Single woman here, 5 days a week in the office as well. I will say it is going to be challenging and some weeks will be better than other weeks but it is possible to do it if you build systems that work for you.
Some things might vary as I’ve got a neurodivergent brain so I’ve adapted my tips to it, but hopefully you still something useful to you.

• Observe your own habits - This might sound odd but interstitial journaling really helps with this, act like a researcher who is observing your patterns. No judgement or shame, just common behaviours you start to notice.

For e.g. let’s take meal prep. It’s a great way to bulk cook your meals for office lunches and extra freezable dinners. But do you find it a struggle to keep doing consistently? Something that exhausts you, to the point you decide not to and either skip meals or order a takeaway? Well, this was me until I realised that I was trying to make 6 different complex recipes because I love cooking but ended up tiring myself out on a Sunday because of how time consuming it was.

When I set more achievable goals for myself, it became a much easier task to take on. I prep 1 big meal and freeze it in 3 souper cube trays and then prep a few additional items like an extra protein, cut or cooked veggies. At the same time I make my meal prep for my work lunches and wash up the dishes as things are cooking. It can also help to play music, a podcast or a show while you cook.

• Audit your time, plan accordingly - Your time is precious, and when you’re single and living alone it disappears fast. If you know that you’re unlikely to move once you sit on the couch after work, plan accordingly. I used to lose a lot of time after a stressful day at work and be surprised it was already so late at night and I had done anything.

So, I started either heading to the gym before I went to the office, or put a bunch of laundry on the couch in the morning. I set a timer and I dash around the flat and either tackle a chore I planned to do or do a 10 min tidy. I’d use that time to reheat my frozen meal prepped dinner and once it was done and I was done, I could sit down and enjoy my meal.

• Book everything into your calendar - Social events with friends, dentists appointments, DnD nights, a badminton session, whatever it is book it into your calendar. It gives you a nice break from your work day and a level of not having to constantly remember every single thing on a mental to do list.

Plan your chores realistically around your calendar. Know that you’re going to be returning really late from a event on a Thursday night, well it’s less likely that you’re going to have the time or energy to spend time meal prepping so maybe you can move that to another night and focus on what’s achievable for you that night.

Single woman here, 5 days a week in the office as well. I will say it is going to be challenging and some weeks will be better than other weeks but it is possible to do it if you build systems that work for you.

Some things might vary as I’ve got a neurodivergent brain so I’ve adapted my tips to it, but hopefully you still something useful to you.

1. Observe your own habits - This might sound odd but interstitial journaling really helps with this, act like a researcher who is observing your patterns. No judgement or shame, just common behaviours you start to notice.

For e.g. let’s take meal prep. It’s a great way to bulk cook your meals for office lunches and extra freezable dinners. But do you find it a struggle to keep doing consistently? Something that exhausts you, to the point you decide not to and either skip meals or order a takeaway? Well, this was me until I realised that I was trying to make 6 different complex recipes because I love cooking but ended up tiring myself out on a Sunday because of how time consuming it was.

When I set more achievable goals for myself, it became a much easier task to take on. I prep 1 big meal and freeze it in 3 souper cube trays and then prep a few additional items like an extra protein, cut or cooked veggies. At the same time I make my meal prep for my work lunches and wash up the dishes as things are cooking. It can also help to play music, a podcast or a show while you cook.

1. Audit your time, plan accordingly - Your time is precious, and when you’re single and living alone it disappears fast. If you know that you’re unlikely to move once you sit on the couch after work, plan accordingly. I used to lose a lot of time after a stressful day at work and be surprised it was already so late at night and I had done anything. So, I started either heading to the gym before I went to the office, or put a bunch of laundry on the couch in the morning. I set a timer and I dash around the flat and either tackle a chore I planned to do or do a 10 min tidy. I’d use that time to reheat my frozen meal prepped dinner and once it was done and I was done, I could sit down and enjoy my meal.

2. Book everything into your calendar - Social events with friends, dentists appointments, DnD nights, a badminton session, whatever it is book it into your calendar. It gives you a nice break from your work day and a level of not having to constantly remember every single thing on a mental to do list. Plan your chores realistically around your calendar. Know that you’re going to be returning really late from a event on a Thursday night, well it’s less likely that you’re going to have the time or energy to spend time meal prepping so maybe you can move that to another night and focus on what’s achievable for you that night.