Home organization isn’t exactly my strong point, to be honest. It’s something I’ve had to work on consistently, and I’m still trying to improve. Cleaning and organizing weren’t skills I was born with, so they’ll likely be lifelong projects for me.
I find it funny when readers ask me how I manage to juggle family, homeschooling, DIY projects, and blogging. Since organization doesn’t come naturally to me, I’ve had to create systems to manage everything without getting too stressed. I’m happy to share these systems with you. Hopefully, they’ll help you add a bit more organization to your life, even if it’s not second nature for you.
I’m definitely not the next Marie Kondo, as my husband can confirm. Right now, there are toys on the floor and dishes in the sink, but the kids are playing happily, and dinner’s in the oven. In an average week, I do 5-8 loads of laundry, cook three meals from scratch daily, try to keep the house clean, homeschool the kids, and stay on top of my writing. Oh, and I aim to go to bed before 10 PM—not always successfully!
I’ve realized that focusing on home organization and routines is essential to handling everything. It also means I have to accept that not everything will be perfect (like my house at the moment) while I prioritize what’s most important. Back when I had only one child, I kept our one-bedroom apartment tidy and prepared a hot dinner by the time my husband got home. I even managed to brush my hair and do makeup most days. But as our family grew to six kids, the volume of tasks increased so much that doing it all became impossible.
I used to feel overwhelmed daily by all the things that needed doing. A friend recommended a book called “A Mother’s Rule of Life,” which made a big difference in how I handled our household and significantly reduced my stress. The book’s key idea is to have a routine and a plan for every task and to organize things systematically. This way, you’re not constantly worrying about chores like vacuuming or meal planning.
Instead of having all the kids on the same schedule like I used to, this new plan included separate activities for each child. They got used to their own schedules for school, play, chores, and more, which put an end to those “I’m bored” moments because they knew what to expect.
On the technology front, since I’m always connected to my phone for work, I transferred my home organization system onto my iPhone. Before, it was all in a binder. Now it’s more eco-friendly and always with me, which is super convenient.
Here’s what I did: I drafted a loose daily schedule so I’d know what to focus on at any moment. My responsibilities change daily, so I made sure to outline necessary tasks and set aside time for things like online orders, vet visits, and playdates. Next, I assigned specific chores and activities to certain days of the week, such as laundry on two days, bathroom cleaning on another, and mopping on yet another. This cut down on stress about the house because I knew everything would get done in its time.
I also scheduled time for meal planning, catching up on emails, reading to the kids, and even for relaxing. Yes, I plan time to relax too! Additionally, the kids have regular schedules for chores and school, which tremendously helps with organization and stress reduction.
I created a checklist for cleaning each room, detailing all tasks like sweeping, dusting, and picking things up. This means when I ask a kid to clean a room, they can follow the checklist rather than just picking things up off the floor.
As parents, it’s easy to fall into the trap of doing everything ourselves, but it’s vital to involve the kids. Research shows that children thrive and learn responsibility when they contribute to the family. I made a list of chores that others could handle and assigned them based on age and ability. Each child has their own checklist, so they know what to finish before playtime.
Each morning, we do school after breakfast, and I work on my blog while the kids have their nap or quiet time. After dinner, we clean up, bathe the kids, read books, say prayers, and the kids are in bed by 8 PM (usually). Once they’re asleep, I wrap up my work and spend time with my husband, often relaxing in our sauna.
While I’m far from perfect at managing everything, this system helps me stay on top of things without constant stress. To keep organized, I use a note-taking app on my phone, which acts as my home management guide. It’s my essential reference for planning and organizing everything—from schedules to meal plans to to-do lists.
I recommend the book “A Mother’s Rule of Life” for structuring your system. The book guides planning and organization far better than I can. Also, I’ve prepared printables for organization that you can use if they’re helpful: Daily Outline Sheet, Daily Chores Sheet, Weekly Routine Sheet, Monthly Routine Sheet, Meal Plan Sheet, Room Cleaning Sheet, and a Daily To-Do List Sheet.
In my phone, I maintain the same outline as my printables but in digital format. I have separate notes for my daily outline, chores for me and the kids, and weekly and monthly plans for big projects. For meal planning, I use the Real Plans app. I also printed checklists for the kids so they can see what needs doing without using my phone. There’s a “To-do” note that keeps my ever-evolving list.
One of the apps I’ve found most helpful is Evernote, which syncs with both desktop and mobile for constant access. Another tool I recommend is Notion, which I’ve recently started using after interviewing an expert.
I’d love to know how others manage their planning and home organization, so feel free to share your tips and tricks!
