Being a stay at home mom is hard work. You might feel as if there’s so much to do on any given day that you can’t possibly get it all done. Today I’m sharing tips to organize your day as a stay at home mom.
Stay at home moms have a hard job. One would think that since you are home all day that it would be easy to get everything done, but the truth is, the work never ends and the constant juggle of chores can really baffle even the most organized person unless she makes a plan and creates a routine that works for her.
I’ve been a stay at home mom for over 29 years and I still have to be very purposeful about how I use my time if I want to get everything done. You may feel like you are constantly cleaning or picking up after your kids or trying to stay ahead of another disaster. It doesn’t have to be this way!
Homemaking and being a stay at home mom is a lot of work. But it’s also worth the effort. Like any job, you can learn to do it well – even if you don’t think you’re very good at it to begin with.
Organizing your day takes a little planning and a desire to see your plans through. My desire is to elevate your role as a stay at home mom and as a homemaker. I want you to see the important role you play as a homemaker.
In the book Having a Martha Home the Mary Way, Sarah Mae writes:
“You can give life to your home by making it warm and inviting, fresh and invigorating! You can give life to your home by making sure there are clean dishes to eat off of and clear spaces to walk in and organized papers that easy to find when you need them.
You can give life to your home by filling it with loving, true, and good words! You can give life to your home by building up the souls in your care and the souls who enter it. Your home can be a place where weary bones rest and burdens are lifted and laughter ripples through every room. All of these things make a home.”
Beautiful words! I want that to be my home. My family’s home. A place where life is raised above mere existence. Home.
Organizing your day as a stay at home mom allows you to make your home a warm and inviting space for your family and friends. Homemaking is a ministry in the truest sense of the word.
Tips to Organize Your Day for Stay at Home Moms
There are things you can do to create a balanced routine and organize your day. Whether you discover your best time to get things done or start a rotating cleaning schedule that frees up a lot of your time, you can create a balanced routine that works.
#1 Create a Routine that Works for You
We all have a sweet spot – it’s that time of day where we’re able to get the most done. For some people, it’s early in the morning. Others do their best work midday. Try to pay attention to your day and see when you do the best work.
Once you nail down your sweet spot, you can schedule your time so that the harder projects are done during that time frame. My best time seems to vary from day to day, but evenings are often when I get that second wind.
The thing is, there is no right way to do things. If you feel like blowing through your house in the evenings before bed and getting everything picked up – do it. If you prefer mornings to whip your house into shape, do it.
Whatever routine works, is the routine one that is best for you. You just need to figure out what that is. Here are few places to help if you don’t know where to start:
- How to Clean When You Feel Overwhelmed
- How to Create a Morning Routine that Works for You
- Routines vs. Schedules
When my babies were little, I liked cleaning the house in the mornings and worked to get things done by 9:00 or 10:00 in the morning. These days, I clean when I get the chance. We’re gone a lot. My teens keep me busy and on the road all the time. That’s okay! I’m in a new season of motherhood.
Routines work better for me when we’re consistently home even though I love the idea of schedules. I previously talked about how I used to really schedule my day out to the 15 minute mark. After a few years, I was exhausted.
Sarah Mae says, “If you are not naturally neat and organized type A personality, just accept it, and live out who you are. I used to beat myself up all the time thinking, If only I were like so-and-so, I would be such a better wife, homemaker, mother.
We do have a responsibility to our families and the homes God gave us, but let’s not get trapped by perfection, comparisons, or any other distractions that steal away the truth that God loves us and we are works in progress!” Having a Martha Home the Mary Way by Sarah Mae, p. 64
How do you best like to clean? For me, these days I like to rally the kids and tackle the house in sections. All of my kids are teens now and when we all work together we can knock out a lot of chores in a relatively short amount of time.
Sometimes I put on soft quiet piano music. Other times I’ll put on energetic music. It really deends on my mood. Because of our crazy day in and day out schedule, I really have to be intentional about the time I do clean the house. It’s easy to let it get out of control. Especially when I’m tired!
But it wasn’t always like this. When the kids were younger, especially during the homeschool year, we would take Sunday afternoon to do the major cleaning and straighten the house each day after school.
Like Sarah Mae says, it’s great to read tips and tricks from people you look up to – but don’t try to be like someone else. If it doesn’t work for you and your lifestyle, it’s really okay. Find another way.
Sarah Mae says, “I don’t care how many times you fail, don’t quit; press on, and know who you are in Jesus. Figure out your cleaning style and go with it, not trying to be anybody else. Work hard, get done what you need to, confess laziness, and accept God’s grace.”
#2 Plan Your To-Do List
Instead of trying to cram everything into a few hours, spread your to-do list out throughout the day. This can make your day much more enjoyable.
In general I recommend you not schedule more than one thing per hour. When you have children in your care, doing more than that is next to impossible. Your children need you to be present – and that’s important work!!
For example, if you’re a stay at home mom, get up each morning and empty the dishwasher while you’re making breakfast. After the kids leave for school, you can clean up the kitchen and then take break. You can then start a load of laundry and pay the bills. Once laundry is done you can run errands and come home and make dinner.
On the other hand, creating a morning routine that allows you to get the bulk of your chores out of the way by mid-morning may allow you the break you need in the afternoon to do other things – like run errands, take a nap, visit a friend, or take a walk.
#3 Start a Rotating Cleaning Schedule
If you spend all your time cleaning, you might want to consider trying a rotating cleaning schedule. The way it works is that you do a bit of cleaning each day and after 30 days your home is spotless. If you continue to follow the schedule month after month, it will only take a few minutes each day to clean your home. This is a great way to spread out your chores and still maintain a clean home.
My Purpose 31 Weekly Checklist Binder has rotating tasks for you to do each week. This printable planner is a set of 52 weekly household checklists you can print and check off each day’s chores to keep your house clean and tidy.
If you miss a chore one day you can do it when you have time – or just skip it because you know it will come back around in the rotation! The weekly rotating chores are listed Monday through Friday with a catch-up day on the weekend.
This is an easy to use, rotating chore list perfect for those of you who want to be told what to do each day to keep your home in order.
Sneak Peek Inside the Purpose 31 Weekly Checklist:
These simple weekly cleaning tasks will help you get more done in less time. Another way to do this is simply write down everything you need to do each week, each month, and each season. Divide that list up to make your daily checklists and your very own rotating cleaning schedule.
#4 Make Time for Breaks
A balanced routine requires finding time to take a break. When you schedule your to-do list into your planner, you want to make sure that you schedule time for breaks. Even if it’s just a few minutes here or there, it can make a big difference.
related: 5 Reasons to Take Time for Yourself
As a stay at home mom, you’re on the job all the time. You need to take care of yourself so you can give your best to your family!
#5 Remember to Have Fun
Last, but not least, having balance in your day as a stay at home mom is also about having fun. Remember to take time for yourself and to have with your children. Mom, this is so important. Never underestimate the importance of laughing and playing with your kids.
The fun memories you make playing with your children will last a lifetime. Schedule a movie or game night into your planner, take time to visit a park or museum, find ways to schedule that fun!
A balanced routine can make a world of difference for the stay at home mom. You want to make sure that you’re spreading out your work while also making time for breaks and fun.
Coming up with an action plan to organize your day as a stay at home mom isn’t worth the effort. You’ll feel more efficient and less stressed!
Action Steps to Take Today
- Pray and ask God to help you see where you can make improvements in your day if you are currently feeling overwhelmed.
- Think about when you have the most energy – your sweet spot. Try to work fast during that time of the day.
- Plan to get the bulk of your to-do list out of the way in the morning before lunch.
- Remember you don’t need to be busy all the time. It’s okay to take breaks. Be sure to take time for self-care as well.
- These days when you have children at home will not last forever. Remember to enjoy this time and have fun!
