I have a huge whiteboard planner on my fridge door.
As is of most stuff that works well, it was born out of necessity. At the time our home consisted of two full-time working parents with a very young child in full-time care. I was sick to death of coming home every day with a screaming, overtired child and having Himself say to me “What’s for dinner?”.
Honestly, it’s amazing he’s still alive.
After using this system for so many years, it’s now second nature to us, but I can understand why so many people still get so panicked over the idea of an “organised” house. The idea of perfection is often so overwhelming we can’t see the forest for the trees.
I totally get it, and we can all thank Pinterest for that. Perfect pantries, spotless kitchens and living spaces that look like chic hotels are incredibly inspiring but often lead to feelings that we have to make particular choices or create perfect spaces in order for systems to work.
Heads Up Ladies, that ain’t the way.
In fact, a lot of the time the opposite is true. When we forget about having the perfect storage basket or the matchy oil storage bottles and concentrate on just doing the basics, then things start actually getting done.
Then, once you have mastered the basics and can keep them running on autopilot, then off you go and make your spice shelf Pinterest worthy.
In a nutshell, the quickest and easiest things you can do to get organised at home comes down to three things:
- Dishes
- Washing
- Schedule
Honest to God. If I had a dollar every time this was mentioned I’d be a millionaire by now.
If you do nothing else for days in a row apart from these three things, your house will still run properly.
Dishes
Sadly they don’t get washed by themselves.
You are aiming for a clear sink, every day. The dishwasher is there for a reason. Stack it and go. It’s really not difficult.
I don’t even bother emptying mine of an evening to put everything away, just crack the door so the steam comes out. Everything dries overnight and then it’s only a 3-minute job to put away clean stuff the next day. I’ve recently made this Miss N’s job. She does it when she gets home from school.
Washing
One load, every day. Ain’t nobody got time for Mt Washmore here.
I normally set my machine to wash on a timer during the night, assuming, of course, someone will be home to hang it out in the morning.
If that’s not possible then I will put a load on when I get home, hang out the important things on an indoor line (work clothes, clothes uniforms and the like) and chuck all the smaller things like socks and jocks in the dryer.
Schedule
This is where my whiteboard comes into its own. 5 mins spent updating this every week can really be the one thing that stops a daily meltdown. Having one central space that sets out what’s happening all week is a total game-changer.
You can download it for free here
Start by having the planner printed and laminated. I have an A1 size page as it gives plenty of room for writing. Grab yourself some different coloured whiteboard markers and you are ready to go:
- Add in dates along the top line;
- Down the bottom of the first column, add in the name of each family member;
- Now run along each persons’ line and update their details for the week. Add in workdays, school days, before and after school activities, weekend social plans, business dinners, you name it.
- In the menu plan section, list out what you will be eating for the week. Do you need dinner each night or will you be out? Do you have guests on the weekend? Note it down.
- Finally, run along the “To Do” line and add in any important events that need highlighting. Thursday is bin night? Friday Grandma is staying? Sunday you need to make school snacks for the week ahead?
- There is also a handy shopping list on the side for all those reminders.
I update my planner every Sunday afternoon. It makes getting organised for the week ahead so simple, anyone can do it.
What’s stopping you from trying? download the free planner here and get started. You will never know how much time it will save you until you do.
Just Be You, Everyday