If you’re a parent, regardless of how big your family is, what age(s) your kids are, or how much you have going on. . . running a home can be stressful. However, if you have systems in place, it doesn’t have to be!
When you approach it in the right way, you will find that crossing off items on your home ‘To Do’ list is actually possible. Here are some ways to make it happen!
1. Start By Decluttering & Getting Organized
First thing’s first, you have to start by decluttering your desk, main surfaces (kitchen, tables, and bathrooms), and work areas. It’s best to begin with throwing away trash. Then you can sort items based on where they go or how frequently you use them.
If you have an organizations system in place (ex: a space for your work materials vs. bills), you can begin by putting things into their place. If you don’t have any organization systems. . . now is the time to create them! Regardless of whether you have a big or small home, there are creative storage solutions to help you here.
Take things one step at a time, too, to avoid overwhelm. Starting with simple organization of your main spaces can help your day-to-day feel far less chaotic!
2. Create a Schedule
Your next job is to create a schedule. One way to make running a home feel effortless is tackling different tasks on different days (rather than trying to do everything at once). This will help avoid burnout and make you feel more confident with your task list.
Oftentimes, this means coming up with a cleaning and household chore schedule that you can rely on and stick to, week-by-week. You can even focus on bringing in different chores that you need to do seasonally or even once a year. That way, you always know where you are, and you have a list of things you need to do and when.
3. Hire Some Help
Running a home doesn’t have to be something you do alone. Even if you’re a single parent (or one adult household), it’s possible to bring in support of your children, other family members, friends, or hired help (if you can budget that in).
You could consider having a weekly cleaner come in (even if it’s just for an hour or two it can help without breaking the bank!), or hiring a handyman service to support you with key maintenance. If you have an outdoor space, you might consider getting a gardener to help you stay up-to-date on your lawn maintenance. Whether it’s inside your home or out, there are ways to seek help!
(And PS: Asking for help doesn’t make you weak!)
4. Get Everyone Involved
To piggyback on the last point, it’s important to involve all of your family members in the process. Rather than seeking outside support all the time, it’s important to involve your family (including kids!). Even if your kiddos are small, there are still things they can do! For example, your younger children can put their clothes in the laundry or pick up their toys. Older children can help with vacuuming, dishes, or even mowing the lawn! It might help to create chores, too, so that there’s a regular schedule and regular ‘assignments’ of different tasks.
The most important thing is to find tasks that make sense and not be afraid to delegate them. Remember—your house can run smoothest when everyone plays a role!
Featured Image Credit: Yana Tes