Surveying my house and the toys, drink cups and pillows left lying on the floor (gasp!) as I sit at the kitchen table writing this blog, I am reminded of my mom's go-to phrase for motivation to get my siblings and me to help pitch in with the housework.
Want to know what that killer phrase was? (Warning: this phrase will date me.)
"What if Barbara Bush knocks on that door and asks to come in for dinner?"
Now, let's be honest. As an 8 year old, did I really care if Barbara Bush knocked on the door? That wasn't what motivated me. It was the way my mom said it that sold it - she made it seem like it was an absolute possibility and because it was so important to her, I didn't want to disappoint.
All of these years later, I know it is because of her that I have learned and love the value of a clean, organized home. Oh, and she taught me how to use a vacuum as a source of meditation and I can't thank her enough for that wisdom. Seriously, if you don't know what I'm talking about, call me. Because you need to try it sometime.
The thing is, I have 2 young children, work from home on my "office" days and have a hard-working husband who works 12+ hour days, 5 days a week. So no matter how much I value a clean and organized home, life is busy and sometimes my house looks like a tornado has blown though (did I mention I have 2 young children?).
When things start to feel out of control, I focus on the 5 following ways to get back on track.
1. Make (All) the Beds
Start with yours.
You deserve to have a quiet, peaceful place to come home to at the end of the day. Making your bed first thing in the morning starts your day off on an orderly path. Through this act, you are saying to yourself that you value your place of rest.
Having a made bed boosts the overall cleanliness and appearance of a bedroom. And for most of us, once you leave your bedroom in the morning to start your day, you won't return to it until your day is done - so why not make the bed and leave a lasting impression?
2. Clean As You Go
Wash dishes as you dirty them, put dirty clothes in dirty clothes baskets, keep cleaning wipes in your bathroom and wipe the counter and sink after each use, sort and discard mail and school papers as they come through the front door.
Another one of my tricks is to keep a few empty baskets or canvas bins placed in the main areas of your home. These make cleanup and transport of shoes and toys back to where they belong a breeze.
In my experience, coffee pairs well with a To-Do list. It's also a good idea to have your calendar nearby when writing your list.
3. Make a List
But not just any list - block out the things you need to accomplish into categories.
You will be able to efficiently tackle your To-Do list if you lay out your list in this order. It will align the errands that have to be run, the phone calls that need to be made, the emails that need to be sent, along with any cleaning/household projects to be conquered.
Then, work your way through one category at a time so that you are doing all similar tasks one right after the other. This will streamline your day and keep you from bouncing back and forth from one thing to the next.
4. Tackle Your Messaging Center
Clean up your text messages, voicemails and emails by keeping only those that require follow-up.
Delete texts and voicemails as they are read/listened to and create files in your inbox to store the important communication you need to save and delete the rest.
Less visual clutter on your phone and in your inbox helps to keep you focused on tasks at hand, not to mention it frees up space on your devices.
For those that do necessitate follow-up, be sure to add these to the appropriate section on your "To-Do List" and get cranking!
5. Conquer the Junk Drawer
When things are really feeling out of control in my home, I find organizing a small, but crucial space helps me to recharge, refocus and motivates me to move on to bigger projects.
The junk drawer is just about universal in every home. Whether yours is a drawer, desk or cabinet, almost every home out there has a designated spot for extra scissors, batteries, small tools, tape, pencils, cords and an array of other household necessities. How easy it is to find said necessity when needed depends on the overall organization of this household treasure box.
A few tips to conquer your junk drawer and reign control:
- Think Small
The smaller the allocated space, the easier it will be for you to achieve organization and maintain going forward. Another benefit to keeping the landscape small is that it will be easier to edit how many screwdrivers (1 flathead & 1 philipshead in a smaller size), tape measures (1) and scissors you need for quick access.
Remember, this is not the only place in your home for these things, and should be considered a secondary location in almost all instances.
- Categorize
Empty the space entirely of its contents and categorize into piles/groups as you go. Once everything is pulled out, you will see the full amount of each item that was in the space and can select the best quality, favorite ones to remain.
All that you are left with that you do NOT want to go back into your junk drawer, you need to determine what should be tossed (anything that is broken, missing pieces, expired, etc.), donated (nice but never used, old phones, old glasses, unknown cords, etc.) or allocated to different areas of the home (tools, writing utensils, deck of cards, etc.). Take the time to move and dispose of these items properly so that you do not give yourself a project for another day.
Here is an example of sterilite containers being used to separate items in a junk drawer.
- Contain & Label
The best way to ensure you do not end up with a pile of random things again, is to give each category its own container/designated space within the drawer. Open top containers are the best way to go, so that you do not have to take time to take a lid off and put it back on.
Gladware or Sterilite containers without their lids make great choices for this space. Sometimes you have the perfect containers laying around and just need to look in unlikely places - check out your selection of gift wrapping supplies. You may find a few smaller size boxes that will fit these items just right.
If you need more guidance on how to declutter and let go of items, be sure to check out my past blog "8 Rules of Decluttering".
So what is your go-to phrase for motivation? I'd love to know what you tell yourself or to those around you to get pumped up to get your home clean and organized. Drop me a comment below and let's see what it is. You never know, someone may have the perfect, motivating phrase and we just need to see it to know!
Happy Organizing!
Next Up on the Blog: How To Be the Organized Mom
