💗 Why You’re Always Tired (and How to Get Your Energy Back)

 If you’re always tired, even after a full night’s sleep - you’re not lazy, unmotivated, or doing it wrong. You’re a mum. And between the mental load, constant multitasking, and never-ending to-do list, it's no wonder you're exhausted. Here's how to get your energy back, little by little, with small changes that actually fit your life.

Start by checking in with your basic needs.

• Are you drinking enough water?
• Eating proper meals (not just leftover crusts)?
• Getting a few minutes of fresh air each day?

These seem simple, but when you’re looking after everyone else, it’s easy to skip the basics.

Next, look at where your energy is going. Mental load is a sneaky drain, remembering appointments, planning meals, thinking three steps ahead.

Try offloading some of it by using checklists, planners, or shared digital calendars (I just use my ​Google​ one - it syncs with my phone and computer). Getting it all out of your head helps free up mental space and makes things feel more manageable.

If you can, build in short rest breaks. Not a full nap (though that would be lovely) but at least five minutes with your feet up, some quiet music, or just sitting in silence. When you don't have time for a proper break, a micro one helps your nervous system reset.

You might also be tired from constant overstimulation. Noise, mess, screens, lights - modern motherhood is a sensory overload. Take mini breaks from the noise when you can. A little walk outside, a quite spot in your home to retreat to (even if it's the bathroom), or simply popping in air pods and playing calming sounds can make a big difference.

And of course, give yourself permission to do less. You don’t need to say yes to everything. You don’t need to get it all done in one day. Some of the tiredness comes from the pressure - internal and external - to be everything to everyone. But your rest matters too.

You might still feel tired some days but little by little, when you start meeting your own needs alongside everyone else's, you’ll feel more grounded, more energised, and more like YOU again 💖

Let me know this goes for you! And if you'd like more tips like this, check out ​The Busy Mum's Guide to Making Life Easier​.

x Marissa

😊 The After-School Routine That Stops the Chaos

 The kids come flying through the door - bags dumped, shoes kicked off, everyone hungry, tired, and wired at the same time.

You’re trying to unpack lunchboxes, manage homework, start dinner, and somehow keep the peace.

It’s a lot.

Let's get a simple after-school routine going so all that energy can settle into something more calm and manageable 💗

Start with a pause. Before jumping straight into homework or chores, give the kids a moment to decompress. Let them have a snack, some quiet time, or a play outside to shake off the school day. It’s amazing how much smoother things go when kids have a chance to reset.

Next, have a landing spot for bags, shoes, and lunchboxes. Hooks, baskets, or a corner by the door work well. When there’s a go-to spot, you’re not constantly reminding them where things go - and the house stays tidier.

Then move into your “reset and reconnect” time. Check school notes, unpack lunchboxes, and have a quick chat about their day. It doesn’t need to be deep, just a few minutes of connection makes a big difference.

If homework is part of your afternoon, set it up with a time limit and clear finish. Some families like to do it straight after the snack break, others prefer after dinner. Find what works for your energy flow, and keep it consistent.

Sprinkle in light structure to keep everyone grounded:

• Snack
• Bags unpacked
• Homework or play
• Free time or screens
• Dinner

The order matters more than the exact times, it helps kids know what to expect and reduces the overwhelm for everyone.

Most importantly, leave space for flexibility. Some days will go smoothly, others will still be a little chaotic. Your simple routine will give you a solid base to come back to, even when the day has gone off-track.

Let me know this goes for you! And if you'd like more tips like this, check out ​The Busy Mum's Guide to Making Life Easier​.

x Marissa

🏡 How to Stop Picking Up After Everyone All Day Long

 Toys on the floor, clothes on the lounge, dirty dishes on every surface - it adds up fast, and keeping up with it is exhausting. And annoying - it's not your mess!

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You don’t have to be the one doing all the tidying all day. Let's look at some ways to share the load, even with little kids in the mix.

Start by shifting the expectation. It’s not your job to do everything. Your family is a team, and teams work together. I know that won't always mean a perfect 50/50 split, but everyone can help in age-appropriate ways.

Begin with one simple rule: if you get it out, you put it away. Remind your kids (and partner if you have to) gently and consistently. At first you’ll still be prompting, but over time, it becomes the norm.

Make it easier to tidy up. Use open baskets, low hooks, and easy systems so everyone can do their part. If you want toys packed away but the containers are complicated, it just won’t happen. Set everyone up to succeed.

Create natural reset points in your day. For example:

• Quick tidy before lunch
• Quick tidy before screen time
• Quick tidy before bed

It takes just a few minutes, you can get it done in a song or two, and the more regular it becomes, the less mess builds up.

You can also call it a “speed clean” - set a timer for five minutes and get everyone to compete. It’s fast, light-hearted, and more effective than nagging.

And finally, let go of perfection. Your house doesn’t have to be spotless. It just has to be tidy & calm enough for you to breathe and function. Don't aim for magazine style home, you'll end up feeling resentful, overworked, or invisible.

You deserve support. You deserve rest. And you absolutely deserve to live in a home where you’re not the only one picking up the pieces.

Let me know how these go for you! And if you'd like more tips like this, check out The Busy Mum's Guide to Making Life Easier.
​
x Marissa

🧺 What to Do When You’re Drowning in Laundry

Do you feel like your laundry basket is never empty?

Washing, drying, folding, and putting away clothes can feel like a full-time job - especially when little people seem to wear five outfits a day. If you’re drowning in laundry, here’s how to get on top of it without losing your cool.

First, let go of the idea that you have to catch up all in one go. A giant laundry day can be exhausting and take over your entire weekend. Instead, aim for one load a day. Wash, dry, and put away just one load from start to finish. It’s quicker, easier, and less overwhelming.

If even one load a day feels like too much right now, try a laundry reset. Pick a day, grab every clean item that’s piled up, and sort it into baskets by person. No folding. Just sorted piles. That alone can make the house feel clearer. Bonus points if you put each basket in the right bedroom.

Next, simplify the folding situation. Do you really need to fold baby clothes, pyjamas, or undies? Probably not. Toss them straight into drawers or baskets and move on. The goal is to make laundry doable - not perfect.

Get the kids involved too. Even toddlers can put their socks in a drawer. Older kids can learn to sort, fold, or put away their own clothes. It might not be neat, but it’s a skill they need and a load off your shoulders.

And finally, if you’re really struggling, consider a laundry day shortcut - like using ​The Laundry Lady​ until you can catch up.. You don’t have to do it all, on your own, all the time.

Laundry will never fully disappear, but it doesn’t have to take over your life. With a few simple tweaks, you can make it manageable again - and finally see the bottom of the basket. 

 x Marissa

P.S. My ​House & Family Binder​ includes helpful tools and simple routines to keep your home - and laundry - running smoothly without the stress.

✅ The Magic of a Family Command Centre (And How to Set One Up)

I know what it's like to juggle school notes, appointment reminders, meal plans, and permission slips all at once - and still feel like I'm forgetting something! A Family Command Centre has been a total game-changer - it’s a single spot in my home where all the important stuff lives, so everyone knows what’s going on and where to find things.

The beauty of a command centre is that it brings everything together in one place. You don’t need to hunt for the calendar or rummage through the bottom of a school bag for that newsletter. It’s all there, visible, and easy to update.

You don’t need a fancy Pinterest-worthy setup (unless that’s your thing). Just a few simple tools will do the trick:

• A weekly calendar or planner
• A spot for incoming and outgoing paperwork (think school forms, bills, and invites)
• A clipboard, whiteboard or book for reminders, to-dos, and meal plans
• A small basket or hooks for keys, bags, or important bits and bobs

Choose a space that’s easy to access, like the kitchen, hallway, or a corner of the living room. The idea is to put it where your family naturally passes through, so it becomes part of the routine.

You can personalise it to suit your needs. Colour code by family member, add a chore list for the kids, or include a space for positive notes and encouragement. I tend to keep mine simple, but you should do whatever helps your household run more smoothly.

A Family Command Centre won’t solve everything, but it makes a massive difference in reducing daily chaos. You’ll forget less, feel more organised, and spend less time answering “Muuuuum, where’s my...?”

It’s a small shift that brings a whole lot of calm to your home - and once you’ve got it set up, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it. 

 x Marissa

P.S. My House & Family Binder is the perfect companion to your command centre, with printable tools to help you stay organised in every area of family life.