by The Organizer Lady dot com on March 5, 2010
by The Organizer Lady dot com on November 5, 2009
When you’re the woman of the house, it’s often expected that you’re going to be the one primarily in charge of keeping the home clean and running smoothly. You may not be able to do everything, however, and really need to get the whole family to help you get organized.
Division of labor in the home is one topic that causes stress among families. The man of the house often feels that the house is the woman’s domain and therefore he shouldn’t have to help. And we know what happens when we ask the children to help with chores. You’d think we asked them to walk over broken glass or something equally sinister.
The problem with organizing the home and delegation of chores is that you may work away from the home as well. Even if you’re a stay-at-home mom, that doesn’t mean you’re the only one who does the work. If everyone made the clutter or the mess, it only makes sense that everyone in the family should help to organize and clean.
First, getting the whole family to help you get organized will take some effort. Be sure not to nag and coerce them into helping just to get to you stop nagging. They’ll only resent you for it. Ask them to help, giving them tasks they may find enjoyable, or at least not completely boring.
If you can get everyone to take care of their own messes, it will make your job easier. Have them put their own clothes in the hamper instead of leaving them on the floor, take their dishes to the sink when they’re done, and clean up anything they spill. Help them remember that you’re not a slave and that everyone in the family is expected to chip in with the chores.
When your children are younger, you may have to spend extra time teaching them how to clean and organize their own things. The effort, if they are receptive to learning, will be well worth it in the future. You won’t have to worry about their being able to take care of their own things, they will be less likely to lose them, and they’ll be better prepared to live on their own when the time comes.
Staying organized, at least as far as being where you’re supposed to be on time, will be easier if everyone knows how to read a calendar. Whenever the children bring home a paper with an important date to remember, transfer it to a family calendar. Color-code the calendar so everyone has their own color. You’ll all be able to look at the calendar and quickly see if you have something to do that day.
To help keep the home organized and running smoothly, you may have to get creative. Your goal is to help everyone learn personal responsibility even if that means being tough when someone doesn’t pitch in. Encourage each family member in a way that will appeal and you’re closer to getting the whole family to help you get organized and clean up the house.
Popularity: 1% [?]
The Organize Lady Recommends:
Ultimate Ornament Box - 44 Compartments
by The Organizer Lady dot com on October 16, 2009
by The Organizer Lady dot com on October 6, 2009
Every fall I look forward to getting things organized and cleaned up around our home as the holidays are just around the corner. I like to set aside one full weekend in early October just for our fall cleaning.
As a housewife, I don’t tackle this job myself. There is no reason why your spouse and children can’t do their fair share of the work…after all, they live in the house too.
Here are a few important tips to help things go smoothly.
1. If you can afford it, do a few takeout meals during the weekend. This will save you time plus it acts as a family reward for your cleaning participants.
2. Make the weekend fun. Play music, joke around with the family and keep it light-hearted. Don’t run around barking orders and rushing to get things done.
3. As a family, sit down before your cleaning starts and decide what the family reward will be. We always picked things like a new television, stereo, comfy chair, trampoline for the backyard, etc. Your family reward can be something inexpensive or expensive…but it should be something that the entire family can enjoy.
4. Have a prepared list of chores that you want to get done. Have each family member select a few of those items that he/she can complete. Try to equally split up the tasks. Smaller children can assist the older children or parents. Cross off each task on the list as it is completed.
5. If you need cleaning or home repair supplies, purchase them ahead of time. You don’t want to waste time during your weekend running around shopping for supplies, when your time should be spent on completing your tasks.
If you start when your children are young and make this a family event, over the years this will become a regular fall routine. Our daughter knew that the weekend was approaching and would keep her schedule free. This ‘routine’ saved us a lot of stress as every family member knew what was expected from them ahead of time.
The most important thing to remember is…be prepared and be organized. If you preplan your family cleaning weekend, you will find that things will be a lot less stressful for everyone involved.
Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com
Shelly Hill is a mother and grandmother living in central Pennsylvania. You can visit Shelly online for family and working from home articles and tips at www.workathomebusinessoptions.com or Shelly’s recipe blog at wahmshelly.blogspot.com for free family friendly recipes.
Popularity: 1% [?]
The Organize Lady Recommends:
Ultimate Ornament Box - 44 Compartments
by The Organizer Lady dot com on August 22, 2009
Apparently Americans are an unorganized lot because there’s a lot of talk, both online and offline, about how to get organized. You’ll find magazines with featured articles about it and television shows devoted to nothing but organizing your home. If you listen to many of these sources, you’ll find that one of the easiest ways to get organized is with a daily routine.
What is a daily routine and how can it help you get organized? A routine is another word for a habit. It’s something you’ve done much the same way for so long that you don’t even have to think about it anymore. You can easily create a routine for getting organized. Let’s look at the concept and see how it can be used to get your home organized.
Bedtime routine – Take 20 minutes to work in one area of the house:
1. Kitchen – Waking up to a sink full of dirty dishes is enough to make anyone dread getting up in the morning. Before you go to bed, make sure your dishes are done. Either wash them by hand or start the dishwasher.
2. Living room – Pick up anything that doesn’t belong in that room and take it where it goes.
3. Bathroom – Make sure all clothes and towels are picked up off the floor and put into the laundry.
4. Bedroom – Put your clothes into the laundry and pick out your clothes for the next day.
Take some time to plan your day. Think about what you have to do tomorrow and write down anything else you may remember. This will give you a chance to clear your brain and allow you to sleep better.
Morning routine – This will help you get your day off to a good start.
1. Empty the dishwasher.
2. Make breakfast, washing dishes as you go. When you’re done eating, put dishes into the dishwasher to start later.
3. Check your calendar to make sure you’re aware of any appointments.
4. Thaw a frozen dinner by putting it in the refrigerator.
5. Start a load of laundry.
Afternoon routine – If you’re at home during the day, use the time to clean areas you may not have gotten to earlier. Dry, fold, and put away the load of clothes you washed earlier. You may want to take time to make a tentative schedule of when you’ll complete other weekly cleaning.
The more things you can create a routine for when cleaning and organizing your home, the better. Routines, when they’re done often enough, become second nature to you and you don’t have to think about what to do next. Take the time to create your own and then get organized with daily routines.
Popularity: 4% [?]
The Organize Lady Recommends:
Ultimate Ornament Box - 44 Compartments
