Can we talk organization and life skills? With the addition of the niece everything has changed, and I am finding myself overwhelmed. What do you do to stay centered and on top of things?
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My partner has stepped up, but there are still an overwhelming amount of responsibilities that are mine. Work is about to get busier, too (huzzah).

What do you do to stay centered and not cranky?

My organization currently is google calendar, to do list/reminders on my iphone, a combination of outlook calendar and paper notebook list at work.

I recently got the Badger app for my iphone, so that I can set up recurring text messages for my niece for all the things that we have to constantly remind her to do (laundry on Sundays - reminders for 5 hours on the hour to check and switch over if needed; reminders to put her things away; reminders to take medicine). Yes, we're doing some ADD testing.

But in addition to a full work week, I still need to come home and do (some) cleaning, (some) cooking, animal care, help niece with schoolwork (daily - she's failing chemistry), etc. I also visit my grandmother several times a week on the way to work - these are super short visits (15 min or so) to fix her some breakfast and put on her socks. I don't want to give those up, either.

With the additional expense of a third person in the house, we don't have the funds to hire a housekeeper or buy prepaid meals. I could potentially have my niece do some of the housework, but she's slammed with schoolwork right now, and if you consider how much I would have to remind her to do it, it's likely simpler to do it myself. Just letting the house go is only an option for so long, as my mom can't breathe (asthma) unless we keep it semi-clean, and it drives my partner batty to have things laying around.

I do have the ability to do yoga classes at my office, plus a YMCA membership. However, pet care somewhat interferes with that - we're having to go home at lunch each day and give the dog medicine, so we're splitting that up as well. That kills lunchtime yoga on those days.

I have a meditation app, but haven't been using it. (So I could!)

I have the tendency to go and go and go until I simply break, but have been noticing that I am crankier lately, and have a shorter fuse. I don't *want* to be a cranky person.