Part 2: Order in the house

I thought I would write a series called "Keeper of the home for busy ladies", in particular for those, like me, who work outside the house either full-time or part-time.  However, we are all busy ladies and we all need as much encouragement as possible to get through the week in one piece. These are tips for creating a cosy home for our families that don't take many hours to do, but add so much to our homes.  

Part 1
Part 2: Dealing with clutter and creating order!

Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established. (Prov 4:26)


Our homes are for living and living is for people. 
We must not ever forget this.
Geri Laing from Finding Balance edited by Sheila Jones

I don't know about you, but if I am surrounded by disorder (in other words clutter and mess - CHAOS) my brain doesn't function that well, not at all, on some occasions. In fact it can quickly lead to raised stress levels (becoming grumpy) and getting into a muddle. For my day to run smoothly I need order and calm. That means I need to keep on top of the disorder and remain as organised as possible - this is my job as keeper of the home.  These are a few tips that I do to keep order in the house and be able to go off to work and return in the afternoon knowing that my house is in order and I don't need to spend very long in the afternoons cleaning up (if at all).

However, most importantly, you do need to have a "decluttered house" in the first instances. So if you don't, you will need to do a BIG de-clutter (spring clean). Be ruthless - show no mercy, throw out anything that you don't use. And find a home for everything else - if you don't have the space, then be even more ruthless (the charity bin will love you).  I do this once a year to keep on top of clutter as it builds up quite quickly if you let it.  Start at the front door and work your way to the back door!
  • Mini-declutter, once every few months. I have a quick look in cupboards and shelves and make sure everything is in its place and I can find what I want quickly (and other people can find things to). If there is a built up of "stuff" I deal with it straight away. If I have items (including clothes) that haven't been used in ages I decided whether to keep it or give to charity. Be tough.
  • Keep an eye on your wardrobe - If I have clothes in my cupboard that don't fit or need mending I take them out - that way I don't try them on by accident in the morning when I am in a hurry. I don't have time to waste - every minute counts (I am sure mums with babies can relate to that).
  • Check the pantry and fridge regularly - look out for empty containers or food that is past the due date etc. Have a shopping list on the fridge so you can add to it during the week - saves on time when it is grocery day (Friday afternoons for me). I also ask anyone who uses the "last item" eg eggs to write it on the list on the fridge. Give the fridge a wipe down whilst you are looking. Kills two birds with one stone!
  • Straighten up before going to bed (even if you are tired) - don't leave a messy living area - there is nothing worse than waking up in the morning to find mess, particularly if you are going off to work.  And what a way to start the day with the burden of cleaning up last nights mess. Get into a routine of doing a quick 10 min tidy up. I taught my sons to do this when they were little by using brightly coloured plastic boxes. They weren't allow to leave toys out overnight. It doesn't take very long and makes all the differences in the morning.  Even if you are at home all day - this is a good habit to get into.
  • Keep the kitchen cleaned up and uncluttered. Make sure the dishes are done each night after the meal - get into a routine. I can go off to work knowing that the kitchen is in order and come home and start cooking without any additional work required.  My sons weren't allowed to cook, unless they cleaned up. 
  • Make the beds in the morning and make sure the dirty clothes is in the washing basket (and not on the floor). Nothing worse than arriving home from work to find a bedroom that looks like a bomb has dropped on it. This is depressing to say the least. Even busy SAHMs needs to keep on top of bed making (their own bed in particular - this is a special room for you and your husband, a place of love and romances). It only takes 10 mins each morning. 
  • Dirty clothes - I wash twice a week being a small family, all washing goes into the washing basket to make this job quick. I don't have time to hunt around for washing or look for lost socks. Train up your family.
  • Have a weekly routine/plan for dusting, washing the bathroom, vaccum cleaning etc.. For working mums, this may be Saturday mornings, however I tend to do a little each night whilst the dinner is cooking. Get the children involved. It doesn't take very long. I vaccum every night due to cat hair. 
  • Never let the mail pile up - might sound simple but it happens.  Open the mail and act upon it straight away - you are a busy woman and may not have time later to deal with it. And throw out the old newspapers and magazines that aren't being used anymore.
If you have a home that is "in order", when things don't go according to plan, eg sickness, accidents or having to work back late - at least you know that your house doesn't requite a lot of work and that cuts back on unnecessary stress.  Nothing worse that looking at a messy room when you are feeling sick, it is likely to make you feel sicker.

I have a basket next to my chair for books, tissues, pens, paper etc.. keeps everything in one place so the mess doesn't spread.
Our main living area (yes I like pink and purple) - it isn't huge so it is important to keep it tidy. I don't know about your husbands, but mine doesn't like mess so it is important that I keep it "in order" for him.

None of these things takes very much time each day and I use to rope the boys into helping and that made the job even quicker. Even working mums can have homes that are ordered, tidy and decluttered. 


Final Tip:  Keep a trained eye out for the chaos and have a mindset that wants order in the house. You are accountable for your house as keeper of the home, so keep on top of the clutter, mess, chaos (what ever it might be called) and bring order to the house. It benefits everyone who lives there, it shows that you care for your family.


Order is important to God; therefore, it must be important to us. There are many ways to get the work done and it is up to us to find the best way, always being mindful that everything we do in our lives is to bring glory to God and tho His kingdom. ~ Finding Balance edited by Sheila Jones ~



Comments

  1. Thank you for sharing your wonderful tips and Ideas I know that many will benefit from them. Thanks for dropping by my blog and posting an encouraging comment.
    I try to do most of the things you have suggested, moving house and having to store most of our stuff sure makes us want to be even more ruthless with what we keep. It really is amazing the amount of stuff we have around that we really could live without.
    Blessings to you
    Nell

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  2. Hi Joluise,
    I like all your tips for Being Organised.
    I have a collection place for all the odds and ends that float around and sort it regularly.
    I think making the beds and washing up are key things in being tidy.Have a good week
    God Bless
    Barb from Australia

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  3. Great post. I too cannot think clearly when there is chaos so I've trained my kids (and hubby!) to pick up as they go (and of course I practice what I preach). Picking up before bedtime is a huge return on investment to me, as I feel like I have an uphill climb when I wake up to messiness.

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    Replies
    1. If I woke to a mess I would struggle all day - it would cause me all sorts of stress!! A tidy house makes my world go smoothly!

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  4. Super Post :)
    Hi I found you over at Mrs.A's blog :)
    Nice to meet you

    Blessings, Renee
    http://iamonewearethree.wordpress.com/

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    Replies
    1. Thankyou so much for dropping by - I love to meet new people:)

      Blessings

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  5. Great thing to have good order in the house.

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