broken down into key areas like sleeping, changing, feeding, and even budgeting, I offer practical advice, ‘green’ nursery tips, and checklists to make your preparations that much easier, saving you time and money.

A lovely lady by the name of Kirsten has recently reviewed the book and had this to say:
"I am 25 weeks pregnant and just finished reading Beverley's book. I feel a huge sense of relief! Two weeks ago I went to the baby store but left empty handed and overwhelmed; not knowing where to start, or what was essential versus gimmicky. Her advice is well-informed and up-to-date, while being empowering and objective, with an understanding that every mum & baby is different. I feel so much clearer and more confident about where to start and I'm ready to return to the stores today with my printed checklists in hand. Thanks Beverley!"

The book is now available for sale as an ebook and soft cover from my website: www.homeandlifeorganising.com.au/shop

To celebrate the launch, I am giving one lucky reader a free copy if the ebook - all you have to do is comment below on why you NEED to read it! Of course if you are not pregnant yourself please share with your friends, family and colleagues who are, and give them the chance to win. Everyone who comments will go into the draw, and the winner will be announced next Saturday (3 August). Good luck!

www.homeandlifeorganising.com.au

So what exactly is a Baby Planner?

Most people get "professional organiser", but "baby planner" still manages to get a lot of quizzical looks.
The most obvious comparison to make is with a wedding planner - someone who helps you plan and prepare for something specific. But unlike a wedding planner, a baby planner is not helping you plan and prepare for one significant event, but a significant and complete life change.

There is of course the preparations for delivery day that we can help with, but a baby planner's services cover so much more than that. From setting up the nursery, evaluating what baby gear you do and don't need, and rearranging your home to be more conducive to those early sleep-deprived days, to adjusting your time and budget management, preparing for returning to work, and child-proofing. I can also help you set up a non-toxic home and eco-friendly nursery - known as "green proofing".

From the moment you find out you are pregnant, you are bombarded with information, opinions, and decisions to be made. A baby planner can help you navigate through this overwhelming time to reduce the stress of all this logistical gumpf, and free you up to focus on what really matters. 

These services are particularly valuable for those expectant mums who are very time-poor, do not have any close family or friends to help them, or are restricted to bed-rest. For the expectant grandmas out there looking to get their children something special - remember I have gift vouchers!

If you have any questions on professional organising or baby planning feel free to ask!

www.homeandlifeorganising.com.au