As moms, we often feel guilty and stressed because we can’t seem to stay on top of everything.
The never-ending to-do lists, piles of laundry, appointments, meals that need to be cooked, and unending chores leave moms feeling helpless and exhausted!
Imagine having a clear and organized schedule, meal plans that save you time and money, and a streamlined cleaning schedule that keeps your home looking its best.
You can, and I’m here to support you with these easy home management tips to organize your life.
It’s time to reclaim control and find joy in motherhood again. Let’s uncover the secrets to an organized and fulfilling life at home.
Key Takeaways
Here are all the things you need to remember when designing your home management systems:
- Make a plan for tackling tasks and incorporate daily planning and routines.
- Use budgeting, printables, meal prepping, and decluttering to stay organized.
- Establish family calendars and cleaning routines while involving everyone in the process.
- My Chaos to Control Bundle: A complete printable home management system for busy moms. With my carefully crafted templates, you’ll get order and organization in your life!
- Need more help, extra printables, and a community of support? Check out my Savvy Mama Membership– because it truly takes a village!
Home Management
Home management is the key to making life at home simpler and less stressful.
It’s all about finding the right balance between all the tasks you need to do, from cleaning and organizing to grocery shopping and planning meals, while involving the whole family.
Effective home management can lead to a more enjoyable home life, more energy, better mental well-being, and improved life balance.
So, let’s talk about some home management skills you’ll need and some home management tips you can quickly apply to build a home management system that works for your household!
Here are the steps I take to tackle chaos in our house:
1. Plan What You’ll Tackle
The first step towards successful home management is identifying your priorities and key focus areas, using planners for busy moms and more.
Crafting a comprehensive, itemized to-do list can give you a clear snapshot of your responsibilities; it allows you to distinguish between what’s essential and what can wait.
This list can then be used to earmark all the tasks that demand immediate attention, helping you allocate energy and time to your to-do list more strategically.
Once you’ve listed all the necessary chores, it’s time to rank them by the significance of the task, its urgency, and the resources it requires.
By doing so, you’ll gain a better understanding of what needs to be tackled first and what can be deferred, making home management a less daunting task.
After you’ve outlined your priorities, take a moment to break down larger tasks into smaller, more manageable parts.
This approach not only makes it easier to start working on seemingly overwhelming tasks but also helps maintain focus and organization.
Remember, the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. An organized home isn’t achieved overnight. It requires patience, persistence, and a gradual approach.
So, begin with small tasks, gradually ticking off items from your to-do list, one task at a time.
2. Incorporate Daily Planning/Routines
Daily routines and habits play a vital role in effective home organization. Having plans doesn’t work if you don’t schedule your day to fit things in.
I have a SAHM schedule that I use daily to organize all the bits and pieces of what need to get done, setting up a consistent routine for our family.
By incorporating good habits and routines into your life, you’ll be able to manage your time better, reduce stress, and maintain a clean home.
One of the biggest hacks I have as a mom is getting up early and having a morning routine checklist just for me!
To make your own routine, identify the most important tasks you must accomplish each day, such as planning your meals, washing laundry, or cleaning.
Then, allocate specific times for these tasks and stick to your schedule as much as possible.
Don’t forget about taking time for self-care and personal time, including exercise, date nights, TV or reading time, and more.
Ensuring you get enough sleep, exercise, and relaxation is essential for your overall well-being- taking care of others starts with taking care of yourself.
Take a deep breath and develop good routines that work for you and your kids! You’ll be able to manage your house more efficiently and enjoy a well-balanced life.
3. Use Printables
Want something to make the plans and routines go smoother? Printables could be your gateway into managing your house.
Printables make life easier! They’re important to a successful home management system.
These handy resources, such as checklists and calendars, can help you stay on top of tasks and keep your house organized.
For instance, a meal planning printable can help you plan and shop for your family’s meals regularly.
And countless options are available online, ranging from budgeting worksheets to chore charts for kids.
Or you can grab my Chaos to Control Bundle to get printables for almost every occasion.
Simply print out these printables and get a specialized, designated home management binder to organize all your thoughts in one spot.
This way, you’ll always have a visual reminder of everything you need to accomplish.
4. Start Budgeting Money
Financial management forms a key aspect of any home management system. Budgeting and keeping track of your bills will ensure financial stability and reduce stress.
To get started, create a realistic budget by tracking your income and expenses. Include all the money you have coming in and any that goes back out the window.
Include categories for groceries, utilities, housing costs, and discretionary spending for entertainment and hobbies.
Don’t forget to set aside some savings, too- making sure it’s in the budget helps you actually organize money and make sure you get a nest egg going!
But just setting things up isn’t the end all be all. Once you have a budget, track your spending regularly to ensure you stay within your limits.
Use a budgeting app like Mint, an Excel spreadsheet, or a printable to help you keep track of your expenses.
Regularly reviewing your budget and making adjustments as needed will help you stay in control of your finances and ensure your house runs smoothly.
5. Plan Meals & Prep Weekly
Weekly meal prep and planning can save you time and money and help ensure a well-balanced diet for your family.
Start by writing down a weekly meal plan, considering your family’s dietary needs, preferences, and budget.
Be sure to include healthy and indulgent options to keep things interesting and enjoyable.
Once you have established your meal plan, there are several steps you can follow to simplify and streamline your meal preparation process:
- Keep a Comprehensive Grocery List: A detailed list will help ensure you don’t overlook anything and save you from making multiple trips to the grocery store.
- Organize Your Shopping: Organize your list based on the layout of the store – produce, dairy, meat, pantry items, etc. This saves time and prevents impulse buys!
- Designate a Meal Prep Day: Choose a specific day for meal prepping. This could be a weekend day or any day that you typically have more free time.
- Batch Prepare Ingredients: To save time on busy days, consider preparing ingredients in bulk. For example, if multiple meals require diced onions, chop a large quantity at once.
- Utilize Time-Saving Tools: Slow cookers, instant pots, and food processors can significantly reduce cooking and prep time.
By following these steps, you’ll find that meal preparation becomes a more manageable, efficient, and even enjoyable task.
It not only ensures you have nutritious meals ready for the week but also frees up your daily schedule, reduces stress, and can lead to better eating habits.
6. Declutter Your Rooms
How much stuff floats around your house and doesn’t get used? If you want to be organized, sometimes having less stuff is the key.
Regular decluttering and organizing your house are necessary for a clean, stress-free environment.
Maintaining a clutter-free house will make cleaning and tidying up much easier, ultimately creating a more enjoyable living space.
Prioritize you enjoying your home instead of random things!
Start with one room at a time and identify items that you no longer need, use, or love. Donate, sell, or discard these items to free up space and reduce clutter.
I’ve been using Decluttr to sell some old electronics and books, plus listing stuff to sell on Facebook Marketplace for fast cash.
Once you’ve decluttered, establish designated places for your belongings using storage containers, shelves, and other organizational tools.
Need some help with some organizing inspiration? Check out my organizing hacks to get your stuff set up quickly.
7. Make A Family Calendar
A central calendar is an excellent tool for keeping track of appointments, events, and tasks, ensuring everyone is on the same page.
A well-maintained calendar will help your household run smoothly and keep everyone in the loop with less running around.
Creating a family calendar allows you to stay organized and manage your time more efficiently.
Include appointments, birthday parties, club practices, and all other events, and review it regularly to ensure everyone is aware of upcoming commitments.
You can also add reminders for important stuff on your to-do list, such as bill due dates or household chores.
Growing up, my family used a regular old free calendar from the mail, using Sharpies to color code everyone’s plans.
My aunt and uncle made Gmail accounts for each of their 5 kiddos to get their calendars started ASAP and control conflicting events.
You can use a physical calendar, a digital calendar, or both, whichever suits your family’s preferences and is easier to update.
Whichever you choose, have it be an important part of your routine to keep things organized.
8. Figure Out A Cleaning Routine
A well-structured cleaning routine will help you keep your home clean and organized, making daily living more enjoyable.
A cleaning schedule that works for your household is key to maintaining cleanliness and organization every week and tackling big stuff, too.
Start by listing all the cleaning tasks needed in your home, such as vacuuming, dusting, and laundry.
Then, divide these tasks among family members based on their preferences and abilities.
Write a schedule for completing these tasks, allocating specific days or times for each.
Ensure everyone sticks to the schedule as much as possible and adjust it to suit your family’s needs.
Some days will be busier than others, so just work to accommodate everyone’s schedules.
But the big part is mixing in things that don’t get done very often- like cleaning the windows, cleaning the washing machine, flipping the matters, etc.
Don’t forget about printables to help you manage tasks and break things down.
For example, use my free bedroom cleaning checklists to deep clean and clean daily- for you and your whole family!
9. Adapt Your Plans
Your home organization systems should evolve as your lives evolve- not everything may work, and you may need to readjust your plans.
You may need to periodically update your cleaning schedule, create new meal plans, or redesign your family calendar.
Continuously adapt and improve your household management plan to ensure it remains effective and efficient.
You’ll be better equipped to manage your home efficiently and effectively by staying flexible and open to change.
So, don’t be afraid to try new organizing plans or update existing ones as needed. The aim is to devise a system that ensures efficient and effective home management.
Chaos Control Binder (T$M)
A comprehensive home management binder, like the Chaos Control Bundle, can be a game-changer in organizing and managing all aspects of your household!
This binder serves as a central hub for managing all your home management tasks, including:
- Meal planning
- Bill tracking
- Cleaning schedules
- Home maintenance
- Budgeting
- Important contacts
- Emergency information
By consolidating all your essential information in one place, you can stay organized and keep your home running smoothly.
Make your home management binder by following these steps:
- Purchase and download your Chaos Control Bundle.
- Print and assemble all materials, including budgets, to-do lists, and meal planners.
- Organize these materials into sections, such as cleaning, meal planning, finances, and family schedules.
- Customize your binder to suit your family’s unique needs and preferences.
- Update your binder regularly to ensure it remains relevant and useful.
FAQs
What’s the point of home management?
The point of good home management is to run an organized and efficient house with less overwhelming moments.
By implementing effective household management skills and systems, you’ll be able to:
- Manage your home more efficiently
- Maintain a cleaner living space
- Create a more enjoyable living environment
- Achieve a better life balance
Ultimately, home management is about making your own home life calmer and more enjoyable for everyone involved.
How do I figure out routines that work for my family?
Establishing routines that work for your family requires a good understanding of your family’s needs, preferences, and schedules.
Start by identifying the tasks that need to be done daily, weekly, and monthly. Then, consider the availability and abilities of each member of your family.
Assign tasks based on these factors and create a realistic schedule everyone can follow.
Maintaining open communication and being flexible is important, as the routine may need adjustments in the long run.
Regular check-ins and feedback sessions can help fine-tune your routine.
Trial and error is part of the process, so don’t be disheartened if the first few attempts don’t stick.
With patience and perseverance, you’ll find a routine that suits your family.
What is an example of home management?
An example of home management would be the meticulous planning and organizing of all household operations.
Home management could involve planning your meals, grocery shopping, and prepping meals in advance.
It could also include scheduling and executing daily cleaning tasks, managing monthly bills, budgeting, and whatever chaos you control.
The ultimate goal is to create a home management system that keeps your household running smoothly and efficiently in all these areas without losing control.
How do I involve my family in planning and creating routines?
Involving your family in planning and creating routines is essential to ensure everyone is on board and understands their responsibilities.
Step one is talking to everyone and making sure they get involved in some way- no matter their age, no matter the schedule!
Start by having a family meeting where you discuss the importance of routines and how they contribute to a smoother, more efficient household.
Encourage each family member to share their input on tasks and what they feel would be the most effective way to divide chores.
Allow room for discussions and negotiations to ensure everyone feels heard and included.
Create a visual schedule or routine chart of everyone’s responsibilities for the family members who need extra help reading and understanding.
Lastly, remember to make adjustments as needed and have regular check-ins to discuss how the routines work.
Can kids help with home management?
Absolutely, kids can and should be involved in home management. I always say if we have time to make the mess, we all make time to clean it up!
Kids can help with tasks appropriate for their age and ability and learn valuable life skills such as responsibility, time management, and teamwork.
Start with simple tasks such as making their bed, tidying their rooms, or helping set the table. As they grow older, they can take on more complex tasks.
Involve your kids in the planning process to make them feel part of the team and encourage them to take ownership of their roles.
Remember, the aim is not perfection but to cultivate a sense of responsibility and a habit of helping at home.
My Thoughts
Managing a home is more than keeping it clean- it’s about fostering an environment where everyone thrives and getting into simple habits that improve your life.
It’s not about achieving perfection but making consistent progress and teaching our children the value of responsibility and teamwork.
To transform your home into a wellspring of joy and harmony, consider joining us in the Savvy Mama Membership (SMM).
My membership offers tons of resources, support, and a community to help you navigate this journey.
So, let me help you with all these tips and more to learn the best management skills and get your ship running smoothly.