For all homemakers, whether you stay home, or work outside the home, there is a lot to do to keep a home running smoothly, and a lot to do to be prepared for whatever is upcoming in our life. There are a few simple routines that I have found make a huge difference in the orderliness of our home. The days that I stick to these routines versus the days that I don’t are vastly different. The good news is, that none of these things are super time-consuming, but yet they pack a huge punch.
A resilient and flexible mindset
I know how it is to have a rough start to the day, which can lead to a frustrated, defeatist attitude right from the beginning. But even if we don’t start our days perfectly, every day is valuable, and there is no reason to waste the precious hours that are still left. Time is a valuable commodity, and we should not take it for granted. If for whatever reason you have a rough start to the day, (maybe the baby was up a lot during the night, and you woke up late and feeling tired and groggy), or are just having a rough day in general, you can decide to be resilient and flexible. This discipline of the mind can improve the worst days and situations. Decide to make the best days and situations that feel like “bad days”, Decide to be resilient and flexible, even when the “best laid plans” for the day or the week go completely awry.
Basic mealtime routines
I think most would agree that feeding our families is among the highest priorities when it comes to our homemaking tasks. At times when you are only able to do the bare minimum, such as postpartum, sicknesses or other emergencies, lots of homemaking tasks fall by the wayside, but we still make sure that our families have meals everyday. Developing simple systems for meals and cleaning up after meals goes a long way in making our homes flow more smoothly. Developing a system definitely takes time to develop and it won’t happen overnight. I am far from perfect in this area, but even if I don’t have a full meal plan, if I have a plan at least one day in advance, and take out anything from the freezer, things are so much easier the next day.
Daily Laundry.
We all know how fast laundry can pile up. Doing a single load every day or at least most days can keep the piles away, and make sure everyone has clothes to wear.
Daily Resets.
If you have a house full of young kids, you know how quickly a room can turn into a disaster zone. With meals, toys, and papers a home can feel overwhelming in a hurry. Doing a quick tidying clean up one or two times a day makes it feel more peaceful.
Clean Bathrooms.
I really don’t like cleaning bathrooms, but dirty bathrooms are even worse. We only have one bathroom right now, so this is relatively easy. I usually just do one chore before my shower in the evening. This way, it never gets too gross, and can stay relatively cleanish most of the time.
These chores aren’t super glamorous or fun, but they can go a long way to help us better care for and manage our homes and time. Managing our homes and resources is a way that we can serve God by serving our families. When things are getting crazy around the house, try implementing a couple of these habits, and it will go a long way to promote peace and order at home.
