Managing the Home with Confidence

So I totally fell off the horse back in December when it comes to managing the home.  It seemed like I had everything under control and then, as usual, I look up and I wasn’t!  It wasn’t so much the laundry or vacuuming, but it was everything combined in small ways.  I knew I needed to do something about it but each week ran away from me.  Until now.

Getting Your Life Organized?  These will help

Change a Messy House and Messy Mind

10 Steps to Stop Wasting Your Time at Home

How to Create Your Marvelous Morning Routine

How to get Kids to help at home

I started out thinking about how I keep amazingly organized in 5 Big Ways.  Then I realized I had fallen off in the small bits that make up those Big Ways.  So I sat down and decided that I needed to just take a step back and create a new plan.  It’s not a perfect plan, since motherhood doesn’t allow for perfection.  But I thought it was good enough to get me back on track and, maybe, to actually stay there.

I know if I create these habits, keeping up with ways to trigger myself to do the task, that I will have a lot more success.

The 5 Must-Do To-dos for Managing the Home

#1 Create Time for Yourself

This may sound like a luxurious spa moment but it isn’t.  When I talk about creating time for yourself I’m talking about the number way to get anything done at home.  The best time would be in the morning.

You use this time to plan your day, to set your mind right, to have some de-stress time to work towards your goals in your home and for yourself.

When you are at your best then you will do your best.  

I talk all about how to create time for yourself in your day in my post, The Most Productive Routine to be Your Creative Awesome Self!

#2 Load/Unload the Dishwasher

This is probably the most essential thing I do of the ones on this list.  If I don’t get the dishes clean and put away it becomes a burden real quick.  The kids start putting dirty dishes on top of the dishwasher and then the clutter monster arrives.  I feel too overwhelmed and then I don’t even want to tackle the issue at all!

Get the dishes in, washed and out.  And honestly, I run my dishwasher just about every night just so we never get behind on dishes.  And in case you were wondering, I do handwash dishes also, as necessary.

Here are a ton of resources to make life easier

RELATED: How to Create Good Habits

#3 Keep the Kitchen Klean

So I’m a bit overboard with the K’s but that’s OK ^_~ What’s important is, just like with the dishes, to keep the kitchen counters wiped down daily and the sink clear.

I learned this from the Flylady when I only had a 1-year-old, I already realized I had an issue with doing the dishes and that I couldn’t keep up.

With only my husband and I and a baby that didn’t eat much!  It’s crazy to think of but I couldn’t do it.

I needed a guide.

I needed to know that no matter what I had to get in and get those dishes washed and clean my sink every night.  Now, do I do that?  No, certainly not.  But I have it on my new household routines list and I advise you to put it on yours too.  When I did do this, I felt so much better about life and cooking!

#4 Wipe Down the Bathroom

This is a bite-sized way of managing your house.

Every day, while you are already in the bathroom getting ready, you can wipe down the bathroom sink and…dun dun dunnnn… the toilet.  Yes, giving the toilet a quick swish with the brush you can avoid all kinds of bathroom mayhem.  This saves me considerable amounts of time and I’m never embarrassed if someone comes over unexpected.

#5 Prepare for the Next Day

Being ready and in control of your home is all about the plan.

Take time every night to get an overview for the next day.  Do some planning and look to make sure you know what you are supposed to be doing, like meals, any appointments, etc.

Sometimes just jotting down notes about what you’d like to do or what you got done that day can really help us to see progress and avoid the feeling everyday is the same thing and nothing is changing.

Very common in early motherhood.

Need a planner?  Try Bloom.

Conclusion

In order to organize your life at home, you really need to get things basic to-dos in control.  Your day may not look like mine but no matter who you are you need to get these done.

If you need more tips on how to manage your time see 10 Simple Time Tips for Moms who are Learning How to Manage 

I’ve put together a BOATLOAD of Resources to help you get your life in order