Whether you’re a stay-at-home mama or work full-time, you know that there are never enough hours in the day to keep the house in tip-top shape. As much as we hate to admit it, sometimes the constant flow of dishes, laundry, and collecting clutter can truly steal our joy and the ability to be present in the moments that matter.
So, how can we get to the place where we feel like we are “caught up” on house duties so that we can actually enjoy those moments with our kids or spouse? In all reality, there will always be some toys on the floor, some dishes in the sink, and some laundry in the hamper—the key is simply knowing it cannot and will not all get done in one sitting. Just like you tell your kids to take small bites when eating a meal, we need to think in “bite-sized” portions, when it comes to cleaning. This way of thinking can even make cleaning *gasp* enjoyable!
We are in the era of romanticizing the mundane, so why not romanticize the time of daily cleaning? One of my favorite moms on Instagram, Whitney White (@simplecleanfit_whit), has completely changed my perspective on breaking down house tasks and turning them into small-portioned challenges. The cleaning method she swears by is “putting the house to bed.” Set a 15-minute timer and clean the kitchen area as best as you can within that timeframe. This puts you in the best mindset when you go to bed and wake up—you no longer have a monster-sized mess to deal with in the morning—it’s not perfect, but it’s better than it was. That’s something to celebrate!
Below is Whitney’s guide to creating a realistic cleaning schedule for your home. She’s an active mom of two kids and a business owner, so she understands the struggle of balancing work, family life, fitness, and health.
As for the rest of the house, focus on one task for the whole house. For example, set another timer and clean all of the mirrors in your house. Trying to take on the entire house and deep clean every inch in one day will just set yourself up for failure and disappointment. Focus on a small achievable win. If you are a stay-at-home mom, scatter these cleaning increments throughout your day and schedule them around your life, not the other way around. If you work in an office, keeping the momentum right when you get home is a great time to knock out a few small to-do things on your cleaning list. That way, the rest of your evening will be freed up from those tasks.
With the help of an achievable cleaning schedule, the next time you feel the stress of household tasks piling up, take a deep breath, think about the specific things that are causing you stress, turn on your favorite song or podcast, set a quick timer, and knock out a task or two.
Take control of your life and don’t let the material things of life weigh you down. Strive for sustainability, not perfection—there will always be more messes to clean!
If you would love some free, printable checklists, check out a previous blog here.