Organizing Your Week: How to Create a Chaos-Free Home

Have you ever had such a good day, where you felt like you accomplished your tasks, the kids behaved, and you even got your shower in before 3 PM? It is on those days that I want to climb to the top of a mountain and shout, "I am a mom, hear me roar!" Unfortunately, it can sometimes only take one day to throw off the whole week, thus creating chaos. On those days, I don't feel I can justify a roar. Instead, it comes out more like a weak "meow". So, how do you make the best of your week, AND accomplish the tasks and goals you have set out?  It all starts with "The List"! Here are a few things I do, to keep the Van Dahm household running smoothly and efficiently.

• At the start of each week, make a list showing Sunday through Saturday on it.
• To that list, jot down any fixed agendas that you do on a weekly basis. Example: appointments, play dates, classes, practices, general errands like grocery shopping, banking...
• Next, think about the household tasks you want to accomplish during the week. Assign them to the days that you don't already have filled with lots of fixed agenda items. Try to spread household tasks out evenly over the week. Example: laundry, dust, vacuum, couponing, pay bills, making a grocery list, change sheets, dishes, bathrooms, baking...
• Now this is where hard choices have to be made, in order to keep the house, family, and your sanity in check. When an event, social, or anything not pre-scheduled comes up, you have the ability to look at your weekly list and see what day might be best to fit that into. Yes, there will be weeks where you may have to decline things, in an effort to stay on schedule. Here is the thing about tasks...they don't go away. Instead, they pile higher and higher, until finally your left feeling stressed or they have gone completely neglected. For instance, I have a day set aside during the week where I do laundry, sheets, grocery list, coupons, and pay bills. Therefore, I try hard not to schedule any "extras" on that day, such as field trips, play dates, appointments, and such. If I absolutely have to schedule something, then those tasks will need to be shifted to another day. If done too often, it can create a hectic environment.
• The key is to organize your week, without feeling overwhelmed. There is something to be said about having a list, where you can cross off your accomplishments when completed. It also encourages you to complete such tasks, that you would otherwise ignore...thus, creating chaos later when you see the laundry pile up, don't know what you are having for dinner, and so forth.
• Once your week is scheduled out, then create a list of your dinners for the week. By getting a glance at your week, you can determine which busy days might be better to make an easy crock pot meal, verses a meal that will take more time in the kitchen.
• Try to get all your tasks done for the day, before taking "me time". I found that if I take a break to read or watch TV, half way through my tasks, then chances are I will not get back to them. I encourage you to pile drive through your list for the day, then take time to relax. Besides, it is hard to truly relax when you hear the list on the counter calling your name!

Be flexible! Yes, you have created a weekly list, and I encourage you to stick to it the best you can. But with that said, life does happen. So, don't get worked up if your "busy" task day has to be put off for another day. Just remember, you're not putting off tasks for the day because you decided you rather read a book all day. Although that does sound nice, it is situations like that, that will throw off your whole week, thus creating the chaos snowball! Legit reasons for moving your tasks/days around would be for things like-- caring for a sick family member, unforeseen appointments, or other incidences out of your control. Just remember, happy homes, make happy moms! The saying is true, "If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy." LOL!