Every mom needs these 5 Home Management Systems in place. Once they’re in place, you’ll be rocking your world. These simple tips will help make your life easier and allow you to live with so much more joy and peace.
This post contains affiliate links. This supports my family and allows me to keep providing you with great resources. You can trust that I only promote products I love or would use myself. Read my full disclosure for more details.
When you are the manager of your home, there are just so many things to keep track of. I juggle these things around in my brain and sometimes it just gets to be way too much.
Some days I just end up standing in the middle of the living room, staring into space as I rack my brain for something that will remind me what to do next. Oh, wait, that’s pretty much every day.
It can be hard – even when you think you’ve got it all together. Now and then, there’s going to be something thrown at you for sure that will knock you off of your feet.
The only way to lessen the blow is to have systems in place to manage those things that we’ve just got to keep moving along. Things that will make our whole house of cards tumble if we don’t keep up with them.
These are the 5 home management systems you need to have in place to run your home smoothly.
First, head to Grove Collaborative and have your cleaning supplies delivered straight to your door. They are amazing! You can even get a FREE Gift Set.
Home Management Systems
1. Laundry
No matter what size your family is, it doesn’t take long to get behind on laundry. And, once you’re behind, it can really be hard to catch up. I know at my house, about once or twice per month I will hear, “I don’t have any socks.” or, “Mom, I ran out of pants to wear.”
I’ll be honest and tell you this drives me nuts, to no end. Usually, it’s not a matter of me not getting the clothes washed, but it tends to be someone NOT getting their clothes into the baskets or the laundry room.
The #1 thing I’ve done to combat this is to teach the kids to be responsible for their own laundry. My 12-year old girls now do all their own laundry. My 11-year old boy is learning, but not quite fully independent. And, my 7-year old boy is my responsibility.
There are several different systems to choose from when it comes to laundry. You could
- Do one load every single day
- Do all the laundry on one day, or
- Wash only when you need to.
Each family will have to figure out what works best for them. The thing is, whatever you pick, stick with it and just keep following through.
Related: Why You Need a Freezer Meal Plan
2. Cleaning Maintenance
Maintenance is the key to successfully maintaining a clean home. If you can do a little every single day, then your time will be freed up to do larger cleaning tasks on a regular basis. Here are the basics that need to be done every day.
- Tidy the main living areas – What to Do Before Grocery Shopping
- Wipe the bathroom counters
- Wash all the dirty dishes – 10 Kitchen Cleaning Tips
- Put clean and dirty clothes away appropriately
It should take no more than about 15-30 minutes for the family to pitch in and do these things every day. Do your best to What to Do Before Grocery Shopping
This post contains affiliate links. This supports my family and allows me to keep providing you with great resources. You can trust that I only promote products I love or would use myself. Read my full disclosure for more details.
3. Meal Planning
Meal planning can be done in a very elaborate way, or a very simple way. I actually use both systems, depending upon how busy my life is and what kind of foods I have stocked up. By having Freezer Meals always on hand, when things are really crazy, I can just pull something out and put it in my Instant Pot. See how our family uses Freezer Meals Here.
Also, read Make a Frugal Meal Plan in 7 Steps for a detailed system. And, read Make a Meal Plan in 10 Minutes to see a real quick and easy meal planning system.
Related: 10 Killer Ways to Save Money on Groceries
4. Grocery Shopping
It’s imperative that you keep groceries in the house if you want to eat at home. There may be some people who are completely comfortable with eating nothing but pizza, take-out, or fast food, but I’m pretty sure that’s not you.
Most people get into trouble by just showing up at the grocery store without a plan and picking up what they think they want to cook. The problem is, they probably forgot something, or didn’t buy enough to last the week so they’ll be right back at it tomorrow.
Instead, read What to Do Before Grocery Shopping to learn how to plan a shopping trip that will keep you from having to head back in again right away.
Remember, to always, always, always go shopping with a plan – some sort of meal plan and a grocery list.
Related: 11 Great Posts to Help Save Money on Groceries
5. Morning/Evening Routines
Without a strategic and practiced morning and evening routine, it’s almost impossible to start your day and get out of the house without disaster. Mornings that leave us so rushed that we start to yell at our kids and rush around like crazy lead to hurt feelings and even tears.
No one wants to start their day this way – but, sadly it occurs all the time.
How many times have your kids forgot their lunches? How many times have you spent 10 minutes searching for shoes, jackets, or permission slips?
You are not alone. I’ve been in this spot many more times than I’d like to admit.
There is hope, though. By establishing a routine you can avoid most of these issues. Here’s the minimums:
Morning Routine
- Set Your Alarm Earlier than You Think You Need (pick something fun to wake up to)
- Drink Some Water
- Get Yourself Ready
- Wake the Kids
- Have Some Breakfast and Coffee, here’s what I like to use
- Check Your Calendar and Meal Plan
- Leave 10 Minutes Early
Evening Routine
- Tidy the Living Areas
- Run the Dishwasher
- Everyone Pick Outfits for Tomorrow
- Set up Breakfast
- Set up Tomorrow’s Dinner (thaw, set up slow cooker)
- Check Your Calendar
- Pack Bags and Place out Reminders
- Get to Bed Early
Head on over to How to Start a Great Morning Routine for a complete article and Printable Checklists.
Once you have these Home Management Systems in place, things will get so much easier at home. Your life will be more predictable, and you’ll have the mental freedom to appreciate your family more. Work a little at a time to get started.
Make sure to get my free download for more details about each system.
