1. Get a cleaner. Mine comes once a week for 2 hours for around £20 and does the cleaning, leaving me time to tidy. It's so worth it!


2. Order your food shopping online. Okay, so it takes an hour the first time, but just 5 minutes for the basics after that. I buy the rest locally (butchers, bakers, candlestick makers) in the market town where I live, and go for coffee afterwards, knowing Tesco is taking care of the household staples (washing powder, loo rolls, cat food, dinner, nappies, chocolate, etc).


3. Get your house sorted. I'm not talking about making a show house, but put systems in place, know where your bits and bobs are. Spend just 15 minutes each evening doing a little tidying - putting toys away, getting kids school uniforms and your clothes ready the night before, laundry and ironing every other day. So much easier than letting it all build up only to spend your precious weekends sorting it.


4. Set aside an hour a week to sort out your finances. We do it every week on a Monday night. That means less stress and more bills paid on time with no charges or arguments.


5. Okay, so this bit is boring, but it works: create a schedule on your BlackBerry or your iPhone of what needs doing around the house each week: so, food shopping (order online Thursday evening), laundry and ironing (say Monday, Wednesday and Friday), tidying (15 mins each night), finances... maybe Monday evenings get together with your other half for a one hour reward and a bottle of wine? Then spend the rest of the time with your family and on your hobbies...

Life is short, so make the most of yours! If you're struggling with getting your life and your home sorted call Caroline today on 0780 313 6023 to discuss creating a life plan that will change your life and make time for you and your family to enjoy the nicer things in life!

Caroline O'Neill is a life strategist, speaker and author. She shares her steps for happiness, success and wealth by using a success approach that mixes life coaching with strategies such as space planning, time abundance and a little secret ingredient to help you overcome obstacles and achieve your goals.

Photo credit: alasam