How To Get More Organised At Home In 5 Steps
What a mess!
Without knowing how to organise your home effectively, you won’t be able to:
Manage your time properly.
Experience stress relief.
Maximise productivity.
Instead, you will continue to waste precious time and never complete tasks.
If this is you, you’re in the right place!
I created this proven, 5-step process to help you bring more order to your home based on my research and experience over the past 15+ years.
We’ll cover everything from making plans to decluttering properly . I’ll also give you some things to look out for along the way, mistakes I made before I worked out this system, and ones I still see other busy, stressed out women making.
Just follow the steps, and by the time you finish Step 5, you’ll feel like a pro and enjoy greater productivity and better stress management.
Ready? Let’s go!
Step #1: Make written plans to keep you organised every day.
The Bible tells us in Habakkuk 2:2 -
And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. (emphasis added)
When we write something it is there as a visual reminder of what we should be aiming for.
Before you can make preparations for becoming more organised, you’ll want to take your time with this critical first step.
Many people underestimate how simple but powerful it is to take time to write down your plans and intentions for the day.
So, the first thing you need to do is decide how you want to make your plans. You can use our Daily Planner. Download, print as many copies as you need and hand write your schedules, or use a PDF reader to fill in the info into the blank spaces.
Here’s how you should use our planner:
Fill in the date at the top right hand corner of the planner.
In the ‘To-Do List’ section on the left, jot down the things that you need to get done. This is a great brainstorming activity that allows you to search your memories for activities that you want to complete that day. Don’t worry about ordering them. Just write/type.
Go over to the Schedule on the right and start filling in your ‘To-Do’ activities into the correct time slots. Start with the activities that will have a definite time.
You can adjust the times as needed in brackets, next to the activity. This is great for tasks that do not start on the hour - e.g. 11:30, 3:45, 7:15 etc. Making note of specific times will keep you more on task.
If you have activities that don’t have a specific time, choose a time that makes sense based on what you already have filled in.
Make sure every task has a time or you may be tempted to leave it out or you may forget it.
Next, go back to the left and Jot down a Bible Verse for the Day that you want to learn or focus on.
When you consult your list, read or try to memorise your verse for the day. Pray it out and ask God to teach you what you need to learn from that verse.
Finally, at the bottom left, make Notes about specific things related to an activity you have scheduled.
This is important especially if activities need resources or reminders. E.g. Kids need tablets for piano. Use Debit Card for groceries etc.
See picture below for an example of how I used the planner. And I forgot the grocery shopping on the Schedule. See what happens when you don’t write down things? (Face in palm).
Fit And Fresh 4 Life Daily Planner Example
What to look out for:
Many people skip this foundational step and then wonder why they’re not managing their time well. Don’t let that be you!
This is a crucial step that will set you up for success later on. And each step is a building block for the next, so don’t even try to jump ahead! :)
All done? Great job! Let’s move on to Step 2.
Step #2: Do one activity at a time in its designated space.
There's something to be said for having a specific area for a task. So if you know you're easily distracted and usually waste time, keep activities and chores confined to certain spaces.
What do I mean? Let’s look at a few examples.
I have been guilty of this before…folding laundry in front of the TV. But then the movie/TV show is so gripping that I find myself standing in the same spot for 5 minutes holding the same piece of clothing. And when the action dies down I realise I have done nothing.
No folding. No progress.
Or I will sit to eat a meal and spend time on my phone or using a device. Instead of being diligent about eating and finishing in 20 minutes, the entire process lasts as long as the movie or TV Show.
Time wasting exercise right there.
Keep your activities in designated areas and concentrate on completing them without unnecessary distractions.
This will save you time, keep you on task and allow you to complete all that you need to do for the day.
No she didn’t!
The reason this step is important is that it will help you feel confident that if you can complete home chores you can also complete other life goals that you may have.
What to look out for:
Many women feel like a failure as a wife and mother. They get down on themselves for not being able to achieve goals in the home like making home cooked meals, gardening…doing the dreaded laundry.
This contributes to a negative mindset and emotions, causes stress and makes us feel that we shouldn’t even bother to have bigger goals outside of the home.
Don’t fall prey to that thinking. Value your time and you will feel better about yourself and your goals.
Plus, you’ll have a method or routine for being organised that will keep your stress levels down and create a calmer environment at home.
Here are some tips to help you move through this step quickly:
Put your chores on your daily plan at times that you choose. It gives you a sense of control over an action that may be unpleasant.
Unless an emergency comes up, stick to that plan like glue and get your chores done on time.
Keep a reward system if you need it. Kids aren’t the only people who like treats. Maybe set an hour for that task and if you finish with time to spare, do a fun activity that you like for the rest of that hour. Don’t get carried away, friend.
Just keep focusing on a routine that works, that you can keep repeating and you’ll be on the right track.
Step #3: Say ‘No’ or ‘Not right now’.
Just gimme a sec.
Imagine a 2 year old does this with ease. Sometimes it is the only word they know and they really mean it when they say it.
But adults? We feel so bad and guilty telling people we can't do something.
So we trade our own peace of mind for somebody else’s. And that is one way to live a disorganised life.
Don't put pressure on yourself. If you know you can't afford it, don't go to dinner and try to look like you're rolling in dough. You’ll smile on the outside while on the inside you are stressing over what you will need to juggle to make ends meet at home.
If you're swamped, don't agree to do a favour. You will stress yourself out, increase your workload and end up being more disorganised than before.
You may feel obligated to help someone, especially if they already helped you out before. And that’s perfectly normal. The feelings are normal. But that doesn’t mean you have to act on them.
Instead, be honest with yourself, and your family, about what you already have going on in your life right now. Especially your spouse.
It does your household no good when you try to please everybody and be ‘super mom’ or ‘wife of the year’. You will only start to harbour feelings of resentment and run yourself ragged.
This is a key component of bringing order to your home. Taking on too many tasks at once to please other people leads to:
Negative emotions
More unfinished tasks
Greater stress
Possible illness
You need to learn to separate requests into the ‘No’ or ‘Not right now’ categories (within reason).
If your kids eat every day, they won’t die if they don’t get a snack or juice at that very moment. If you’re busy and they need to wait, then let them know to give you a few minutes.
It’s good for them too when they learn from early that the world does not revolve around them and they can’t always get what they want when they want it.
But be reasonable. Like, don’t say ‘No’ if someone needs toilet paper and they are stuck. That’s just cruel, girl!
And don’t leave hubby hanging if he is fixing something and needs a tool but can’t move.
What to look out for:
It may be hard to zero in on figuring out what can be done now, done later or not at all.
What you can do is:
Determine immediately if the new task is an emergency.
Consider how long the new activity might take.
Think about whether you can move away from your current task.
Determine if there is another time it can be done.
You will have to use your reasoning skills to figure it out. But that is one of the best ways to manage stress…developing problem solving skills. They will help you to work through your problems for a workable solution.
Once you start to navigate this particular skill, you will be less stressed, calmer and in a better position to be more organised at home.
Step #4: Keep similar items together.
This stuff needs sorting. Pronto!
We’re just about done. There are just two more steps.
Here’s what to do next for Step 4:
Think about your home right now. Let's pick an object…like shoes.
Do you have them all in the same place? Or do you have some by the door, a few in the closet, a couple under a table, more in the car and the rest in your trunk? Perhaps a few in a large bag?
Let's say you're leaving home and in a hurry. You have to think of the pair you want and which one of those 6 places to find them. Let's hope both shoes are together!
It's better to group similar items together, once space allows for it, to save time and reduce stress. And if you’re running out of space, it may be time to downsize. But more on this later.
Have a place for 'clothes that need fixing', 'stationery', 'toiletries', ‘dirty laundry’ etc. You will be more organised and save time when you need to find something.
What to look out for:
No matter what you do, do not rest down an object where it doesn’t belong and tell yourself you’ll move it later. You won’t.
What you will do is create another space to become a mess that needs decluttering later. So just go to the place it belongs and put it there.
As the saying goes by Barbara Hemphill, “Clutter is nothing more than postponed decisions”.
Stop postponing decisions and make the right ones at the right times.
Keep going! You’re nearly there.
Step #5: Remove old items before buying new ones.
Out with the old.
This is the last step. Get ready to celebrate!
Here’s how to get the best results with this:
If it’s not in use, make sure it’s out of sight. This will clear work spaces and leave you feeling better about what you have to do.
If you don't need it, toss or donate it. Stop hanging onto things you ‘might use later’. You won’t use them. This will help you to operate in a calmer environment, maximise your space and time, and reduce stress.
Don’t get a new one until you get rid of the old one. People always buy a new item before throwing out the old. Now you have two, or more, of the same thing cluttering up your spaces.
What to look out for:
I learned this lesson the hard way.
Well, I suppose my husband learned it but I was the catalyst.
I once bought some cow’s milk in a carton. Brian prefers almond milk.
Usually, when I get to the bottom of the carton, if there isn’t enough milk for what I need (like a bowl of cereal), I will just open a new carton and use it. Then if I need just a little milk I will go back to the old one and use that up.
So one day, Brian ran out of his almond milk and decided to use my milk. He picked up the first carton he found (the old one) and dumped all of it in his cereal. And he added a little vanilla ice-cream, which is what he likes to do at times.
I had no clue what was happening at this point. Until he took the first bite and spat it out. Obviously he was less than pleased when he declared the milk was off, his cereal was spoiled and he had just used the last of the ice-cream which was a further waste.
When I asked him which carton of milk he used Brian was in disbelief. He asked me why I had old milk in the fridge if I knew it wasn’t good. I told him I didn’t know for sure it was bad but I wasn’t very surprised.
Maybe it was a bad move on my part, but I told him that he didn’t normally use cow’s milk and if he had mentioned it out loud I would have directed him to the correct carton to use.
That didn’t go over very well.
The point is, it’s always better to remove old items before getting new ones. Not only do you use less space, but you keep a more organized area and avoid disagreements with spouses that put their sticky fingers on your items.
Just kidding.
But seriously, you will have less stress and a clearer work space when you throw out the old before bringing in the new.
Congratulations! You just learned how to become more organised at home in 5 steps.
Write down your plans.
Keep activities in designated spaces.
Say ‘No’ or ‘Not right now’.
Store similar items together.
Remove the old before bringing in the new.
Follow the tips above to increase productivity instead of continuing to feel inadequate when you struggle to create a calm and orderly space at home.
I’ve given you all my best tips, tools, and techniques to help ensure your success. Just knowing them isn’t enough, though. It’s time to act and get the results you’ve been dreaming about!
Which tip will you start with? Let me know in the Comments below.