Weary mum’s exhausting to-do list shocks parents after being shared on Facebook


An organised mother-of-two who studies full time has revealed how she manages to complete all her tasks and duties in one day through the use of multiple planners.

Posting images of her selection of organisers to an Australian Facebook group, the schedules outlined her daily study and cleaning routine, weekly planner and monthly calendar.

Freda Martens, 26, spoke to FEMAIL and offered an insight into her ‘overwhelming’ lifestyle.

‘I have a two-year-old son and a one-year-old daughter, so life can become pretty crazy at times especially while studying,’ she said.

Freda is currently studying a diploma of higher education at university with the aim to eventually study a degree in pharmacy.

Freda Martens, 26, (pictured above) spoke to FEMAIL and offered an insight into her ‘overwhelming’ lifestyle. ‘I have a two-year-old son and a one-year-old daughter, so life can become pretty crazy at times, especially while studying,’ she said

'I didn't start using the planners until last year. I needed to organise my time and create a routine to be one step ahead,' she said

‘I didn’t start using the planners until last year. I needed to organise my time and create a routine to be one step ahead,’ she said 

Freda explained she was never an organised person, though after having children she felt the need to create the structured schedules.

‘I didn’t start using the planners until last year. I needed to organise my time and create a routine to be one step ahead,’ she said.

‘This year has been so much better – it was hard to follow at first but eventually I got into the routine.’

While the weekdays are full of orderly tasks and divisions, the weekends are far more relaxed with little schedules to follow, unless an assignment is due.

Drinking alcohol is only strictly limited to after the university semester has finished or if company comes to visit.

Freda’s handy organisation tips

* Plan ahead to stay on top of daily tasks and mum duties

* Meal prep where possible to save time throughout the week 

* Cook and freeze certain foods or condiments, like pasta sauce and curry 

* Clean every day 

* Create a set morning and afternoon to-do list  

* Create a weekly schedule to act as a guide 

The weekly timetable seemed to attract the most attention online as other mums commented asking if Freda ever gets a break or time to herself.

One Facebook user said the plan made her feel tired just looking at it, and questioned if there’s any time left to enjoy pleasant activities.

‘There’s a lot of household tasks to be done in a day! But where is the time for “life” activities?’ the mum asked, to which Freda replied the gym is usually her only form of ‘me time’.

‘I don’t think I ever unwind after a busy day. I can’t take a relaxing bath by myself without being interrupted by my children,’ she said.

Though the ‘one thing’ she described as her ‘escape’ is putting on makeup – sometimes even at 2am if she can’t sleep or can’t relax.

Freda's weekly timetables (pictured above) seemed to attract the most attention online as other mums commented asking if she ever gets a break or time to herself

Freda’s weekly timetables (pictured above) seemed to attract the most attention online as other mums commented asking if she ever gets a break or time to herself

'I don't think I ever unwind after a busy day. I can't take a relaxing bath by myself without being interrupted by my children,' she said

‘I don’t think I ever unwind after a busy day. I can’t take a relaxing bath by myself without being interrupted by my children,’ she said 

Her set ‘daily cleaning routine’ is strategically split into two lists of ten morning tasks and 13 afternoon duties that include vacuuming, tidying common areas and feeding pets.

‘The morning tasks need to be completed before I leave the house in the morning, but the evening tasks are done throughout the night while I’m making dinner or feeding the kids,’ she said.

‘I hate cleaning but I have to do these things to save my “sanity”‘, she wrote online.

She also encouraged those who frowned upon the busy lists to simply ‘scroll past the post’, as the routines work for her.  

The set 'daily cleaning routine' (pictured above) was also strategically split into two lists of ten morning tasks and 13 afternoon duties that include vacuuming, tidying common areas and feeding pets

The set ‘daily cleaning routine’ (pictured above) was also strategically split into two lists of ten morning tasks and 13 afternoon duties that include vacuuming, tidying common areas and feeding pets 

'Thank you for sharing. I'm going to show my kids your daily cleaning routine. I'm trying to get them helping me more around the house,' one mum said online

‘Thank you for sharing. I’m going to show my kids your daily cleaning routine. I’m trying to get them helping me more around the house,’ one mum said online

Despite the exhausting to-do lists, Freda said she hopes her planners will inspire other busy mums to devise similar planners too.

‘If you don’t plan it’s a recipe for disaster. You have to plan, I can’t stress it enough,’ she said. 

‘Thank you for sharing. I’m going to show my kids your daily cleaning routine. I’m trying to get them helping me more around the house,’ one user commented. 

Another added: ‘Oh, and you’ve inspired me by adding gym into the daily plan!’ 

‘Great ideas, think I might need to do this also! Life can be so hectic!’ a third said.