Organizing the Stay-At-Home Mom way

Getting organized and staying on task as a stay-home Mom is not always the easiest job. There are so many different ways that we can get distracted and caught up in things that aren’t really getting the “work” done. So, how does a Mom at home organize her day, making sure that she is productive and tends to the needs of her family. I am going to list a few tips below, some of them I use and others I am trying to work on.

1. Accomplish one big task early in the day. Now, what is big to you and I could be different, possibly cleaning bathrooms or painting a room. The point is that as a stay-home Mom, we often get to the end of our day and cannot point out exactly what we accomplished that day even though we were busy all day long. We can’t say we finished that presentation for work or that spread sheet. Pick that one large task early in the morning and get it done.

2. Household Binder. I know, this really seems lame. But, I have started one this year and I am staying so much more on top of things. It doesn’t contain a ton. I have only 6 different sections in my binder.

1. Planning
2. Cleaning
3. Menu Planning
4. Financial
5. Joey
6. Blake

Planning: This section contains my calendar (which I am terrible at updating), lunch menues, school calendar, each boy’s weekly newsletter/calendar.

Cleaning: My weekly cleaning schedule, monthly cleaning schedule

Menu Planning: I create our weekly menu on Monday. I also create my grocery list off of the menu for the week. What items I need to buy to make the meals I am making.

Financial: This really only holds my Grocery budget information and what I have spent. I would like to work on a general budget to include in this area.

Joey: I put his spelling lists for the week, Math and reading papers that he missed questions on so that we can work on those, field trip, sport, etc. Basically anything related to Joey.

Blake: The same as Joey’s section.

Below is a couple pictures of my binder and what it contains.

3. Use a Calendar to organize your days. There are many online tools and planners to help you stay organized. I think the key is to pick one system and stick with it. I am terrible at this! I have too many calendar’s and I do not keep them all updated. Since the start of the school year, I have moved to using my calendar on my computer and things are running much smoother!!

5. Reasonable Expectations!! Do not set out for the day to clean the entire house, host play dates, interact with your kids, read a book, cook three meals a day, bake after school cookies, and get everyone to bed with a story by 8 pm. You are setting yourself up for failure and frustration. Take time to really enjoy your family and the work that you do at home. There is always tomorrow to bake that bread or wash those windows.