Tip: Make a Laundry Schedule

Sometimes I wonder if everyone but me already knew to do these things. Either way, all of these tips are things that I have found to be really helpful to me as a homemaker, so it can't hurt to share them with you too.

This week, I have discovered the magic of scheduling my laundry (it's the little things). Usually, I do most of our laundry on Saturday, which sometimes rolls into Sunday because I forget to finish drying or folding it, and sometimes I don't get the laundry finished at all so I have to do random loads during the week because we need something cleaned. I would rather not use my weekend for this, but it has always kind of happened that way. Then, I thought, "what if I create a schedule for this, and do one load a day each day of the week? Then I won't have to do it on the weekend!"

I don't know why I didn't think of this sooner.

My new laundry schedule currently looks like this:

Monday - whites
Tuesday - darks/colors
Wednesday - towels/sheets
Thursday - Luke's clothes

That leaves Friday, Saturday and Sunday free to do other, more fun things. And since it is just one load a day, it is easy to get it all done: washing, drying, folding, and putting away.

Do you use a laundry schedule?

Weekly Tip: Take Care of Yourself

Have you ever noticed that you seem to get a lot more done during the day when you have taken a shower and gotten dressed than when you stay in your pajamas? Because homemakers stay home, it's easy to think it doesn't matter if you get dressed or do your hair or makeup, but doing those things does have an effect on your attitude and productivity.

I know that its not always easy to squeeze in a shower, let alone put on makeup, when there are little ones around, but if you make it a priority to make a little time for yourself each day you will be better able to care for everyone else that needs you.

Let me be clear though, when I say "do your hair and makeup" I'm not talking major work. Most days, I wear jeans and a t-shirt with a bit of mascara and I straighten or curl my hair or wear it up. On days where I know I will be going out or seeing more people, I might do a little more. Like everything, its important to find a balance. Does staying in your pajamas all day make you a bad mom? Of course not. Is it necessary to start each day in stilettos and a full blow out to be a good homemaker? Of course not. 

Treat your career as a homemaker the same way you would treat any other job. Would you show up to the office in sweats without having showered or brushed your hair?  Probably not (unless maybe your office is at the gym), so why show up to your husband and kids that way?

You would, however, show up at the office dressed in such a way that others know that you take yourself and your job seriously. It is not vain to do so, it simply says that you are a professional and that your job matters to you. Hopefully, your career as a homemaker matters to you too, and by taking the time to care for yourself each day, you show others, especially your family, that you are giving your job, and them, your best self.

Weekly Tip: Make a list

I don't know if I would ever get anything done if I didn't make lists. I have always been a big fan of goal-making, even as a young girl, and I quickly learned that the best way to start achieving those goals was to first write them down. Now, as a mom and homemaker, it seems that there are always a million things that need to be done and if I don't write them down I never remember to do half of them.

This is what I do to keep me organized each day:

• I keep a small notepad on my nightstand next to our bed. Each night before going to sleep I think about what I need or want to get done the next day and write it down. It doesn't have to be very detailed, just a word or two to remind me of each item. I include everyday tasks on my list such as laundry and vacuuming, as well as more specific one-time tasks that I need to get done.  I only focus on tasks for the next day, not for the week or month. If you do want to make a some long-tern goals, write them on a separate list. 
• The next day I look at my list frequently throughout the day and determine when and how I will complete each item. I try to be flexible, never knowing for sure when the baby will nap or what kind of mood he will be in. I try to get a few "easy" items done while the little one is awake and save bigger or more difficult tasks for nap time. 
• I cross off items as I go. This step is important because it gives you that "I did it!" feeling and makes you want to do more. It's also nice to see at the end of the day all the items with lines through them.
• If I forgot to add something to my list the night before, I add it as I think of it during the day so I don't forget it later. Don't go overboard with this though, its better to just add a few things that you want to make sure and accomplish soon than to add every single thing you can possibly think of. 
• If I don't get something done I don't fret about it too much, but I do take time to decide if it's really important, and if so I add it to my list again for the following day.

List-making has proven to be extremely effective for me and I find that I get way more done when I make my list than when I don't. But remember, the list should be a tool, not a burden. Don't get down if you forget to make it or if you don't finish everything on it each day. Use it as a way to learn and improve and to become more organized. Some of my tips may not work for everyone so find a way that works best for you. 

For a few more ideas, I thought this article had some good points: Successful People

Weekly Tip: Utilize the Library

I love books. I love to hold them and smell them, and most of all read them. It's no wonder then, that I also love the library. Public libraries are a great way to not only find fun books for you and your kids, but a great way to learn. I have a bachelor's degree, but I have never felt that my education should end with a college degree, and since I can't go back to school at this time, I try to continue learning in other ways.

It's true that we can find information on just about anything online these days, but often that information is incomplete or perhaps not accurate since just about anyone can publish anything on the internet. Articles and blogs (including my own) usually only tell half the story, so while the internet is a great starting point, I think too many people have forgotten how useful real books can be.

I read a lot of fiction, but I probably use the library most for non-fiction books. I have checked out books on parenting, homemaking, psychology, biographies, and maybe a little bit of everything else. I feel that the more I can learn, the better mother and homemaker I will be. Need help disciplining your toddler? There's a book for that (actually, lots). Want to learn to organize your living room? Books on that too. Love Downton Abbey and want to learn more about the 1900s? Yay! Books for that. The only problem? Checking out too many to read at once.

Here is a list of the books I currently have checked out:

Radical Homemakers by Shannon Hayes
Simplify Your Space by Marcia Ramsland
The Anger Solution by John Lee
The Thoreau You Don't Know by Robert Sullivan
Walden by Henry David Thoreau

Weekly Tip: Make your Bed

I think everyone, homemaker or not, should take the time to make their bed (and help their children, if they have any, make their beds) every day. I know what you're thinking. You are an adult, and I'm not your mom, so why should you have to make your bed?

The truth is, there is something about making your bed that just makes the whole day go better. It starts you off on the right foot by allowing you to accomplish an easy task and make you ready for more, and probably more difficult, tasks throughout the day. A neatly made bed can make a huge difference in a room and instantly makes it look cleaner, brighter, and more organized. Plus, slipping into nicely tucked sheets and blankets at the end of the day is much more rewarding than jumping into a ball of tangled linens. 

If you don't believe me, check this out: 6 Reasons Why You Should Make Your Bed