The daily tasks of managing a home can be overwhelming! Luckily, there is a way to manage everything without losing your mind. Here’s how you can create a simple home management system.
When I first became a homemaker, I made the mistake of thinking I could conquer everything I needed to do in a single day.
I knew I could run errands, clean, do laundry, and get three home-cooked meals on the table. As well as invest in my hobbies, serve my husband, and so on and so on.
I was quickly humbled by the numerous responsibilities I had, but slow to accept the grace I so desperately needed to give myself.
I simply can’t do everything I need (and want) in a single day!
Thus, I began figuring out a home management system that would work for me and my family. As we have added children and other responsibilities to our family, our home management system will change.
But the need for order never ceases.
That’s what’s so important about a home management system! Your family has needs, responsibilities, and wishes that won’t just happen. So consider taking a few of these tips and running with them!
How to Create a Simple Home Management System
Home Management Tips
You may have seen ways to build your home management binder. They usually include color-coded sections for things like chores or finances. Sometimes there’s an entire printable pack you can purchase.
This is not that blog post.
I have two toddlers. At the time of this blog post, they are two and four. If I print out pages that I depend on and all of a sudden they grow legs and walk away, my system is useless!
Thus, I decided to take note of the things that were working in my life and piece together my routines by focusing on three key things:
1. What I needed as a mom
2. What my family needed from me as a wife and mother
3. What had to get done around the house to keep it from imploding
That’s it. I couldn’t create a complicated process. Because frankly, I don’t have the patience to implement one!
Now, that’s not to knock something like a digital home management system. I admire the women who use a digital note-taking pad with delicate fonts and perfectly drawn lines.
And if that’s a system that works for you, use it! that’s the beauty of managing your home. You get to decide what works best!
I knew to manage my own home I needed different options to conquer these feelings of overwhelm and instill peace back into my home.
By shifting my focus to what works best for my family instead of what the internet told me to do, I saw the things that naturally needed my attention.
I don’t need to have matching bins and perfectly curated labels to have a home that works for me. I need a home that fits the needs of my family.
Buying things second-hand is one of my top tips for stay-at-home moms on one income! Instead of buying a new line of organizational bins, consider thrifting them. For more frugal homemaking tips, check out this blog post!
Homemaker and Happy’s Home Management Plan
Three different areas in my life fuel the success of my home. If I’m off in any of these three areas, I’m usually not able to take on responsibilities outside my home, invest in friendships, or serve my church family.
Since I want my children to be able to do all of those things, I knew there were changes I needed to make!
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What do I need as a mom?
Having two toddlers so close in age means my home is always loud and emotionally charged. Very rarely is anything clean, and very seldom do I get a moment to myself.
However, quiet, peace, sanitation, and alone time are now all things I so deeply cherish.
So I make sure to get those into my routine!
In my home management system, I have a morning routine. Right now? It’s simply to be up at least half an hour before my children wake up.
I have found that when I wake up with my children, I’m overstimulated and grumpy. I value the quiet time that comes with a still house as sleepy heads get out of bed.
So I wake up at least 30 minutes before my children.
And this time isn’t jam-packed with activities. I may read my Bible and sip on some water while breakfast is cooking. I may open a window and enjoy a cup of coffee before waking my children up for the day.
If we have a particularly busy day, I may get myself ready so I’m not wrestling children away from my beauty products or flat iron.
Your morning routine may be different. You may want to work out, eat breakfast, read a book, and pray before your children wake up.
You may do great waking up with your kids and seeing where the day takes you!
Either way, I encourage you to first take a look at what you need as a mom.
Implementing a Cleaning Routine
If you need sanitation like I do, keep a broom handy in the kitchen so you can quickly sweep after every meal. If a chore takes less than 5 minutes to do, complete it right then!
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Since I know I need a clean home to be content, I created a cleaning routine I fall back on easily.
I run the dishwasher and the washing machine once per day – no questions asked. But I dedicate cleaning a room of my home one day a week.
Let’s say on Tuesdays I clean the bathrooms. That means I clean toilets, mop and sweep, wipe down mirrors, refresh toilet rolls, and replace towels if they haven’t already been replaced in the last day or so.
A similar system takes place for the bedrooms. Whatever days I clean the bedrooms, I’ll change the sheets, open the windows, wipe down ceiling fans, and vacuum.
I don’t have a set schedule for cleaning my house. Right now, that isn’t working for us.
What is working for us is planning my week out in advance. As I can see what commitments we have and what the weather looks like, I know when we will be home and how much time I can commit to cleaning each day.
The bathrooms take less time than the bedrooms. So I save those for busier days.
Getting alone time as a mom
Alone time as a mom means filling your cup and not conducting home-related duties while you’re away from home.
That was one of the best pieces of advice I ever received as a young mother.
When I’m able to get away for a cup of coffee with a friend or to peruse the craft store by myself, I cheat that time to recharge myself if I’m also going grocery shopping, buying something for my children, or running to the hardware store for a house project.
Are those necessary tasks that may have to happen? Absolutely.
What I’m saying is this – they shouldn’t be our reason for getting out of the house without our spouses and children. Home-related tasks should not be the focus.
We should be focused on taking a few moments to catch our breaths, recharge, and be ready to return to our families having spent a few precious moments on our hobbies.
A dear friend of mine practices this in a different way.
Her husband often takes extended business trips and will be gone for a week at a time. When he returns, she makes herself a cup of coffee, retreats to her room with a good book, and spends an hour or two simply enjoying the time she gets to be alone.
You can find alone time in other ways as a SAHM.
Do your children like to play independently? Snuggle up on a couch with a book or craft project while they play with toys on the floor.
Do they struggle to play independently? Practice independent play for 10 minutes or so at a time. Even though you’re on the couch or in the room doing something else, they can see you and work with you to get better at independent play.
I love utilizing this method for mealtimes. I keep a drawer in my kitchen stocked with activities my children can access. They play at the table while I cook. Because my own hands are busy, I can’t usually help them. So they play independently!
What my family needed from me as a wife and mother
My family is the reason I’m a homemaker. So meeting their needs is going to take priority!
My husband
Simple To-Do Lists
When I need something done around the house, I write it down for my husband to reference later.
Why?
When he’s working, he’s focused on work. When he comes home, he’s focused on reconnecting with the family.
Keeping simple to-do lists for him to reference helps me not to forget anything and helps him see what I need him to help me with.
Home-Cooked Meals
My husband is a career fireman (read more about that on my About Me page!) which means there are plenty of times he’s not able to enjoy a warm meal.
So when he’s home, he values a home-cooked meal. I make an effort to serve great, nourishing food promptly. Because he simply doesn’t get that at work.
One-on-One Time
My marriage is the reason I have a beautiful home, wonderful children, and a fulfilled life.
My husband gives me the opportunities I need to get out and get alone time. He encourages me to pursue hobbies I love. He works so I don’t have to.
Making, and respecting, time with my husband keeps us on the same page, fuels our desire for each other, and keeps us focused on each other. We prioritize this because we prioritize what’s important!
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My Children
Daily Routine
My children thrive on order and routine. It’s just what works for us.
So our “morning routine” usually consists of eating breakfast, getting dressed for the day, and then starting chores. When we’re finished, we may run errands, spend time outside, or start a craft. It’s simply wherever the day takes us.
Other routines I’ve implemented are things like small school routines and afternoon/bedtime routines.
For school, we do a quick Bible study, sing a song, and work on a coloring page or letter page for the day.
Bedtime routines are brushing our teeth, reading a book, and saying prayers.
Again – these are routines that work for our current stage of life. And they will change!
One-on-One Connection Daily
Finding time to connect with my children on a day-to-day basis can be hard when I’m a stay-at-home mom to two active toddlers.
So I try to take the time to connect with my daughter while my son naps. Or connect with my son while my daughter completes a coloring page for school.
How are you able to connect with your children? Do you have tips for more than two children? Comment on this blog post and let me know!
What I have to get done around the house
I truly only do three things every single day. I do a load of laundry, I run my dishwasher at least once, and I thaw meat and prep ingredients for the following day’s meal plan.
These are the three things my home needs to sail smoothly. If one of those three things doesn’t happen, we somehow lose the sense of peace in the home.
What are the three things you need to get done every day in your home? Comment on this blog post and let me know!
When you begin to think of the three things you need to get done every day so your home runs smoothly, you can quickly weed out what is a want and what is a need.
I’m hopeful it will also tell you where your focus truly needs to be! If these things don’t get done every day, your family won’t be able to function. So let’s make sure they get done!
Maybe your tasks don’t have anything to do with meal planning or keeping a cleaning schedule.
Maybe your daily work is finding time for a family devotional, keeping paper clutter at bay, and honoring nap time.
Your daily work could be focused on getting a load of laundry done, homeschooling your children, and getting a full dinner on the table.
Whatever you have to do daily to keep your house afloat, do those things. Don’t focus on what others may be doing – what works for them may not work for you!
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Do you have your home management system?
Maybe you’re more technical and organized with your home management system. Maybe you’re still lost on how to develop one.
I hope that you can find encouragement from the home management system I’ve created. And how you can see that it stems from the natural rhythms already in my home.
I didn’t create a home management system to solve any one problem. I created home management systems to suit the needs of our family as they stand right now.
The best part of this system? It’s fluid enough to suit us in every walk of life!
As my children get older, I will expect them to do their laundry and cook meals for the family. Thus, the weight of laundry and meal planning will lessen on my part.
Should we add more children, I can easily manipulate this to suit the needs of a growing family.
Routines to Consider for Your Home Management System
I talked about every single one of these systems in this blog post. They came with the natural rhythms of life.
If that style of organization doesn’t work for you, you can start with the systems first! They are:
Morning Routine
Cleaning Schedule
Scheduling Alone Time
Meal Plan
I have blog posts that are specific to these topics! If you’re looking for ways to jump-start your laundry routine, check out 30 Simple Laundry Hacks for Busy Moms. I review several different sorting methods, time-saving tips, and products that may not be worth the hype.
If you’re looking for ways to enrich the time you spend with your family, I have family activities for every season! In spring, you could conduct scavenger hunts or nature walks. Include your neighbors if you’re sticking around for spring break (PST – I also include spring break alternatives in this blog post!). In summer, you could turn your backyard into a water park or playground.
Come fall, you could walk through a corn maze or go apple picking. Don’t forget about sports! As a family, you could check out a football game, or if you want to stay inside, go roller skating or bowling!
As the year ends, you can reflect on your year of family fun around a plate of cookies as you decorate your home for Christmas. And of course, get outdoors and enjoy snow with snow angels or a winter hike.
Check out each of my seasonal family activity blog posts for even more ideas!
Fun, Frugal Spring Activities for Kids, Family
Free or Cheap Summer Family Fun Activities
Free or Cheap Fall Family Activities
Best Cheap or Free Winter Activities for Families
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[…] you’re looking for other ways to organize your home, you can start by creating a home management system. This isn’t a free download that will organize your home based on someone else’s […]