My kids returned back to school yesterday! I’ll miss them, but to sit and have coffee in silence is absolute bliss! I know the real new year was nearly a month ago, however, it’s not until the kids go back to school that I really see it as a fresh new year. This is a better time than any to review some of my habits that I do on a daily basis that help me stay organised.
It’s a fresh new year, with fresh new energy surrounding us. This time of year is a great opportunity to make small changes to your daily habits to help you become organised too. Create some calm and order in your home by adapting some of these 12+ habits of an Organised Mum. Join me on the blog today and over the coming weeks to set yourself up for a successful year.
BE THE FIRST ONE UP
This past year I have taught myself to go to bed earlier and wake up earlier, around 5am. I am enjoying the uninterrupted time in the mornings which can usually be a good time to exercise, potter around the house, or sit and enjoy the silence. This year I want to add time into each of my mornings to look over my goals and affirmations daily.
Read more: Bedtime routine to sleep better
HAVE A MORNING ROUTINE
I usually follow the same simple steps each morning after I wake up. I was discussing this recently with a group of ladies and didn’t continue with my steps thinking they wouldn’t be interested, it’s a little mundane, but they really wanted to hear it, it’s these little things that do make our morning that little bit easier.
- Wake up
- Pull back sheets on bed to air it out (that’s if your loved one isn’t in there)
- Shower
- Towel dry and brush hair
- Apply body lotion
- Apply face creams
- Add a touch of makeup
- Get dressed
- Open up bedroom blinds and windows
- Make the bed
Read more: Stress free school morning routine
It’s these little things like applying lotions and creams that busy mums tend to skip because there is no time (kids, chores, time poor). However, it only takes less than 30 seconds to apply the creams and your future self will be very thankful for it.
MAKE THE BED BEFORE LEAVING THE BEDROOM
I know I mentioned this one above in my morning routine, but this simple task of making the bed really helps my daily mindset. It’s a two-minute task that has the amazing ability putting us in an elevated state of mind and ignites a positive mood for the day ahead.
Read more: A tidy 2-minute daily habit I do each morning
GET THE KIDS TO CLEAN UP THEIR OWN MESS
Children make mess; it’s just what kids do. It’s important to teach them when they’re old enough that they have a responsibility to tidy up after they make a mess.
Read more: How to get kids to clean up their toys
craft table available here.
REGULARLY CLEAN THE HOUSE
I regularly do tasks such as keeping the kitchen clean and tidy, wiping bathroom surfaces and quick vacuum of the floor, on a daily basis. I have created a routine to keep the rest of the house tidy, splitting each room up between days of the week so it doesn’t take me hours.
Read more: 7 tips to get your house cleaning under control
MEAL PLAN WEEKLY
I am a huge advocate for meal planning and always write a meal plan and shopping list before I go grocery shopping. This is certainly one of my top sanity savers each week. It really is a simple task that takes 5-10 minutes to plan 1 week of meals. Doing this will:
- Save you time
- Save you money
- Eliminate waste
- Balance your meal choices
- Lower your frustrations
- Allow other family members to help cook dinner
Read more: How to create a weekly meal plan
DO A LOAD OF WASHING 6 OUT OF 7 DAYS
Laundry is just one of those tasks that we love to hate… it’s never ending and can easily take days to get on top of once it gets out of control. For this reason I do a load of washing each day, but before I throw the clothes into the machine there is a little prep to make this whole process a little easier.
Read more: Tips to get through the laundry pile chaos faster
SET PRIORITIES
Each week I write down the list of tasks I would like to complete this week. At the end of each day I look at my list and choose three to prioritise for the next day. There is nothing specific about the number, except that I like to work in threes, decorate in clusters of 3, or plant 3 of the same plants together in the garden.
I like to start the morning with the must do task, even if it’s something you don’t want to do, doing it first up frees your mind from it for the rest of the day.
Read more: Weekly Planner Pad
PACK SCHOOL LUNCHBOXES THE NIGHT BEFORE
This has become a huge game changer for us and I’m kicking myself that I didn’t make lunches the night before years ago. My kids are getting older and more independent, Miss nearly 14 has taken the responsibility to help out with making lunches, she enjoys it. Everything is placed into the lunchbox the night before, which sits in the fridge overnight and then packed into the cooler bag the next morning. The only think I have found so far that doesn’t suit being packed and stored in the fridge the night before is cheese and crackers, as they go soggy.
Read more: Lunchbox ideas
CLEAN THE KITCHEN BEFORE RELAXING FOR THE EVENING
Tidy and clean your kitchen sink and benches every night before you sit down and relax for the evening. It helps with clarity of mind to rise to a beautiful clean kitchen, your day will be so much better for it.
Read more: 9 easy steps to maintain a clean kitchen
CREATE ZONES AND HOMES FOR EVERYTHING
Everything has a place, be it a zone or a specific drawer, but nothing is left without a home of it’s own. ie. bags, school supplies in pantry.
Read more some of my favourite zones:
DON’T RELY ON MEMORY
As I am getting older I can no longer rely on my memory and find it very important to write everything down, be it in your daily planner or calendar in your phone or on the wall, as soon as you make an appointment add it to your diary so the date is not forgotten. Same with groceries, once we use something up it needs to be placed directly onto the shopping list to be replaced, if it’s not on there I am not going to remember to buy it.
Read more: The Organised Housewife 2017 Wall Calendar
DELEGATE
Asking for help is a good thing, it shows you are a good leader! I am just as good at organising (or bossing) people around than I am at organising a cupboard! My kids have delegated daily responsibilities they need to complete. But a tip I gave somebody recently was the position I enjoy delegating the most from is when my hands are either cleaning dishes, cooking dinner, hanging washing on the line (busy doing chores themselves) that I then ask somebody around me to help or do a task. They can see I am busy, so they can help out too! If you are finding yourself overwhelmed and lacking time, think outside of the family and seek assistance from a cleaner, lawn maintenance, dog washer etc.
Read more: Age appropriate chores for kids
CLEAR OFFICE DESK AT THE END OF THE DAY
Working alongside a mess will reduce your productivity. Clear your desk of piles of paperwork and anything unrelated to what you are working on.
Read more: 12 ways to boost your productivity in the office
Are you struggling to keep the house in order?
If your house has got out of control and your struggling to know where to start, pick one area. I always suggest it’s the room that you use the most, for me that’s the kitchen. Spend time cleaning and organising it, don’t spend too much time on it, it doesn’t need to be perfect. Follow me on the 20 day challenge (details below) and I can help you with this process. I’ll help you to create a system and tools to have the home you’ve always dreamed of and to put you back in control. And I will help show you how to get your family on board too – and enjoy it!
My 20 Days to Organise and Clean Your Home challenge combines these tried, tested and proven housekeeping tips with the physical tools to achieve organisational bliss – whatever your motivation and whatever your end goal.
