Ahhh…your master bedroom. This should be a space that feels peaceful and relaxing, a room that’s set apart for recharging at the end of a long day, and maybe even reconnecting with someone you love.

Unfortunately, since this room has a door (which is probably a good thing, right?), it can tend to be the opposite of relaxing or peaceful! Instead, it often becomes a dumping ground…a clutter hiding place…a warehouse for all those Target bags you swear you’ll deal with “later.”

It just seems like the natural place to stash all the things you don’t want sitting out in open view of the rest of the house. And it’s sooooo very easy to stack the bags and piles and who-knows-what along the wall or on the other side of the bed and then close the door behind you.

Boom! It almost feels like an accomplishment to get the junk put somewhere out of sight. 

Until it’s time for bed, that is. 

Then, it’s like trying to go to sleep in a jungle. You have to wade past the mess and tell that guilty little voice roaring inside your head that you’ll get it all cleaned up…eventually.

And romance? There’s nothing very romantic about dressers piled with random clutter, clothes thrown over the furniture, and obstacle-course-like piles all over the floor. Am I right?

Remember Your Dreams for Your Master Bedroom

I’m going to go out on a limb here and guess that when you first imagined your lovely master bedroom, you probably didn’t picture it piled high with clutter. I bet when you picked out your comforter or bought that cozy chair in the corner, you pictured yourself snuggling under a blanket and reading a good book (while eating chocolate, I hope).

Most likely you never intended your room to be decorated with outgrown kid clothes and oversized items you haven’t found a better place to hide.

So, how about doing a little fantasizing. (Oh, not THAT kind of fantasizing! The clutter-free room kind.) 

Take a minute and think about what you imagined your room would look like AND how you imagined you’d feel when you walked through the door each night. 

Hopefully, you’re using words like calm, pretty, relaxing, romantic, peaceful…

Regardless of what got in the way of that dreamy vision, it’s worth the time and energy needed to create a space you can truly enjoy. Sure, it might take a little (or a LOT!) of work to get rid of the mess and clutter, but just imagine how lovely it will feel to wake up to a clean and refreshing room every morning!

4 Reasons Why a Clutter-Free Bedroom Matters:

It matters because YOU matter.

Now that you remember what your master bedroom is actually supposed to look and feel like, I’m going to tell you the biggest reason why it matters:

Because YOU matter.

Read that sentence again and let it soak in. Read it three or four times, if you need to.

Think of your clutter-free bedroom as a little gift you’re giving yourself (and your beloved) every day. It’s an investment into your own mental and emotional health. It may even help strengthen your marriage as you prioritize that space as a little retreat from the stress and chaos going on in the rest of your world.

It gives you a space you can always keep clean.

It’s discouraging when there’s clutter and mess everywhere you look. It’s even more discouraging when you feel like you have very little control over it because the other people in your home – like those adorable, but messy, kiddos – contribute to the disaster.

But you can control your master bedroom more than any other room in your house. Your bedroom belongs to you (and maybe your sweetie, too), so you can ban toys and other “stuff” that shouldn’t be stored in there. This allows you to clean it once and then invest just a few minutes a day into keeping it picked up and tidy.

It gives you some encouragement when you need a boost.

A cluttered home is frustrating. It contributes greatly to feelings of anxiety and depression. You should have at least one place in your home where you can feel a sense of peace. Someplace that makes you smile.

Plus, when you’re anxious or depressed, you likely struggle to feel like you have the energy and emotional stamina needed to deal with the piles and clutter throughout your house. You need a space you can go to for a pick-me-up and an emotional boost.

It gives you motivation to work on the rest of your house.

You deserve an area in your home that’s clean and organized and will inspire you to keep pressing on. You need motivation…not a load of guilt. Getting rid of the clutter in your bedroom isn’t just about clearing a path to the bed, it’s really about getting rid of the guilt that’s piled on your shoulders every time you walk into the room.

Since the master bedroom is easier to keep clean than most other rooms, it gives you continual motivation to keep working on the clutter in the rest of the house. It’s a visual reminder of why you’re putting in the effort.

Having a clutter-free master bedroom will do great things for your personal well-being. You’ll sleep better, and you’ll feel better about yourself and your home. And if you can clean-up and maintain your master bedroom, then all those clutter-free vibes just might spill over into the rest of your house, too!

The post 4 Big Reasons You Need a Clutter-Free Bedroom appeared first on Simple Everyday Home.

When you look around your house and see piles and messes and a half inch of dust on every flat surface, does it ever make you want to go hide somewhere with a carton of chocolate ice cream and a large spoon? (Not that I know what that’s like…just asking for a friend. *cough, cough*)

Wouldn’t it be nice to have one of those houses that seems to clean itself? You know, the ones you see in magazines and on Instagram, with furniture that’s used for sitting on (instead of stacking on) and sparkling kitchen counters that aren’t covered by six months worth of grocery ads and mail and batteries (please tell me why random batteries always migrate to the kitchen counter!?).

But in the real world, just getting your house to a basic level of kinda-sorta-clean-enough-to-not-be-embarrassing can be downright overwhelming. It’s hard to know where to start decluttering when everywhere you look there’s one more reminder of the countless ways you’ve dropped the ball (and the laundry, and paperwork, and shopping bags full of junk you never got around to putting away).

And all that stuff that seems to be absolutely everywhere can make you feel rather…stuck.

There’s an Easier Way to Declutter Your House

Now, I get that this might not be your first rodeo. I understand that you’ve likely tried a time or two (or ten???) to get your entire house cleaned up and organized, and it just didn’t work.

Maybe you pushed yourself to the brink of sheer exhaustion on a rainy Saturday afternoon, only to have your house go back to its same old rebellious ways just two days later.

Or you wasted your whole vacation trying to get your home whipped into shape once and for all, but you ended up with a bigger mess (and even more guilt and frustration) than when you started.

Or if you’re anything like me, you decided to do a major decluttering next week. Which turned into next month. Then evolved into over summer break. And finally settled into when I have the time to do it right. (Newsflash: That day may never arrive. Ask me how I know.)

But what if you didn’t have to give up your vacation, or complete an elaborate plan, or tear apart every inch of your house in order to deal with your clutter and have a clean and peaceful home?

And that if you have health problems, kids, pets, or a full-time job, you could still clean up your home…and keep it clean.

I know it sounds impossible, but hear me out. (What have you got to lose?)

Where to Start Decluttering When Your House is a Mess

1. Work on one small area at a time
2. Give yourself permission to stop after 15-20 minutes

By working on one small area at a time, you’ll be able to see your progress and know exactly where to pick back up the next time you want to work on the room.

For example, if you decide that today is THE day to make a dent in your messy living room, so you put away a couple books from the end table (which is still covered in newspapers) and pick up the shoes (where a bunch of jackets are still scattered across the floor), you won’t be able to see that you did anything at all to clean up.

You’ll still do that that guilt-inspired shoulder slump (plus audible sigh) every time you walk into the room.

However, if you spend the same amount of time cleaning off the entire top of the end table, you’ll be able to see exactly what you accomplished and know where to start back up the next time you work on the room. You might even find yourself breaking into a little half-smile every time you walk into the living room and see that clean space you created (*cue happy dance*).

By choosing just one small space, you’ll be able to maintain your progress more easily once you get it cleaned up. Whereas, if you pick up some random books and shoes, what will keep you from setting down more books or tossing your shoes into the same corner the next time?

And by allowing yourself to only work for a few minutes, you don’t have to wait for an abundance of energy or for an entire free day (or your whole vacation!) to make some progress.

When you give yourself permission to work for just a few minutes at a time, rather than waiting till you have extra time AND excess energy on the same day (’cause when has that ever happened?), you’re more likely to actually get the job done – and feel good about it – before you fizzle out.

Declutter Your House and Keep It Clean

Here are some more tips for putting this method into practice in your own home!

Pick someplace really, really small.

When I say to work on “one small area” of your home, I’m not talking about the kitchen, or your master bedroom, or the hall bathroom.

Nope.

I’m talking about one small stretch of counter in your kitchen, or the top of one piece of furniture in your bedroom, or one square foot of space on the bathroom vanity.

A whole room is just too big to work on at one time. You need to think small…and then go even smaller. Work on an area that you can deal with in just fifteen minutes or less.

Choose an area that will impact you every day.

I like nothing more than cleaning out our family’s coat closet. Because I’m weird.

But if I’m being honest, a clean coat closet doesn’t make much of a difference in the look or feel of most homes.

It would be much better to clean out a kitchen cabinet that’s opened daily, the bathroom where you get ready every morning, or the sofa where you watch TV each night. When you’re getting started on your mountains of clutter (or even “hills” of clutter), pick a space that matters so you can actually see and enjoy your progress every day.

Consider picking an area that will get your family on board.

There’s no guarantee that your family will light sparklers and throw a party just because you decide to clean something. (So don’t hold your breath.)

But they’re much more likely to notice your efforts, and maybe try to help out a little, if you work on a small project that will make life a bit easier for everyone.

Straightening the snack shelf in the pantry, your husband’s sock drawer in your bedroom, or the game cabinet in the living room, just might help your loved ones see that you’re serious about getting the house in order…and that there might be something good in it for them.

(A little warning though: Don’t get upset if your family doesn’t automatically offer to help or even seem to care. Keep making progress and find joy in creating a peaceful home you ALL can enjoy – including you!)

Work on your one small space until it’s completely clean.

Beware of getting sidetracked by other cleaning jobs that “need” done while you’re in the middle of tackling your small, designated task.

Picture this, for example: You’re cleaning off the table and go to put away the scissors in the kitchen drawer, but you realize that the drawer REALLY needs to be cleaned out first. If wham-bam-no-thank-you-ma’am you stop cleaning off the table in the middle of the job (just because the junk drawer needs cleaned first), you’ll end the day with the same old messy table and the sinking feeling that you’re never going to get it cleaned up.

Resist, I tell you. Resist.

Keep reminding yourself to work on just one thing at a time. Remember that randomly picking up doesn’t show the progress you’ve made or give you much motivation to keep going. Instead, work on your one small area until it’s absolutely, positively clean. (Don’t worry, the junk drawer will be waiting for you another day.)

Focus on what you DO accomplish instead of feeling guilty about what you DON’T get done.

Your house didn’t get messy in a day, and it won’t be cleaned up in a day, either. That’s just how the world works.

Now, I know that on TV they’re able to magically clean up a disastrous house in the span of twenty-three minutes (plus commercials). But the potential for to you clean up your entire house over the course of a day – or even a long weekend – is about as likely as me finding a perfect wall of shiplap hiding under my builder-grade drywall. Not gonna happen.

Let’s just face it that “reality TV” isn’t really reality. Am I right?

Instead of lamenting that you can’t get more cleaned up in a day, it’s important to celebrate every little success. Enjoy it. Show it off. Be proud of it, and use it as motivation to keep on chipping away.

Commit to keeping your small, newly-cleaned space clean.

One of the beauties of cleaning up one little area at a time is that you can easily see if clutter is starting to pile back up in that small space.

So, if you clean up the end table, you’ll see that lovely clean spot every time you walk into the room, and you’ll quickly notice if something has been left there that needs put away. Once you have some noticeably clean spaces (no matter how small they may be), it will be much easier to keep those tidy areas clean.

It’s so much easier to keep up with the progress you’ve made when you can actually see it!

I believe that you (yes, YOU!) really can have a comfortable and clutter-free home, without having to work all day to keep it clean. By working for just a few minutes a day and cleaning up one small area at a time, you can make it happen!

The post Where to Start Decluttering a Very Messy House appeared first on Simple Everyday Home.

If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times: Creating a Morning Routine is one of the most important things you can do for your home (and your sanity).

I guess that makes this a thousand and one times.

I really do believe that having an effective Morning Routine is so incredibly helpful that it just might be the game changer you’ve been searching for. I know it has been for me!

As a matter of fact, when I’m NOT following my Morning Routine on a daily basis, it shows in a big way. And believe me – it’s not pretty.

My family runs out of clean socks, my bathrooms look icky, my kitchen becomes a chaotic mess, and my plants start to die. (Well, my plants would probably die anyway, but it happens much faster when I’m not following my Morning Routine.)

How to Survive Your Busy Mornings (Without Going Crazy)

If you’re like most people, your morning time already feels hectic and filled to the brim. You may even be thinking that it would be impossible to set up any sort of routine or add any extra tasks when you’re already stretched so thin.

But the thing is, you already have a Morning Routine…you just don’t know it!

Maybe your routine starts by hitting your snooze button three times, racing through a shower, throwing the kids into the car with half a bagel in each hand, and racing to work while you mentally flip through all the things you probably forgot at home.

Or, maybe your routine starts with a toddler yelling your name, a not-so-relaxing cup of coffee, a sink full of last night’s dishes, and a pile of guilt as you search through the laundry pile for a pair of clean-enough socks for your husband to wear to work.

And even if your morning time isn’t quite so harried, it still probably slips away much faster than you realize, and you’re left feeling like you spent too much time doing who-knows-what and not enough time doing the things that would make you feel like you accomplished something – anything – in your day.

I get it. Whether you stay home most days or head out the door to work, have young kids or are retired, wake up at the crack of dawn or sleep until your alarm forces you out of bed, the morning rush is universal and the struggle is real.

But your Morning Routine doesn’t have to be overwhelming. It’s simply a checklist of tasks or actions that you do (or want to do) every morning. It could have basics like “take a shower” or “pack lunches,” and it might have some extra things like “start the laundry” or “water plants.”

Your perfect Morning Routine can contain whatever YOU want and need, and it will be as unique as you are!

Why Creating a Morning Routine Will Change Your Day

1. You won’t have to reinvent the wheel every morning, since you’ve already figured out what works (and what doesn’t).

Following a Morning Routine isn’t about having a set of rules to follow or a list of impossible tasks to complete in your already-busy morning. Not at all.

It’s about being able to look at a list and know exactly what needs done, instead of having to strain your brain every single day (and then living with that nagging feeling that you’re forgetting something). As a matter of fact, it’s freeing once you figure out a routine that works for YOU!

2. You can stop stressing about the important things you might forget to do.

Creating and following a Morning Routine allows you to prioritize life’s necessities so nothing important falls through the cracks…again.

Not only can your routine help you do the ordinary basics like packing lunches or starting the dishwasher, but also it can help you remember to do tasks like putting water bottles in the fridge, watering the plants, or feeding the pets before you run out the door.

3. You can stay on top of your home tasks and chores.

As you get used to following a basic Morning Routine, you can add in some extra items that will help you stay on top of your home tasks and chores, like making your bed, starting the laundry, wiping the bathrooms, or tidying up the kitchen.

Just be sure to start small – really small – when you’re adding extra tasks to your list. Add one or two chores at a time and give yourself a week or so to adjust so you don’t get overwhelmed by a jam-packed routine.

4. You can (finally) plan for self-care.

Maybe you want to start your day by reading your Bible, exercising, drinking a bottle of water, or eating a healthy breakfast. Doing those activities first thing in the morning is the best way to ensure you make time for the things that are important for your mental, physical, and spiritual health.

You might even start looking forward to those early morning moments. Consider that time spent on self care as a gift you’re giving yourself.

5. You’ll always know what to do next.

When the stress of the day begins to build – usually 48.382 seconds after waking up in the morning – it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and like you’re running in circles. With a Morning Routine, you’ll always know what you need to do next.

You can work to find the most logical order for your morning activities and then just repeat the same schedule every day. It’s a relief to have one less thing to figure out in the day.

6. You can decide exactly how much time you actually need to start your day right.

You might have family responsibilities you need to make time for like getting the kids ready for school, packing lunches, taking care of the pets, or preparing meals and snacks for the day. You also might have extra things you’d really like to do each morning, such as reading a book, prepping for dinner, or throwing in a load of laundry.

Once you have your list of things you need (or want) to do in the morning, you can add up the time those things will take and set your alarm accordingly. You also may find that you have a few too many things to fit into a reasonable morning and need to cross some things off your list. That’s okay, too.

7. You’ll look and feel like you’ve got your stuff together, even if the rest of life seems to be spinning out of control.

Honestly, my Morning Routine is my secret weapon. When I’m following my list, I feel like I’m in control of the basics, and my family has confidence that I’ve got them taken care of. (They have no idea I’m hanging onto sanity by a thread. Shhh…that will be our little secret!)

Your Morning Routine is your cheatsheet…your magic wand…your new BFF. Yes, I really do think that creating a Morning Routine that works for you and your family will make a HUGE difference in your home. You’ll be able to make progress in your home like you’ve never imagined!

Make Tomorrow Morning Your Very Own Fresh Start

Give yourself a fresh start tomorrow morning – and every morning. Stop wishing you could stay on top of the laundry or get to work on time. Stop wondering where the time went and wishing your home wasn’t such a mess.

Take control of your day and your home from the very start by creating a Morning Routine that works for you!

The post 7 Benefits of Creating a Morning Routine appeared first on Simple Everyday Home.

Fear is a funny thing.

Sometimes fear is healthy and keeps you from making bad decisions or doing something that’s truly dangerous. Like when you follow the speed limit because you’re afraid of getting a ticket, or you take the medication your doctor prescribed because you’re afraid of getting sick.

Those are good things to do and examples of ways fear can actually help you.

But much of the time, fear is not your friend.  Fear is often a liar that keeps you from moving forward or trying something that could turn out to be good for you. Like when you don’t accept an invitation from a friend because you’re afraid you won’t fit in, or you don’t schedule your mammogram because you’re afraid of what you might find out.

Fear tells you to run away from the possibility of something good, even when the reward far outweighs the risk. It tells you you’ll regret your decisions. You’ll screw everything up. You’ll certainly face the worst case scenario.

Because fear is a liar.

And if you have clutter in your house, I’d bet my bottom dollar that an unhealthy amount fear is behind it, too.

In reality, more often than not, our fears are based on a distortion of the truth. This is especially the case when it comes to our feelings about all the stuff we own. We find ways to justify our decisions and come up with excuses for why we have so many things and aren’t making progress with clearing out clutter. 

We end up running to buy more stuff and stock up on more things…and we run away from dealing with all the piles and overflowing boxes and cabinets and closets.  Most of the time we’re just afraid to get rid of stuff.   

Once you recognize clutter for what it is, you have to start dealing with it.  And once you start dealing with it, you just might face overwhelming anxiety and distorted truths that keep you from ever making any progress. 

You need to ask yourself some tough questions and figure out if you’re hanging onto your clutter for all the wrong reasons. It’s time to face these lying fears and hit them with some truthful tough love.  

Are These Fears Keeping You From Clearing Out Clutter?

1. I’m afraid I’ll want to use this again (although I haven’t used it in years).

Let’s be honest.  We all have things we keep “just in case” we want it in the future, even though we haven’t really wanted it for the past few months or years.  

Before you automatically keep something, ask yourself questions like, “If everything else in my closet was dirty, would I pick something out of the laundry pile or would I wear THIS?” And, “If all my dishes were piled in the sink, would I pull out THIS bowl to use, or would I wash something else instead?” If you aren’t sure you’d use it, then don’t keep it.

2. I’m afraid I’ll fit into it one day and won’t have it anymore.

If you’re holding onto clothes because you think you might gain or lose weight, consider if you’ll actually want to wear the clothes you own today when you reach that weight sometime in the future.  

If you hit that weight next year…two years from now…ten years from now, will you even remember the clothes you got rid of today? And would you truly feel good wearing them, especially if they’re a few years old and possibly out of style?

3. I’m afraid I’ll find the missing parts and won’t have the appliance or gadget they’re for.

If you finally find the lost cord, the missing screw, or the knob that fell off, are you sure you’ll even remember what gadget or appliance it was needed to fix? 

Instead of keeping broken gadgets and small appliances, it’s usually easier to either buy the missing part, replace the broken item altogether, or learn to live without it (which is probably what you’ve been doing since you lost whatever was needed to make it work). If you haven’t already found the missing piece, you probably won’t magically find it in the future, right?

4. I’m afraid I’ll waste money by not using this product, even though nobody really likes it.

If you’re holding onto body wash that your family is allergic to, lotion that smells funky, or detergent that doesn’t work the way you’d like, then you’re holding onto clutter. Same goes for the shampoo bottle that’s been upside down in the shower for two months or the tube of toothpaste that’s had one last squeeze in it…since last spring.  

If it hasn’t gotten used up in the past few months, then why will it get used now? There’s probably a reason it’s not been used, so just let it go, throw it away, and feel the freedom!

5. I’m afraid of getting rid of these things because one day I might sell them on eBay or in a garage sale.

It’s time for some truth.  Unless you regularly list items on eBay or you have a date set for your garage sale, you won’t likely get those items sold and out of your house anytime soon. That’s just the facts. If they’ve been in a “To Sell” pile for more than a couple of weeks, you need to either sell them today or go ahead and donate them.

Similarly, if you’ve been holding onto your castoffs so you can give them to a particular friend or family member, either make the effort to get them into the right hands or put them in a box for charity and get them out of your house ASAP.

6. I’m afraid of hurting someone’s feelings if I get rid of this.

It’s tough when you have items in your home that were gifts you don’t really want to keep but are afraid to get rid of.  Think honestly about the likelihood of the gift-giver ever noticing that you no longer own the gift they gave you.  

If you feel like you really must keep something you don’t truly love (for example, to avoid a war with the in-laws), allow yourself one box where you can hide away those unwanted gifts until you display them when it’s absolutely necessary.

7. I’m afraid I won’t have enough if I get rid of these.

Sometimes we hold onto things because we’re afraid we won’t have enough of life’s necessities. Maybe you have more towels shoved into the bathroom cabinet than you’ll ever possibly need, or perhaps you have three dozen dinner plates for your family of four.

Think long and hard about what you actually use on a daily basis, and give away your extras (or at least box them up to test if you actually need them).  

8. I’m afraid of paying too much money if I don’t stock up now.

There are legitimate reasons to carefully stock up on staple items that you regularly use if – and only if – you have an organized space for storing them. But there is no good reason to have a year’s worth of tissues or a lifetime supply of toilet cleaner stacked throughout the hall or covering your bedroom floor.

Honestly ask yourself if you’re stocking up for a realistic time frame or if you’re loading up for a zombie apocalypse. (You know what I’m talking about, right?!?) Plus, by clearing out clutter, you’ll end up saving money because you’ll be able to find the things you already own when you truly need them.

9. I’m afraid of losing a treasured memory or something of sentimental value.

There is nothing wrong with hanging onto some of your children’s art projects, or the movie tickets from your first date with your hubby, or a little trinket your mom gave you when you graduated from college. And I’m certainly not going to suggest that you toss sentimental items you inherited from a loved one who passed away.  

However, if you hold onto everything that ever meant something to you, none of it will mean much at all anymore. Have a limited number of boxes or folders for things you want to hang onto and let go of anything that won’t fit.

10. I’m afraid I’ll need it later.

There are some items, like tax receipts, that should have their own special home. But remember that now days most things can be replaced or found online, such as restaurant menus, instructional manuals, and driving directions.  

It’s also gotten much easier to find things like power cords and replacement parts, so don’t be afraid to get rid of those odd cords and random screws that are littering your kitchen counters and drawers.

Let me help you!

Hey, I get it. It can be kind of scary to get rid of things. Suddenly, all that stuff you’ve had shoved in drawers, piled on the floor, or hidden away in the basement seems to hold great value.  And you can’t see the future to know if you’ll regret getting rid of it.

I’m here to help! This is something I help my Declutter & Clean Coaching clients through all the time! I’ll help you know exactly what you should focus on in your home, and I’ll hold your hand and cheer you on as you do the tough job of sorting through the clutter so you can finally find freedom from the mess and overwhelm! Learn more about personalized coaching HERE!

The post 10 Reasons You’re Afraid of Clearing Out Clutter appeared first on Simple Everyday Home.

Sometimes a day just gets away from you.  As a matter of fact, sometimes a whole week – or even a whole month or more – just seems to slip through your fingers. And before you know it, your house is a disaster area and you aren’t even sure what to do about it.  

Piles are everywhere.

The kitchen is unrecognizable.

And your kid has worn the same pair of socks three days in a row because you haven’t done laundry in at least a week.

You’re frazzled and overwhelmed, but the mere thought of so much cleaning makes you feel downright paralyzed and hopeless. You’re so tired of it that you just about can’t take it anymore. But you’re also just plain tired. 

You know what I’m talking about, right? 

I’m guessing I’m not the only one who occasionally (or more than just occasionally) gets sidetracked by real life and decides to let things slide for a day or two.  Which usually turns into a week or two, right? 

It might be that everyone in the house got sick, or you were busy running from one activity to the next, or you just had a really, really bad day. You promise yourself you’ll clean up the messy house and get life back on track “tomorrow.” Of course, we all know how that turns out.

So, the mail piles up a little higher, the dirty dishes “soak” a little longer, and the laundry starts accumulating in every single room in the house.

But here’s the thing: Even though your house is a mess right now, you are capable of making it better. It’s not going to be easy, but it will probably be a lot easier than you think. 

And once the house is brought back to a baseline of being clean and livable, you’ll feel much better and you’ll be able to keep it clean so much easier. You can give yourself a fresh start today so “tomorrow” you really will be back on track!

How to Clean a Messy House for a Fresh Start

These steps are not going to give you a perfect house. (Sorry!) But if you go through them one at a time, they will help you create a house where you can breathe and function. Are you ready?  

1.  Do one load of laundry from beginning to end.

Grab all the dirty laundry in the house and sort it into piles according to your usual method (lights, darks, towels, etc.). Pick the pile with the most-needed items and get it started in the washing machine. You are going to finish this load all the way to folding it and putting it away.  Do NOT start another load unless you are sure you can finish it all the way (including getting it put into closets and drawers).

2.  Put away any clean dishes.

Now, go into the kitchen and put away any clean dishes from the dishwasher, sink, or counter. You need the dishwasher ready to be loaded back up and a place to put the dishes you’re going to hand wash. Plus, clean dishes are just clutter if they aren’t put away where they belong.

3.  Clean off one kitchen counter.

Choose one kitchen counter to clean off completely.  Throw away trash, put away food, distribute random items to wherever they belong, and put the dirty dishes beside the sink. Don’t worry about trying to clean the entire kitchen right now.  You just need to have at least one empty counter for making dinner and doing other important things (like eating ice cream).

4.  Wash the dishes and run the dishwasher.

Fill the dishwasher with as many dirty dishes as you can and turn it on.  It doesn’t matter if it’s packed full or not.  Live life on the edge and run it even if there’s a little bit of room to spare.  Then, wash all the dishes that wouldn’t fit or don’t belong in the dishwasher.

5. Take out the trash.

By now, your kitchen trash is probably pretty full.  Take it out to your trash receptacles and replace it with a clean bag. (Hint: Your laundry is probably ready to be tossed into the dryer now, too.)

6.  Figure out what you’re going to eat tonight and the rest of the week.

While you’re still near the kitchen, figure out what you’re going to feed the family tonight.  Also make a simple menu plan that you can follow for the next couple of days.  Check the pantry, fridge, and freezer for ideas. Then, very quickly jot down any missing ingredients you need to pick up the next time you’re out.

7.  Pull out any bills that need paid (and pay them).

Do a very quick sort of the mail, tossing the obvious junk and setting aside the bills.  Jump on the computer and pay the bills or write the checks and get them put in the mail.  You can worry about the rest of the mail pile later, as long as your bills are paid so you can avoid late fees (or eviction notices – yikes).

8.  Make your bed.

Step into your master bedroom and get the bed made.  If clothes are piled on it, take a couple minutes to hang or fold them. It’s amazing how a made bed can make the entire room look better, even if there is random clutter that needs your attention on another day. 

9.  Straighten up the bathroom.

Clean off the counter in the bathroom that you use the most, especially if it’s the one where you get ready in the mornings. Don’t get sidetracked with decluttering the cabinet or rearranging the shelves.  Just clean up the vanity top, toss the laundry into a basket, and very quickly wipe off the counter with a damp towel.

10.  Do a quick clean-up.

Starting at the door where you usually enter your home, walk through the house and do some basic tidying up. Hang up jackets, stack up the library books, toss the pillows back on the sofa.  Don’t worry about tackling major cleaning or clutter issues.  Just put away the easy stuff, stack the mess out of sight, or toss items into a laundry basket to be dealt with on another day.

11.  Finish up.

Now, take a couple moments to finish up the good work you started so you feel like the job is complete.  Empty the dishwasher and put away the dishes you washed earlier so you can easily take care of the dinner dishes tonight. Fold the laundry (it should be dry by now) and put it away.  For bonus points, also put away any other clean laundry you have stacked on the steps or piled in baskets.  

Finally…smile.  

Take a deep breath and enjoy the fact that in just a couple hours of time you’ve gotten your home back into a livable condition.  You can fix dinner tonight, the kids can wear clean clothes tomorrow, and you’ll be able to find your make-up in the morning. Best of all, you can fall into a straightened up bed tonight.  

Sure, there are probably some items still needing your attention, but at least you can function while you plan a time to deal with the other things you’ll eventually need to take care of around the house.  And now that you know how to clean up a messy house (’cause you know it’s bound to get messy again, right?), you can easily get your home back to baseline any time it starts to feel out of control again. You’ve got this!

The post How to Clean a Messy House for a Fresh Start appeared first on Simple Everyday Home.

I’ve been tired lately. 

No, I’ve been really tired lately.

I’m not sick or anything like that.  I’m just the wife of a man who’s in a hectic work season and the mom of teenagers.  Teenagers need a lot of sleep, but they don’t seem to need it during the same hours that I do. Go figure.

Unfortunately, life doesn’t slow down around here just because I’m feeling tired every day. Laundry still needs washed.  Meals still need made.  Errands still need run. 

If you’ve been dragging yourself through your days like I have, it’s time to stop dragging and start doing! You might not be ready to go run a marathon in the middle of the afternoon, but at least you’ll be able to interact with your kids, finish the laundry, and get dinner on the table without collapsing on the kitchen floor.

15 Things That Give You Energy:

Even though none of these things individually may seem revolutionary (sorry, no “Get Energized Quick” schemes here), when you start focusing on taking care of yourself so you can take care of your home and family, all these little things will add up to big improvements in how you work and feel.

1.  Drink water

I’ve learned that drinking a glass of water in the afternoon can give a surprising energy boost. If you don’t intentionally drink a few glasses of water during the day, you just might get dehydrated without even know it.

2.  Exercise

Exercise isn’t really my “thing,” but I’m trying to do a little better about moving every day since I know it’s good for my mood and my energy level. Even just doing some stretches and sit-ups, running up and down the stairs a few times, or walking your dog (or the kids) will help relieve stress and get your adrenaline pumping. 

3.  Get dressed

Every single day, I get out of my pj’s and put on “real” clothes, even if I’m only changing into a t-shirt and some jeans. Walking around in your pajamas all day is like trying to run through water; it slows you down. I’d recommend adding it to your Morning Routine so you’re sure not to skip this small, but impactful, step.        

4.  Clean one thing

I might not have the energy to do a big cleaning list, but I can leave every space a little better than the way I found it. You might be surprised at how doing one little thing will lead you to doing one more thing, and every small accomplishment will give you an energy surge to keep you rolling through the day. 

5.  Unplug for one hour

I hate to say it, but the internet zaps me.  The constant need to check social media and email keeps my head spinning.  Take an hour to turn off the noise and tune into your home, your family, or a good book. Maybe even unplug for an entire afternoon, just to see if you can survive.

6.  Eat something healthy

I’m not going to lie:  I like chocolate and sweets.  I also like salty and fried. But I know deep down in my heart (and around my thighs and backside) that cookies and chips won’t give me real energy.  When your energy is hitting rock bottom, grab some nuts, a piece of fruit, or some healthy leftovers (like this Simple Vegetable Soup – yum!) that will truly fuel your body.

7.  Go somewhere

Breathing the air outside my own home does something good for my mood and energy levels.  Even simple things like going to the grocery store or taking a walk can change how you feel for the rest of the day.  And while you’re out, make it a point to smile at the people you come across.  It works wonders! 

8.  Get rid of clutter

A messy house is draining.  Clutter robs you of your sanity, your relaxation, and your joy.  When your house is cluttered with stuff you don’t need (or stuff that needs put away), it’s hard to concentrate or relax. If you aren’t even sure where to start, you might want to begin with these simple ways to fight clutter every single day.

9. Take a short nap

When my kiddos were little, I would occasionally take a cat-nap on the sofa while they were watching a video or resting in their rooms. Now, I set my phone’s timer for ten or twenty minutes and just lay my head back on my chair for a really quick doze. Taking a short power-nap will refresh and energize you. The key is setting a timer or alarm so you get the benefit of a quick snooze without sleeping the day away.

10.  Talk to someone big

We all love our kids, but whether they’re toddlers or teenagers, they’re exhausting.  Sometimes you just need to have a conversation with someone who doesn’t need you to wipe their nose or fix them something to eat (Amen?). Take a few minutes to get and give some grown-up encouragement, even if it’s just by texting back and forth with someone who makes you smile.  

11.  Drink some coffee or tea

I love tea.  I could live off tea.  Tea is my friend.  Having a pot of tea (or coffee, if that’s your thing), not only gives a you jolt of caffeine, but also makes you feel like you’ve given yourself a little treat. That combination will give you a smile and some energy to push through a little longer.

12.  Eat chocolate

Oh, how I love chocolate.  Eating a couple bites of chocolate (usually while locked inside my bedroom so no lurking children catch me in the act and ask for their share), makes me feel like I did something special for myself.  You need a special treat every now and then, so keep a small stash of goodies that are only for a pick-me-up emergency.

13.  Plan a date

I love my husband.  Love, love, love him.  Something bad happens to me when I don’t spend enough time with him.  I need to be refreshed by him, and he needs to be refreshed by me.  Plan some time out with your sweetie, or even just an at-home date after the kids go to bed.  Grab a favorite dinner or desert from a local restaurant and make it a special evening, whether you’re at home or out on the town.

14.  Listen to music

When I feel like I can’t push myself through one more task, I’ll turn on some music and let it lift my spirits. Put on something upbeat and get moving. You might even see what tasks you can get done around the house before the next song stops (hey, whatever works!).  

15.  Serve someone else

It seems counter-productive to serve someone else when I barely have anything left for my own necessary tasks, but looking outside myself takes my focus off me-me-me, and that’s always a good thing.  As you look for ways to serve your family or help someone in your church, you’ll suddenly find your own tank is being filled up, too.

Do What You Can

You can’t always control what’s going on around you.  You can’t force a sick baby to sleep through the night. You can’t take off work every time we need a nap.  You can’t make the rain clouds stop blocking the sun.

But even though you can’t control the myriad of factors that are zapping your energy reserves, you can do some simple things that give you energy and brighten your mood. Instead of barely getting by or running on fumes, try a few of these ideas and see if they help you have more energy today!  

What are some of YOUR favorite ways to boost your energy?

The post 15 Things That Give You Energy for Your Busy Life appeared first on Simple Everyday Home.

Of all the things I done to keep up with the business of running a household (and keeping it from turning into a complete mess!), creating a Morning Routine has been the most valuable.

My daily Morning Routine gets most of the must-do home keeping tasks taken care of early in the day so I can focus on other people and projects in my life.  Honestly, if my Morning Routine is the only thing I get done around the house, our home can stay relatively clean and somewhat organized.

It frees me up to concentrate on my work, give attention to my kids, and enjoy my husband because I know that life’s necessities are pretty much taken care of.

The problem is that the mornings just seem to slip away at the speed of light. I’m certain that clocks move faster in the morning than they do during any other time of the day.  Call me crazy, but I’m pretty sure it’s true! 

I am on a quest to be more productive, but sometimes most times it feels like I roll out of bed…blink…and then the morning is gone. I wake up with every intention of getting things done, but before I know it, the day starts slipping through my fingers, and I spend most of my time trying to play catch up, or even worse, I just give up altogether.

I couple days ago, I reached my breaking point.  I couldn’t take feeling behind any more. I also couldn’t take the dirty bathrooms and neglected laundry that was piling up from not having time to complete my morning list.  Something had to change.

I decided to schedule my daily morning routine so I’ll know exactly what I need to do and when I need to do it. And boy, it has revolutionized my days!

It opened my eyes to how much time I waste and how much I can actually accomplish. It also showed me the things that simply won’t fit into those precious morning hours and need scheduled later in the day.

Whether you work from home (like I do), work outside of the home, or stay home with your family, creating a detailed schedule for your mornings will help you be in control of your time. Instead of running around each morning, trying to get one step ahead – or sitting around trying to avoid real life – you’ll finally know exactly what needs done and how to fit it into your day.

Give it a try and see if scheduling your daily morning routine helps you have a more peaceful morning AND get more things done throughout the day!

How to Schedule Your Daily Morning Routine:

1. Write out your daily Morning Routine.

Even if you don’t have a formal Morning Routine written down yet, there are certain things you know you need to do every day.  List out everything from packing lunches to taking a shower and getting the kids fed. Try not to skip anything that needs done during the course of the morning, and you can even follow these tips for how to make a morning checklist that works for you.

2. Jot down how much time each task will take.

Think carefully about how long it takes you to shower and fix your hair, clean up the breakfast dishes, feed the pets, start the laundry…whatever you need to do each morning.  Always estimate high.  It’s better to plan for fifteen minutes and be pleasantly surprised on the days when it only takes you ten.  

3. Write down a basic time schedule.

Grab a piece of paper and jot down a basic time schedule. Starting with the time you get up in the morning (or the time you SHOULD get up in the morning), list the time down the side of the page in fifteen minute increments.  

4. Schedule the tasks from your Morning Routine, starting with time-sensitive tasks.

Schedule any tasks that must be done at a specific time (such as waking up your husband or taking the kids to the bus stop). Now that you know when you have to do certain necessities, you are free to schedule in the rest of your Morning Routine.  Figure out the best times to work everything into your morning, and be sure to leave some buffer time, just in case something come up or takes longer than you expect.  

5. Move extra tasks to later in the day or adjust your wake-up time.

If you can’t fit everything from your list into your morning, you’ll need to either move some of your tasks to a different time of day, or you’ll need to adjust the time your alarm goes off in the morning. This exercise of planning out a morning time schedule will help you recognize where you’re wasting time and where you’re trying to fit in more tasks than humanly possible.  

Try it, Tweak it, and Try again

Don’t expect to get your time schedule perfect on the first try.  Go through your well-planned morning for a few days to see what’s working and what isn’t.  Look for slots where you’ve underestimated (or overestimated) the time a task takes to complete.  

Tweak your schedule and try it again for a few more days.  Eventually, you’ll have a plan that will keep you on track and give you a productive start to your days.  

You’ll get more done in the morning than you ever thought possible, and your home will be more manageable as you’re able to fit in some basic cleaning and maintenance tasks. You’ll also find yourself finishing the day feeling more peaceful instead of carrying the weight of playing catch-up all day long.  It’s an everyday win!

The post How to Schedule Your Daily Morning Routine for a Great Start Every Day appeared first on Simple Everyday Home.

One day last week, when I rolled out of bed at a ridiculously early hour (because I like starting my morning routine while my family and most of the sane world are still asleep), I walked into the kitchen and immediately got a knot in my stomach.  

The same thing had happened the day before…and a couple days before that, too. The house that was supposed to feel quiet and peaceful was feeling oppressive and chaotic. It wasn’t fun.

After a few days of feeling an uneasiness until halfway through the morning, I finally realized the surprising culprit:  The dishwasher.

Now, I have a perfectly nice dishwasher, and I’m very thankful for it.  But I do not like to unload it. Not even a little. It’s a task that I tend to put off until I don’t have any choice but to get the job done.  

So, while the dishwasher sits full of clean dishes, the kitchen counter gets piled up with dirty ones. Sometimes, it gets completely covered with dirty dishes that fill the sink and every flat surface within reach.

Then, I feel a knot in my stomach when I walk into the kitchen. Well, that’s no fun.  

The Truth About Clutter

It’s a fact that having less clutter in your home might seem like an impossible task.  It can be downright overwhelming to even think about facing it all.  

It’s also a fact that sometimes you might be so fixated on the seemingly insurmountable “stuff” – the sports equipment all over the garage, the sewing supplies covering the dining room table, the random pans and dishes crammed into the kitchen cabinets – that you totally overlook the basic clutter that’s right in front of you and is the source of the most frustration in your everyday life.  

Instead of focusing on all those problems you can’t seem to overcome, there are several very basic and fairly easy things you can do to win some pretty significant battles in the quest to have less clutter every single day. And these things are so easy that you can simply build them into your regular routines without having to block out a bunch of extra time in your already-busy day.

4 Easy Ways to Have Less Clutter

1. Unload the dishwasher and put away the clean dishes.

I don’t know why I hate to unload the dishwasher.  It’s not like it’s a hard or dirty job.  For some reason it’s just annoying. Unfortunately, a dishwasher that’s full of clean dishes usually means a counter full of dirty dishes.  

And while you might not think of messy plates and used cups as “clutter,” pay attention to how you feel the next time you walk into your kitchen when it’s piled with last night’s dinner dishes.  

Do you feel anxious? Overwhelmed? Have a knot in your stomach? 

Yep, it’s clutter!  

Decide the best time of day for you to unload your dishwasher and then make sure you always run it in time for it to be clean when you’re ready to put it all away.  

If you’d like to unload the dishwasher in the morning, be sure to turn it on the night before. Or if you’d rather unload it while you’re making dinner in the evening, plan to turn it on after the breakfast dishes are loaded up.

Whatever time you decide works best for you, plan it into your routine and stick to your schedule. Run the dishwasher at your appointed time, even if there’s room for another plate or two, so it’s always ready to unload and reload with the dirty dishes before they pile up and turn into visual clutter.

2. Put away clean laundry.

Laundry never ends. Never. Never ever.

When you leave the unfolded laundry piled up in baskets or dumped on the furniture, you can’t even pretend that you’ve reached the end of it. And honestly, even if it’s folded in those baskets or stacked neatly on the stairs, it’s still a pile of something that’s out of place. (That’s sort of the definition of “clutter,” isn’t it?)

Do yourself a favor and fold and put away the laundry every single day. One of the best and easiest ways to accomplish this is to fold the laundry straight out of the dryer, before you even put it into a basket. When you only have to tackle one dryer’s worth of laundry, it only takes a few minutes at a time and then it’s DONE.

3. Deal with the mail. 

Mail is my nemesis.  

Of course, so are the dishes and laundry. But the mail is my biggest enemy of them all.

Admittedly, I can procrastinate dealing with mail like a pro. But if I were to set a timer and see how quickly I could deal with it each day, it would be shocking (and slightly embarrassing that I let it pile up so often). 

Whenever you bring the mail into the house, deal with it right then and there. Commit to either take care of it, file it, or trash it before you’re ready to collect the mail the following day.

If there’s something that requires more time or that you need to show to your husband, then take care of it as soon as possible. Regardless of what comes into your box, most likely it can all be dealt with in less than five minutes. For real. Set a timer and see how quickly you can manage it each day, before it piles up and takes on a life of its own.

4. Buy things only when you’re ready to use them.

Look in your pantry and count how many cans and boxes you purchased months ago but still haven’t used. Take a good look – a hard look – at the extra packages of socks, the countless boxes of tissues, the clearance pants you’re hoping to shrink into.

Do you have books you’ve never read? Clothes you never quite fit into? How about unopened boxes of (now expired) cereal, or more cans of pumpkin puree from last year’s post-holiday sales than you will likely use in a lifetime? 

If you wait to buy something until you’re ready to actually use it, you could probably eliminate a whole lot of the accumulated clutter in your house.

And if you’re afraid you’ll spend more money by not snatching up a good deal or stocking up on sale items ahead of time, just think of all the money you’ve wasted on those deals you took advantage of without ever put the products to good use.  

And this isn’t about feeling guilty for past mistakes.  Don’t go there.  Just decide that today is a new day and you aren’t going to buy things until you’re ready to use them.  Then decide the same thing tomorrow.  And the day after that, too.

From Overwhelmed to Over It

Are you tired of being overwhelmed by things you have the power to control?  Decide right now that you’re ready to have less clutter in your home.  And then do something about it.  

Figure out when you want to unload your dishwasher each day.  

Start a load of laundry and keep it going until it’s folded and hidden away in your closets and drawers.  

Take care of the mail and refuse to let it pile up and become a problem. 

Bravely face the things you’ve spent money on, and then use it as motivation to think before you buy more “stuff.”

You can make simple changes to have less clutter getting in your way every single day! You can do it starting today!

The post 4 Easy Ways to Have Less Clutter In Your Home Starting Today appeared first on Simple Everyday Home.

A couple days ago, I cried.  A lot.  Like six-times-over-the-course-of-a-day kind of a lot.

I still don’t know why or what was so messed up inside of me, but everything just felt “off.”  It was like Murphy’s Law was out to get me, and it seemed like everything was going wrong.  And I was pretty sure it was going to keep heading in the wrong direction.  Forever.  

Because that’s how it feels when you have a bad day.

I wish I could tell you that every day of my life is filled with bunnies and roses, that I always have a smile on my face, and that I’ve learned to overcome every one of my personal shortcomings.  Oh, how I wish I could tell you that!

But telling you that would make me a big fat liar.

The truth is, my days are often filled with a dog who barks nonstop at imaginary dangers, piles of laundry that never go away, a To-Do List that’s longer than my arm, and the usual frustrations that come with parenting and running a home.  

Want even more truth?  Some days those normal, real-life situations make me cry.  

I think we all have days sometimes when everything just feels “off.”  (You have them, too…right?)

Whether it’s because of hormones, or not enough sleep, or an unusually difficult season we’re going through, some days the world seems a little cloudy, regardless of the weather outside.  Our kids grate on our nerves, our husband hurts our feelings (without even knowing it – poor guy), our normal chores seem oppressive, and the end of the day can’t get here fast enough.

As much as we’d like to avoid those kinds of days – and we really should try to steer clear of them – they come along from time to time, and we just have to push through them…or be crushed by them…the choice is ours.

I’ve learned that there are some things I can do (and NOT do) to make these troublesome days a little easier to survive.

What To Do When You Have a Bad Day:

Do: Pray and read the Bible or an encouraging book.

Something happens inside when you take a few minutes to be quiet and fill your heart with good thoughts. Instead of seeing yourself as a victim of a bad day, your eyes will start to open to the purpose in your current situation.  And when you start to pray for other people, well, that really changes your perspective on how bad your day actually is (or isn’t).

Do: Drink water and have a healthy snack.

It’s amazing how dehydrated you can get without even realizing it.  When your body is hungry and thirsty, your mind gets foggy and grumpy. Be careful that you don’t sabotage yourself by trying to survive the day on empty. Fill up a water bottle and grab some veggies, a handful of nuts, or your favorite healthy snack.

Do: Rest.

There is nothing that can start your day on the wrong foot quite like insufficient sleep.  But even if you’ve reached your necessary sleep quota (lucky you!), you still might feel emotionally depleted from an overly busy schedule or a particularly stressful season.  Give yourself permission to take a power nap, relax with a book, or watch a favorite movie – whatever fills your tank.  

Do: Find a way to be productive. 

While it may seem counterintuitive, leaving your pity party long enough to fold the laundry, tackle a messy room, or make a special dinner just might be the thing you need to give you a boost. The sense of accomplishment will give you some energy and make you feel much better about yourself and your entire day.  

Do: Go somewhere…anywhere. 

It doesn’t matter if you go to the grocery store, a local coffee shop, or on a walk around the block, breathing the air outside of your house (and preferably away from it) often has the power to make life seem more bearable, and even enjoyable.  You get bonus happy-points if you actually interact with other people and offer up a smile to someone.  I dare you.

Do: Eat chocolate.

Honestly, sometimes you just need to retreat behind a closed door with a piece of chocolate, or whatever goody is your treat of choice.  When you’re caught in a cycle of “poor me,” doing something that makes you feel special can bring you back to the reality that you have a lot to be thankful for and you’re going to survive the day.

What NOT To Do When You Have a Bad Day: 

Don’t: Look for the dark side.

If you look for something to complain about, you’re sure to find it.  That’s a fact.  Don’t go searching for the cloud behind every silver lining. Fight the darkness by looking for reasons to be thankful (those are also easy to find if you look for them). 

Don’t: Let your mind run wild. 

Be aware that when your mood is in the dumps, your mind will likely follow.  Don’t assume the worst about others or replay past hurts. Remind yourself that you might not be thinking clearly and tune out those ugly thoughts.  

Don’t: Do nothing. 

It’s great to rest when you need a break, but being lazy is a totally different thing.  Slumping in a chair while you think about how miserable you are – or how awful everyone else is – will only bring you down even more. Get up and do something that will make you feel better, or at least make your house look better.  What have you got to lose? 

Don’t: Eat only junk.

While treating yourself with a little chocolate or a favorite coffee drink might brighten your spirits, stuffing yourself with junk food all day will only make you feel bad about yourself and leave your body bloated and begging for nutrition. Be intentional about treating yourself and leave the non-food in the pantry. 

Don’t: Become easily offended. 

Just like it’s easy to find something to complain about if you try hard enough, it’s also easy to find offense if you’re searching for it in every text or conversation.  Guard yourself against judging motives or reading between the lines.  Give others the grace you want them to offer you on a day like today.

Don’t: Make big decisions.

Don’t run out and cut off your hair, or change your cell phone plan, or send your kid to his room for the rest of his life.  Remember that your judgment might be just a tiny bit clouded when you’re caught up in the frustrations of a difficult day.  Give yourself a day or two to get back to your normal self before you make any life-changing decisions that you can’t easily change.

Remember That Tomorrow is a New Day

Take a deep breath and start counting your blessings.  Seriously, make a list.  You might be surprised by how many reasons you have to rejoice, even when you have a bad day.

Sure, this day may have chewed you up and spit you out, but it doesn’t mean that you’re doomed to a life of frustration and overwhelm. Tomorrow is a new day, and it will (hopefully) be a whole lot brighter.

The post What to Do When You Have a Bad Day appeared first on Simple Everyday Home.

There are a million and one things calling out for your time and attention, and you only have a limited number of minutes each day to spend on cleaning and organizing your home. 

And honestly, even if you had an unlimited amount of time to devote to cleaning, you probably wouldn’t want to waste the bulk of your days doing nothing but sorting and scrubbing. (I know I sure wouldn’t!)

Whether your house is a complete disaster area that you can’t even walk through, or if it’s just in a state of annoying-mess-everywhere-you-look, you have to decide where to start cleaning your house so you know what to do first and where to focus your organizing energy.

Sometimes that’s easier said than done.

I have this “wonderful” habit of only tackling the cleaning and organizing jobs I enjoy. Then, I sort of leave everything else undone until I can get to it “sometime later.”

Like next week. Or next month. Or never.

For example, I actually enjoy cleaning out the bathroom cabinet because it’s a small space, so it’s quick to organize and makes me feel like I accomplished something with my day. Score!

But I don’t like to clean the shower, or the toilet, or the bathroom floor. Yuck!

I seriously could clean out and organize the bathroom cabinet every day of the week without batting an eye. And I could avoid cleaning the bathroom floor and fixtures for two months straight without letting the disgusting mess drive me to take action.

I’m good like that.

So, knowing that I don’t have the best radar for what really deserves a chunk of my cleaning and organizing time, as opposed to what could probably wait until other jobs have been taken care of, I’ve come up with a few questions I ask myself before diving into a task.

5 Questions for Where to Start Cleaning Your House

1. What tasks will be the greatest blessing to those around me?

Does your husband feel stressed when the mail piles up on the counter? Does he especially appreciate when you detail clean the coffee maker? Would your children be able to play by themselves better if their toys were sorted and put away?

Choose cleaning and organizing tasks that will be an encouragement to others, rather than only focusing on those chores that are enjoyable.

2. What tasks are the most necessary?

Will you be having visitors soon who will need the guest room?  Are the bathrooms clean enough if a friend drops by unexpectedly?  Is the desk so messy that bills and important papers keep getting lost?

If you’re expecting company soon, prioritize the tasks that need done before they arrive. If you’re continually losing things or wasting time because of a mess, then cleaning that area a top priority.

3. What tasks will make the most noticeable difference?

If someone were to walk into your house, what is the first thing they would see? Do you avoid making dinner because the kitchen counters are covered with junk? Is the bathroom such a mess that it’s hard for anyone to get ready in the morning?

Spend the bulk of your time doing things that can be seen instead of pouring all your energy into rooms or closets that are rarely used.

4. What tasks will promote a peaceful environment?

Do you get a knot in your stomach when you walk into your bedroom closet? Is it hard to enjoy relaxing with your family because of the mess on the living room floor? Are your kids continually frustrated in the mornings because they can’t find the clothes they need?

You do not have to live with an anxious feeling because of the condition of your home. Neither does your family. Make small steps toward creating a peaceful retreat.

5. What tasks would be on the must-do list if we were selling our home?

What details would a prospective buyer notice if they walked through your house? What are the things you would clean for someone else? If this wasn’t your own home, what dirt and clutter would you see?

There is no reason to wait until you want to get rid of your home to make it into your dream house. Look for easy ways to make improvements without a “for sale” sign in the yard.

You can’t clean and organize everything at once. Answering these questions will help you know where to start cleaning your house so you can give your limited time to the tasks that will make the biggest impact. And as you start making visible progress, just might find the motivation you need to keep on going!

The post How to Know Where to Start Cleaning Your House appeared first on Simple Everyday Home.