I think all of us have specific areas where we are weaker as homemakers… maybe dishes, laundry, managing finances, meal planning, or something else. I wanted to share my struggle with you all today in the hopes that we can be open with one another about areas that are harder for us!
I struggle to find time to do deep cleaning and major organizing projects.
I don’t have a problem (provided we are all healthy and I’m not in the first trimester…haha) with keeping up with the dailies. On any given morning at my house, the kitchen will be neat, the dishes will be clean, the laundry will be humming along, the beds will be made, I can tell you what we’re having for diner, and the majority of the house would be neat enough for you to pop in for a visit. (I don’t say this with pride, but with gratitude to God for helping me in this area! If you do struggle in the dailies, you won’t get any judgement from me! I’ll share some things that might help in just a minute.)
please note the unswept floor and food stuck to the chairs!
BUT… if you looked around for more than a few seconds, you would quickly notice areas that could use a deep clean: windows, carpets, and random areas that have collected a lot of clutter (the top of the fridge and the top of the piano come to mind first). And then there are dirty baseboards and disorganized drawers and closets that need quite a bit of attention. And don’t get me started on the dusting.
top of my fridge = yikes!
I really find it challenging to work on these longer projects like cleaning out closets, etc. because I often don’t have large chunks of time in which to tackle them. By naptime I’m ready to read, blog, catch up on emails, work on a Bible study, or just take a nap. (So I guess it’s not about not having the time, but about not making the time!)
Part of the problem is that these areas that are out of control don’t bother me as much as they should. I compulsively wash and put away dishes all day, and my throw pillows have assigned seating on the couch, but the fact that many areas of my house are deeply disorganized doesn’t bother me enough to actually take action NOW.
Something I have found that helps me a lot (other than just doing hard things and deciding to stop being lazy) is reading great books about organization, decluttering, and minimal/simple living.
Here are a few eBooks I’ve discovered recently to help me in the area of cleaning and organizing my home:
- Simply Clean Home: Clean Less, Live More by Nina Nelson ($7.99) – how to really organize your home so that you don’t spend all day cleaning and picking up
- Controlling the Spin Within by Holly Dvorak ($2.99) – help for the dailies as a foundation for creating an organized home
- Drowning in Clutter? Don’t Grab a Floatie… Drain the Ocean by Dana White ($5.00) – getting that clutter OUT so that you can live peacefully
- Project Organize Your Entire Life: The Quick Start Guide by Stephanie Morgan ($14.98) – streamlining household tasks with helpful printables so you can remember things
- Your Simple Home Handbook by Elsie Callender ($7.95) – for people who are tired of too much stuff!
- Simply Dressed: Inspiration to Dress for the Everyday Ordinary Days by Victoria Osborn ($6.99) – much of this book is focused on organizing your closet!
And if you struggle with the “dailies,” such as having dinner on the table every night, these resources would also be helpful:
- Backwards Meal Planning by Mindy Harvey ($2.99)
- Frugal Real Food Meal Plans by Tiffany Crumbs ($15.00)
- ListPlanIt: Meals ePlanner by Jennifer Tankersly ($5.00)
- Happy Mom, Healthy Family: Meal Planning Workshop and Cookbook by Lisa Grace Byrne ($29.00)
All of these resources are included in the 2015 Ultimate Homemaking Bundle, which is $29.97 but includes over $900 in eBooks, eCourses, printables, and bonus gifts! If you were to purchase just the above-mentioned resources separately, it would cost you over $97, so the Bundle is an excellent deal!
*SALE NOW OVER*
When I read books from authors who have learned to manage their homes well, it inspires me and gives me so much practical help! It’s like having a mentor next door to come over and give me support and guidance without any hint of judgement. Who doesn’t want that?
So I’ll be striving to work on decluttering and organizing my home. Living without a lot of clutter brings freedom… freedom to spend more time with the family, freedom to exercise hospitality, freedom to spend Saturdays on fun outings instead of digging through piles of junk that just need to GO.
Okay… I’m feeling a bit vulnerable now that I’ve shared my homemaking struggle with you! I’d love it if you’d share with me what you feel like your struggle is! Dinner prep? Laundry? Missing socks (okay, that’s another one of mine!)? Do share!
Controlling the Spin Within by Holly Dvorak – Written by one of the contributors to the 
The Heart of Simplicity – While I’ve read this one once before, I can’t wait to read it again. It is both encouraging and challenging in my role as a mother and wife! Excellent book.
