Keeping control of the daily routines at home can make a big difference to the quality of your life. Spending a little time each week planning the week ahead can go a long way to help you live in a more organised and relaxed environment. Following are some tips to get you started.
Have a place for everything. Clutter and mess are created when you don’t know where to put something. When you have a place for everything, you’re more likely to put an item back in its place after you’ve used it, and you eliminate the mess and disorganised chaos.
Clean as you go. Cleaning as you go is the best way to keep an organised, clean home. While you’re cooking, wash and put away the utensils as you finish with them; when boiling the kettle, wipe the kitchen surfaces while you wait; and never leave the dinner dishes until the morning — that’s a sure way to start the day on a negative note.
Rise early. Rising early is a habit that many successful people share. Rising early gives you a head start and helps you start the day in control. If you have children, it can help to have half an hour of peace before the day erupts with noise. Rising early is a great way to start the day in an organised and calm way.
Create a schedule. If you plan the household chores for the week, choose the day that you’re going to do them. For example, you may do the clothes washing on Mondays and Wednesdays and floor cleanings on Tuesdays and Fridays. Creating a schedule helps you keep up with the jobs that need doing. The more habitual these chores become, the less you think about them and the less stress they cause you.
Bring the crowd with you. Get into the habit when your family is small to include them in the daily chores. If you can make daily tasks part of the everyday routine, they’ll become second nature before your kids become teenagers and will hopefully reduce the amount of complaining and resistance you get.
Plan the weekly meals. Spending 10 or 15 minutes a week to plan your weekly menu can not only help keep your week calm and organized but also mean you don’t waste money buying food that you’re not going to use.
Read the bedtime story. Stick to daily routines with your children. Children function better and are less likely to cause a fuss when they know what’s coming next. Reading that bedtime story is a great time to connect with your children and help them become happy and secure.