Our Fifo lifestyle: Our Routines, Checklists & Top Tips.

Alyssa Randall
Apr 26, 2021
4 min read

Updated: May 12, 2021

So I am going to start at the beginning here, My name is Alyssa and I am a mum and a self proclaimed “Fifo Wife” – look I’m not really a wife yet, but one day..hopefully!

I live on the Sunshine Coast Queensland with my Daughter Layla, our baby currently cooking away in my stomach and 1 third of the time, My partner & children's Dad, Jake!

Jake is a Fifo Rigger in Western Australia, he started this position just one month after our first Daughter was born in July 2019. We have been living the Fifo lifestyle for almost 2 years now, and since he started when we had just had a baby, it is the only “mum” life I have ever known. I Quickly learnt to navigate not only being a new mum at the age of 20 but also a life as a solo parent for almost 8 months of each year.

I am so thankful that we have this opportunity and we have been able to financially support me being a stay at home mum, But it defiantly comes with a price to pay, including missing out on family events,christmas celebrations,Easters,Birthdays & Many of our children's “firsts”. Not to mention to lack of support sometimes that can really impact me, emotionally.. I am a very controlling person, and I like to always be on top on everything otherwise I get overwhelmed and go downhill way to quickly! In saying all this I really wanted to share some of the Tips and Routines, that help me, to get through my time solo parenting, and how I manage to keep everything under control (most of the time!)

1. Routines,Routines,Routines..

Routines are the absolute biggest tip I can give to any person navigating a life at home with kids. Once I started writing down what needed to be done around the house, What I wanted to do for myself & What my child needed done for them, each and everyday I developed systems that worked to ensure everything got done and I wasn’t going to bed at night feeling overwhelmed and stressed about the day. By breaking up Daily chores and tasks, it all becomes so much more manageable, and I don’t find myself feeling overwhelmed that I am the only person actively contributing to Daily tasks.

Now after seeing just how many routines & checklists I have on I daily basis you are probably thinking I am a complete and total control freak.. and yes I sort of am! I know everyday is not the same, and I am very fortunate to have the time at home, and have the ability to get what I get done in a day .. in a day, so make sure your create Routines and checklists that are achievable for you!

2. Pre prep everything!

Now we have what I like to call a little “fly out day Prep” where we will have a day full of just getting the house as organised as possible before Jake flies back out again. Obviously over the course of two weeks, things need to once again be reset, so I try have a day where my Toddler is minded by Family or has a daycare day and I will dedicate the day to resetting our home, Foodshopping, doing a big clean & sneaking in some self care, so I feel Refreshed and reset for the week ahead. I highly recommend doing this whether you have a fifo partner or not, and write it down, by having a non verbal communication of what needs to be done, it gives your partner an insight to what is going on in your head and they can help!

3. Keep Busy! the quickest way that I fall into a downward spiral of feeling lonely is when I stay home for a few days without catching up with family or friends.. and often this leads to me also having a bad daily conversation with Jake, because I have nothing to update him on or tell him about. My biggest reason I chose to stay home is because every damn time I step foot out of the house I spend money, and then I feel bad about it. So what I have done is created a list of things that get me out of the house without breaking the bank , and are not to difficult to manage as a 7 month pregnant woman with a toddler in Tow.