Home management for me is a constant learning process.  I have to continuously update my “system” and I am always experimenting with new ways of doing things.  But, here are a few tried and true tips that have helped our family survive the chaos:

Keep a stocked diaper bag/snack bin/backpack

I like to keep the supplies ready to go so that we are ready to run out the door.  I always keep diapers and wipes in the car, but I also have a bin of portable snacks that I can grab on the way out (cereal bars, goldfish, crackers, etc).

I also keep other bags ready as well.  My son’s backpack gets emptied and restocked immediately after school.  Sports bags are reloaded with clean uniforms as soon as the laundry is done.

Build in cushion time

I just assume that something is going to slow me down when we are trying to get somewhere.  The dog will need to go out.  The toddler will lose a shoe.  The kindergartener will get distracted finding his socks.  I usually give myself an extra 10 minutes to allow for these unexpected, but common, delays.

Clean up problem areas daily

There’s always one place in a house where piles accumulate.  For us, it’s the kitchen island.  It always has random toys, paperwork, mail, etc.  If I let it fester, the pile gets out of control.  So every day I clear it off.  I hate doing it, but it’s better to deal with problem areas before they become giant projects.

Have stations for common items

Designate a place for mail, shoes, keys, backpacks, school supplies, and so forth.  These are the types of things that both make messes and get lost.  We have a wall cubby for keys and wallets, a basket for shoes and bags in the closet, a wall sorter for mail by the back door, and a pencil case for school supplies in the pantry (since the kids like to draw in the kitchen).  These are all things that get used daily, and it’s helpful to keep track of them.

Make sure your system works for you

There are all sorts of home management systems out there, but they will inevitably fail if they aren’t tailored to your personality.  For instance, a lot of people recommend a monthly menu.  That is wonderful solution for many folks, but it doesn’t work for me.  I don’t like planning ahead that much, and I prefer frequent, smaller grocery trips.  I might feel like pasta one night, and grilling the next.  I might hear the local strawberries are in and so a trip to the farmer’s market is in order.  So, when I shop, I usually buy enough for 3-4 dinners.   I’ll also buy some non- or semi-perishables that will get me through an additional 2-3 meals (canned beans for soup, for instance, or meat that I can freeze).   This is what works for our family, but it’s not ideal for everyone.

An organized household won’t happen automatically, but it’s not hard to pick a few areas to streamline.   Our household is definitely a work in progress, but at least I know I can usually find my keys!

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1.    Routines. Organized moms serve dinner at the same time each night, have strict bed times, have after school routines with homework and socializing. If you want to be an organized mom, you have to have a routine you stick to. This might mean that you get your child up at the same time each day, and expect them to get dressed and make their bed before they come in to breakfast. You may have a few different routines, such as your morning routine, your after school and evening routine, and your weekend routine. A routine helps you, the mom, keep things on track, and helps your children to know what to expect, and what is expected of them.

2.    Meal plans. Organized moms do not spend extra time in the grocery store, or standing in front of the refrigerator trying to determine what to prepare that night. Organized moms take a few minutes once a week to create a meal plan for the week. Monday: Soup, Tuesday: Chicken, Wednesday: Pizza, Thursday: Hamburgers, and the list goes on. The idea is that if you know what you are going to make you can be prepared throughout the day. For example, if you are going to roast a chicken for dinner, you will need to get it out of the freezer in the morning in order for it to be defrosted by dinner time.

3.    Rules. Organized moms have rules or guidelines for their families. They may be simple like dinner is at 5:30. Or they may be more complex like, no friends, television, or snacking until your homework is completed. A mom can’t keep the whole family organized without some participation, so rules, and guidelines are helpful. Make them clear, and enforce them.

4.    Time off. An organized mom does not let herself get overly stressed, or overwhelmed because she knows when to say no, when to de-stress, and when to take a break. She knows that when she is starting to lose her cool, that letting dad take the kids to McDonald’s rather than fixing a nice meal, is sometimes better, even if it is not the healthiest option. The organized mom knows when she needs a break, and figures out how to take one.

5.    Organized home. The organized mom has an organized home. She creates a place for everything so that school mornings are not spent hastily trying to find shoes, backpacks, pens that work, etc. Instead, everything has a place, and the kids know where things go, and contribute by being sure to put their backpack on the hook, in the cubby, or whatever the case may be, the night before.

6.    Back-up plans. Organized moms always plan ahead, and prepare for the worst. They carry a spare outfit, some cash, and phone numbers of friends and family, just in case. They take things in stride. So, for example, if your tire goes flat while driving, and it is your day to do carpool, the organized mom has the numbers of the other carpool moms on hand, and knows which ones can typically swap days. So, have a back up plan.

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Being a housewife is the most exasperating job in the world because the job is never done, and the results seem to last for a mere second, if that.

After seven years of being a stay-at-home mom of two kids, I think I’ve figured out some ways to keep my sanity when it comes to housework.  These are six small ways that I use to keep myself happy when it comes to the appearance of my house.

Close and Push

It’s such a simple thing and can easily be overlooked, but it makes a world of difference – Close all closet doors, keep kitchen cabinets closed, close the doors to the entertainment when not in use, push in all table chairs, piano benches, etc.  This little step keeps me from feeling overwhelmed by the clutter in my house and helps me to focus on the other tasks yet to be accomplished.

Pick one thing in each room that must be done daily

In my house, all beds in the bedrooms must be made, dirty dishes must be in the dishwasher in the kitchen, everything must be off the floor in the family room, and all bathroom counters need to be clutter-free.

Choose your cleaning schedule and stick to it

I still remember coming home from school on Mondays and smelling Murphy’s home oil all throughout the house.  Mondays, all day, were my mom’s cleaning day and she scrubbed the house from floor to ceiling.  That cleaning schedule worked for her, but it wouldn’t work for me.  I need to clean daily, a little bit at a time.

This is my cleaning process:  The Kitchen must be cleaned.  If that’s clean, I move to the family room .  Once that’s done, I do bathrooms, then bedrooms, and lastly the basement.  Often the basement doesn’t get touched for weeks, but I’m okay with that because that’s the rule I set for myself and I’m keeping it.

Set your hours

I believe what makes a mother’s job so hard is that it’s never-ending.  A couple years ago I realized I would go insane if I allowed myself to work around the clock, so I gave myself my own working hours:  I work from the moment my kids get up until dinnertime.  (Essentially, when my husband is working, I’m working.  When he’s off, I’m off – And weekends count too!!)  Now, I don’t like going to bed with a messy house, but I have to allow myself to stop and breathe and enjoy activities of my own.

De-clutter

Let’s face it – We all have too much junk.  A clean, sanitized house with too much “stuff” doesn’t look clean at all.  Everyone feels much more comfortable in a neat and orderly home – especially those living there 24/7.  Do yourself a huge favor and go the library and take out a book on de-cluttering your life (trust me, there are dozens of them), and start packin’ away for a more simplified life.

Everyone in the family needs to know it’s all a balancing act

I get a little miffed at my husband when he’ll make comments about the cleanliness of the house (and by that, I mean lack of it).  But I certainly don’t think he would have preferred for me to do the breakfast dishes this morning, rather than snuggle in bed with him – And neither would I.  I’m grateful that I can look beyond the mess to enjoy the more beautiful things in life.

Because housework is like “threading beads on a string with no knot” and not lasting, maybe we should pay more attention to the things that do last, like our family and friends.

What are your tips for keeping your sanity when it comes to housework?

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