As a rule, we can find housework dull and mundane. Whilst some people may find the act to tidying and cleaning an enjoyable activity, it can easy become a chore we want to put off. We’ve all done it, leave the washing up until tomorrow, hoover at the weekend and so on. But having a routine to help manage these day to day tasks can not only help you keep your house in order, but can have an impact on how you feel.
Tidy House Tidy Mind
The old adage ‘a tidy house equals a tidy mind’ has some truth to it. Our minds are cluttered with the events of the day, memories, stress and worries, things we need to remember to do, to name but a few things. This in itself, can make day to day tasks more difficult. At times, this clutter might affect our focus, concentration, motivation and productivity.
One of the ways in which we can help our minds think more clearly, is to have a tidy environment. That doesn’t mean you need to live in a show home, with nothing out of place. It’s more about finding a balance, having somewhere that is comfortable, clean, tidy (ish) that you can relax in. Somewhere that isn’t a constant piece of clutter in your mind – ‘I need to sort that cupboard’ or ‘the washing up really needs doing’.
Having a routine for your housework, makes this not only more achievable, but is less strenuous.
How to get into a Routine with Housework
You need to start small. There is no point going into this thinking, ‘I am going to do the whole house today’. Whilst you may well be able to do that, it isn’t a manageable routine, it’s a chore. You spend an entire day cleaning and tidying, which is back breaking work, but the smaller jobs will still need doing each day.
To save time (eventually) and your back, a routine that is sensible and achievable for longevity, is the way to go. To help you achieve this, you are more than welcome to use our Task Management planner page, which is free to download in our Free Resources section and print. The page is from The Wonder Planner 1, which is available to buy on Amazon.
The idea is to break down the overall job of having a clean and tidy house, into manageable tasks. These tasks then become effortless over time, part of your daily routine. For example, get up in the morning and make a cup of tea might be part of your routine already. Or maybe you get the kids homes from school and you automatically start preparing the dinner while talking about their day.
Little jobs, spread out that achieve the objective.
What’s an Example of a Routine?
The routine itself is down to you. What fits in well with you life? Are the kids helping or a partner? What needs doing? Does this need to fit around work?
Once you have a good idea of what you need and when you can’t do things, as well as helpers, you can plan.
- Monday – Get up, toilet, cup of tea, wash up, wipe down kitchen, kids up, make beds (kids to do own), tidy little bits, washed, teeth, dressed, kids to school.
Most of this you probably already do automatically. That’s a lot to achieve before 8/8.30am. Keep that early routine simple and hassle free. Be flexible because if you have children anything can happen.
- Monday (post school run) – Dust & Hoover
- Tuesday – Clean Bathroom
- Wednesday – Washing
- Thursday – Food Shop
You can either have a big job each day, at a time when you are able to fit it in. Make it an everyday task to put things away as you finish with them, pick things up as you walk around. Get the kids involved by making it a game, ‘who can get 10 things from the floor and put them away first?’ OR pick a room a day which will make some days a bigger job than others.
You could wash up, pick up the toys and wipe everything down before bed each night. This could ease up your morning jobs. Make it your own, whack on your music, embrace the routine and above all make it as effortless as possible.
The trick is eventually, once you’ve kept your routine for a few weeks, you will begin to do it as naturally as making that cup of tea, or brushing your teeth. It becomes routine.
