Simply Happy

Simply Happy

As a busy mum, it can feel like there simply isn’t enough time in the day to maintain your home! Re-organising the house, or maintaining a household routine, can seem a bit much some days. I hear you.

However, unnecessary household clutter can cause stress, anxiety, and fatigue. It actually may relieve more stress setting up and maintaining an organisational system, then it takes to process all that clutter every day! Once that clutter is out of sight, it can stay out of your mind, freeing you up for other more important things.

Sounds great right? With a few tips and tricks, decluttering your home can make mum-life that little bit easier. Make a start by following our guide to decluttering– and don’t forget to ask for help when you need it!

  • Keep only what you need

Chances are there are plenty of things in your home that haven’t been used in a long time. Sometimes it can feel hard to let go of old things, but it definitely feels better when the clutter is gone! By having fewer things, you can enjoy those things more. It can be a long and overwhelming task to declutter your whole home. Instead, declutter small amounts regularly to make it more manageable.

Try a little experiment: before buying one thing, throw out something old or something you don’t use. For a bigger effect, throw out one old thing a day until you value everything in your home. Remember to donate or recycle where possible!

  • Planning is ongoing

Organising isn’t a one-time event. It takes maintenance to live an organised lifestyle. Find a time every week to organise and plan– even add it to your weekly routine! Every week I organise my calendar and the family command centre so we are all on the same page at the beginning of the week. Stuff does not stay organised on its own; it needs to be reorganised consistently.

  • Write things down

Don’t just leave it up to your brain to remember everything! By writing things down, you can free your mind for more important things. Write down shopping lists, birthdays, holidays, events, appointments etc and keep them in a convenient place so they won’t be forgotten. Organisation also eliminates decision making, making planning your week a whole lot easier.

  • Routines & rituals

Routines & rituals simplify your week and help you share the load. Like writing things down, creating a routine or ritual reduces the stress and fatigue of decision making. Work commitments, school drop-offs, and after school activities are obvious examples of weekly routines. Try thinking about other areas of your week you could develop into a routine– like chores, errands, fitness, or socialising. You’ll save time and energy while increasing productivity.

  • Everything has a home

It’s easy to get lost if you don’t have a home. Same goes for all your things! Every single thing in your home or office belongs somewhere. Organising a system for your belongings eliminates the stress of losing important things and the discomfort of living in a messy place. Try these decluttering and simplifying ideas in your home to get the process started.

  • Share the load

Practice delegating tasks from your to-do-list to others in your family, or create a list of responsibilities for each member of the family. Stick with it and review the list with them every week to make sure everything gets done. It shouldn’t be just up to you to maintain your home! A little help goes a long way.

 

Decluttering doesn’t have to be one huge task that completely drains you. It isn’t so overwhelming when you break it down and add small amounts of decluttering to your routine! Make sure you find time to rest and recharge so you have the energy to keep practising decluttering behaviour. Maintenance is key to keeping your home clutter and stress-free!

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