As a mom, it can feel like the household chores will never end, because when you finish one, another one is already waiting. You always try your best to make the home clean and tidy, but sometimes, it can feel like you’re falling behind.
It can be exhausting if you do all the chores, like cooking, laundry, picking up toys, washing the dishes, helping kids, cleaning, etc., at the same time. In this article, I am sharing tips to help you manage household chores without feeling exhausted.
Let’s get started:
Tip 1: Finish the Most Important Task First
You need to start with the most important task. Also, you can’t do all the work at the same time because it can leave you feeling overwhelmed.
Prioritizing your tasks will improve time management and save you energy. If some chores aren’t urgent, don’t hesitate to leave them for tomorrow.
You should focus on today’s priorities, as it is more important than trying to finish everything at once.
For example: If you have multiple tasks to do but you are confused about where to start and where to end, prioritise the tasks and finish them accordingly.
Why It Helps:
- You will complete important tasks first.
- You feel less overwhelmed and exhausted.
- You will have more time and energy for yourself.
Tip 2: Don’t Clean the Whole House Every Day
It’s not necessary to make every room spotless every day. Only clean the important areas like the kitchen, kids’ zone, and bedroom daily.
Every area doesn’t need a deep clean every day. You can schedule tasks like deep cleaning the bathroom, dusting, or balcony cleaning on different days of the week.
For example: Make a list of tasks that you want to do, and it covers the parts of the whole house. From the first day of the week, start cleaning from a single area, and you will get the whole house clean within a week.
How it Helps:
- You will feel less physical and mental exhaustion.
- Most-used areas are cleaned every day.
- It will be easier to manage the household chores throughout the week.
Tip 3: Create a Simple Daily Chore Routine
Making a routine helps you mentally organize the tasks you need to do. And once your mind knows about the tasks, it will be simpler to manage and do them properly. I know you do many chores every day, and it helps you remember them and plan.
For example: Jasmine(my friend) was doing household chores, but she didn’t know if she had completed all and sometimes she forgot due to the mental load. I just told her to make a chore routine, so you will remember every task that needs to be done and your mind will prepare for that. Now, she is applying this in daily life and feeling calmer.
Why it helps:
- You can decide what to do first
- Saves time in planning and getting things done
- It reduces stress and anxiety
- It becomes a good habit soon
Tip 4: Clean as You Go
It’s a golden tip for you that makes your home neat. You can clean while you are working instead of waiting for the mess to pile up.
For example:
- You can wash the bowls and spoons immediately after using them while cooking.
- Put things back in their proper place; don’t leave them on the table.
How it helps:
- At the end of the day, you will find that there is no extra work for you.
- A small time investment in washing a dish or putting things back will save you time.
- Your house will look clean and tidy.
Tip 5: Ask for Help Without Feeling Guilty
You can ask for support from your family members, as managing a home is a big responsibility. There is no need to do everything alone.
Always remember that sharing chores doesn’t make you weak; it makes you a smart mom.
For example: You can give some tasks to your children according to their age. It will also help them become more responsible.
Why it helps:
- Family members will also understand the responsibility to make the home tidy.
- Children will learn how to manage and take care of their things.
- You will find time for yourself.
Tip 6: Use a 15-Minute Timer
A Timer gives you a fixed amount of time to complete that task within the time limit. Your mind automatically thinks and tries to do that task as soon as possible.
For example: You are doing a household chore that can be done within 30 minutes. But if you give a command to your mind to finish it in 15 minutes and use a timer, you may complete it within that time.
Why it helps:
- You can easily complete a task within the timer’s limit.
- It creates a sense of urgency, which helps you work faster.
- You can also complete the chores within a small time that usually make you feel lazy.
Tip 7: Declutter a Little Every Day
Remove useless things from your house, as it makes cleaning much harder. Instead of doing a big cleaning drive on weekends, you can throw away or organize things every day.
For example:
- Remove expired things like medicines, edibles, old bills, clothes, empty boxes, etc.
- Make a target of just 5 mins to clean a drawer or a corner of the table daily.
How it Helps:
- Your house will look cleaner and have more space.
- It prevents clutter from building up into a huge mess.
- You don’t need to spend your whole weekend doing this.
Tip 8: Plan Meals in Advance
Meal planning is one of the most stressful tasks you do. An advance meal plan may help you organize your kitchen and reduce the extra tasks.
For Example: Siya, my friend, is a housewife, and she makes the meal plan in advance as it saves her time and keeps her kitchen looking tidy.
Why it helps:
- Planning and doing the same thing reduces your mental work.
- It gives you time to decide which meal is good for your family.
- You can easily buy and organize groceries according to the plan.
Tip 9: Accept That Some Days Won’t Go as Planned
Every day won’t go exactly as you planned, but accepting that makes you calm and free from guilt. You feel some days are challenging, and in those days you can’t manage all the things. But the real win is you do your best and complete that work with as much responsibility as you can.
For example:
Risha, my neighbour, was once very disappointed and feeling guilty because unexpected relatives came on that day. I suggested the same advice, and she realised that it’s okay to have an off day.
How it helps:
- Keeps you calm and removes mom guilt
- You feel that you did your best that day.
- Makes your mental health good and positive
Tip 10: Celebrate Progress, Not Perfection
Did anyone tell you that you should only track your perfection, not progress? Or they told you progress is nothing without perfection?
None of them. Right?
So, analyze yourself and track your progress. If you did better than the last time, you are also a winner, and you deserve celebration.
For example: Shreya (my cousin sister) thinks that she should do the work perfectly, but she forgot that progress is the key to perfection. Without judging her, I just gave the same advice, and she accepted that she is improving herself in managing chores, and it is a win.
Why it helps:
- You will feel more confident by tracking your progress and celebrating it.
- Perfection will come to you slowly
- Your mind will feel cheerful
Final Tip
All the above tips are here to help you. By implementing them in your daily life, you can organize your house chores perfectly.
These habits won’t change your life in a single day, but they will slowly bring a positive shift. At last, you will feel how much progress you have made in yourself. I want a promise from you: whenever you make progress, you will celebrate. Not a grand party, just a cup of coffee or tea or anything that you like can make you feel good.
I hope you enjoyed this article. Your friend ‘Ranjana’ is waiting for your response in the comment box, and any questions or suggestions are most welcome.
Happy Motherhood:-)
FAQs
How do you break down household chores into daily, weekly, and monthly tasks?
It’s very easy to break down the chores, as you just need to be aware of them. Daily tasks that need to be done every day, like mopping, wiping, etc., can be done every day. The toilet and bathroom can be done weekly, and the work that requires a deep clean which doesn’t need daily attention, can be done every month.
What is the most efficient order to do house chores without wasting time?
First, clear the dust and then mop, and don’t waste your time while the washing machine is doing its work; you can wash the utensils at the same time. Try to automate the tasks you can and save time from there.
How can working moms efficiently balance a 9-to-5 job and daily household chores?
You can do the same by making a decision on which work is necessary to do every day and which work can be done weekly or monthly. You can also share the chores among your family members, and it will save you time and energy.
How do you keep a house clean and organized when you have toddlers or young kids?
By putting things in their proper places, you can make your home look organized and clean.
What are the best tools or apps to automate and track a family chore chart?
Some tools are Google Calendar, Trello, and Tody that may help in tracking a chore chart.
