6 Steps To Doing Less Housework

If you’re asking this question, having a tidy home is obviously not at the top of your priority list. In fact, housework doesn’t even feature on mine. However, kids have a way of generating chores. Don’t you think? Housework may often feel like a never-ending task that takes up a large portion of your time but it doesn’t have to be this way. Let’s explore some useful strategies that can help you simplify your cleaning routine and enjoy more free time in your everyday life:

Shift your mindset (most important step – do not skip)

The key to spending less time on household chores is shifting your mindset and being willing to embrace a “good enough” approach. Find a balance between maintaining a clean, organized environment and accepting that perfection is neither necessary nor attainable. Remember, it’s perfectly okay to set realistic standards for how much work you can complete. By adopting a “good enough” mentality, you can ease the pressure you might feel while tackling housework. So, embrace this approach and remember to be kind to yourself because you’re only human. Take the minimalist approach

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The concept of minimalism revolves around owning and prioritizing the things that truly add value to your life. Owning less means you have fewer items to clean and organize, ultimately leading to simplified housework routines. This approach not only helps in reducing the time and effort spent on chores but also promotes a cleaner and less cluttered living environment. Here are a few ways to incorporate minimalism into your daily life:

• Declutter your home regularly: Evaluate the items in your house and keep only the essential ones. By decluttering your home, you can make more room for the things that truly matter and free up space, making it easier to clean and maintain. The more items you have in your home, the more surfaces there are to collect dust and dirt.
• Focus on quality over quantity: Opt for items that are durable and easy to maintain. By choosing quality over sheer number, you reduce the chances of frequent replacements or repairs.
• Organize your storage efficiently: Efficient storage plays a critical role in maintaining a clean and tidy home. Assign designated spaces to all your belongings, making it easier to find them when needed and reducing the time spent on organizing and cleaning.
• Allow your kids to have less toys: Lego blocks and action hero figures are the bane of our existence! But they get to stay because the kids play with them all the time. Your kids don’t need boxes of toys. They only play with a select few. Store or give away all the rest. It’s OK. They won’t notice.

Create a cleaning schedule

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By planning and tracking your chores, you can focus on what needs to be done and prevent ‘reactionary housework’ – doing chores for the sake of doing it, just because you saw that it needs to be done at some point. First, list out all the cleaning tasks that need to be done regularly in your home. These are tasks like dusting, vacuuming, and bathroom cleaning. Next, decide how often each task should be completed. Some tasks might need daily attention, while others can be done weekly or even monthly. This is where you need to figure out which chores are absolutely necessary and which can be tackled less often or as time permits. This will help you direct your energy toward the most pressing tasks. Organize your tasks by frequency, and then assign them to specific days of the week or month to create a well-rounded cleaning plan. For example, you might designate Mondays for vacuuming and Fridays for bathroom cleaning. Remember to keep the plan realistic and manageable to avoid feeling overwhelmed. I use TickTick to track my chores and remind myself of when something needs to be done. This works a charm for housework that don’t have to be done too often – like spring-cleaning the oven. Or wiping down the fridge. Don’t worry if you occasionally miss a chore or need to swap days – the key is to remain flexible and adjust your schedule as needed. Prioritizing and dividing tasks over the course of the week or month can help provide structure and prevent the feeling that there’s always more work to be done.

Chunk your chores

When you group chores together and do them at the same time, it helps you be more efficient as you’re already in housework mode. It also prevents time confetti, a term coined by Brigid Schulte, which refers to little bits of seconds and minutes lost to unproductive multi-tasking. For example, you could allocate an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon for chores and everytime a task comes up, unless it needs to be done urgently, it can wait until housework hour.

Sharing is caring

Involve your family in the process of managing household chores to make the workload lighter for you. This not only saves your sanity but also helps build stronger relationships and teaches responsibility. Communicate openly with your partner. Discussing the division of tasks is crucial to maintaining a fair and balanced approach. Both partners should value each other’s time and commit to rebalancing household work. Be sure to discuss your preferences and strengths when assigning chores, so each person can contribute in a way they feel comfortable with. Involve your children according to their age. Younger children can help with simple tasks like tidying toys or setting the table, while older children can take on more responsibilities like washing dishes or doing laundry. Assigning age-appropriate chores helps instill a sense of responsibility and teamwork in your children. Create a chore chart. Having a visual representation of tasks assigned to each family member can make sharing responsibilities more manageable. You can use a whiteboard, poster, or even a digital app to track everyone’s progress. This also makes it easier to identify areas where tasks might need to be reassigned or adjusted. Be flexible and supportive. Understand that circumstances change, and it’s essential to adapt to those changes. If someone in the family is unable to complete a task due to illness or other reasons, be supportive and help them out. Consider swapping chores temporarily or find creative ways to lessen the load. Offer positive reinforcement. When you notice your family members contributing to the household chores, take the time to acknowledge their efforts. A simple word of appreciation or a small reward can go a long way. By working together with your family to share and delegate tasks, you can create an environment where everyone has a sense of ownership and responsibility for their living space. This collaborative approach will not only help reduce the burden of housework but also foster stronger connections and understanding among family members.

Make full use of technology

By investing in smart devices and appliances, you can drastically cut down the time and effort required to keep your home clean and well-maintained. These are my 3 favorite time-saving devices:

Dishwasher

If you haven’t already invested in a dishwasher, it’s a game-changer for saving time on housework. Dishwashers not only clean your dishes more efficiently, but they also use less water than hand-washing. Look for a dishwasher with energy-saving features so you can save money on your energy bills and be more eco-friendly too.

Washing machine

Choosing the right washing machine is key in reducing the workload of your laundry. A washer with a large capacity and energy-efficient settings can handle larger loads of clothes, reducing the number of times you need to do laundry. Some models even come with a built-in dryer, truly streamlining the entire process.

Vacuum cleaner

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Opt for a cordless vacuum so you don’t have to look for a power outlet in every room, or consider investing in a robotic vacuum cleaner that can clean your floors without any effort on your part. These devices use intelligent navigation systems to move around your home, vacuuming every corner without you having to lift a finger.

Pay someone else to do it

Hiring someone to help with your household chores can be a great solution to reduce your workload. It may cost you some money, but the benefits of having more time for yourself and reduced stress can be well worth it. Consider the option of outsourcing tasks such as cleaning, laundry and lawn care. A study found that paying someone to do household chores can actually make you happier. So, the next time you feel overwhelmed by housework, remind yourself that it’s okay to delegate some of it to a professional. So, go ahead and treat yourself! Free up some valuable time by outsourcing some of your housework, and make room for more relaxation, hobbies, or time spent with loved ones.