If you're new to keeping a home, or find yourself wondering where to begin when things get very untidy, it's time you learn my little secret. The one thing that helps me increase productivity as a homemaker.
But here's the spoiler: it's not really a big secret. The truth is, it's pretty easy to be a better homemaker.
Any homemaker will likely tell you the same thing. There's one room that she needs to be clean and tidy to set her day off right for maximum efficiency and productivity.
So what is the one room every homemaker needs to keep clean to be a productive housewife?
Yep, you guessed it: the kitchen.
The idea for this post came to me about a year ago. When I made my editorial calendar for 2018 I was so excited to write it and couldn't wait for June to roll around.
You see, a year or so ago is when I feel like I finally hit my stride as a homemaker. Sweet Girl was old enough to anticipate the daily routine, she could play by herself, and I was getting the hang of my cleaning routine.
*You can get your free cleaning routine template right here. You'll also be subscribed to my mailing list – don't worry, it's fabulous and not spammy whatsoever. I'd totally die if someone told me I was being icky like that!
[convertkit form=5079260]And the realization of the one room every homemaker needs to keep clean hit me like a brick wall. I stumbled onto the key to increase productivity as a homemaker.
If I go to bed with a messy kitchen, my entire next day is thrown off. Not only do I have to find the extra time in my already jam-packed day to clean up the filth from the day before, but, in my house, messes breed messes, which breeds disaster and I'm left praying for guidance to be a better homemaker!
When my kitchen is a sight to be seen in the morning, the rest of the day follows suit. I don't feel motivated or inspired and often throw more mess to the madness before I finally haul my body in there to clean it up.
And yes, it does take a lot longer to clean the longer you wait to get around to it.
But not to worry! There's a simple solution! An easy way to increase productivity as a homemaker!
Keep the kitchen clean. It's one room. If you can focus on that single space, I guarantee your days will be more enjoyable. It's kind of crazy but awful things happen when you ignore the one room every homemaker needs to keep clean.
- Deflated motivation
- Zero inspiration
- Suffocating overwhelm
- Limited patience
- Multiplying messes
- Never-ending chores
So how do you get in the habit to be a better homemaker?
Once I realized that my kitchen, the heart of our home, was the key to my happiness, productivity, motivation and inspiration, I made the effort to address it every. single. day. Until it became a habit.
I'm a human, though. There's days when it doesn't get done. Sometimes I'm too tired or lazy. Sometimes we have somewhere to be or get home too late. Often I want to spend more time with my kids and husband.
But I pay for it the next day. It's kind of like going to bed too late. Or, maybe that's not a totally accurate analogy.
Anyway, I want to share with you my tips for forming the habit and creating an easier and happier life for yourself and your family.
- Include your family. Make the supper clean up quick and fun with music, dancing and games. Kids as young as 1 year old can help with carrying dishes or splashing in the water. Bonus learning experience!
- Keep up on it throughout the day. We recently quit using our dishwasher, so, throughout the day, I make sure the dishes are washed. Typically this is done after breakfast or lunch. Rarely both, but it depends on how many dishes we use at those meals on any given day. I sweep around after every meal, and wash off the highchair so it's ready for the next food frenzy. It's really helped me increase productivity as a homemaker.
- Minimize clutter. Naturally, I don't like things on my counters to begin with, but I find it extra annoying when there's all kinds of papers, projects, toys, and general stuff in my kitchen! By making a point of clearing the counters as things get set there (or just not setting things where they don't belong in the first place), I find myself better able to think. A clear kitchen is a clear mind.
- Train your family. Your husband will like take longer to “train” than your children. If he's used to setting things down or leaving stuff laying around, you'll need to explain to him that you need a clean space to work. In the early days of my homemaking journey, I would liken our home to my husband's workplace. Reminding him that he wouldn't appreciate it if someone cluttered up his construction site. This happens often and he's constantly unhappy about it, so it didn't take him long to understand my point that the kitchen is the one room every homemaker needs to keep clean.
- Create systems that work for you and your household to increase productivity as a homemaker. When you don't have to think about putting something away, it gets done much more often. If your kids are able to help clean up without asking where things go, you're doing it right.
- Be dedicated. Habit creation takes time and hard work. You need to train yourself, too. It's easy to do when the results are so prominent. Don't beat yourself up on the bad days. Having extra work the next day is punishment enough. Trust me.
Once you get into the habit of keeping the kitchen clean, you'll see some amazing things start to happen
- Perpetually cleaner home
- More time to do other things
- Happier home
- Increase productivity as a homemaker
- Boosted quality of life
- Motivation to keep going and get more done in the day
Ladies, I'm not just saying this. It's a real thing. Start today and try it for yourself. If your entire house is in shambles, just focus on the kitchen. Put your head down and “git ‘er done”. Build time into your evening routine to tidy up, clear the counters, wash the dishes and give a quick sweep/wet mop. Move all the clutter to another area of the house if you have to (just be sure to deal with it tomorrow!).
Tell me how you feel coming in to that in the morning instead of your regularly untidy kitchen.
I promise you this is the biggest tip I could ever share on being a good homemaker. If you do nothing else in a day, make sure your kitchen is clean before you go to bed if you want to increase productivity as a homemaker.
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[convertkit form=5079260]Be sure to share this with all your friends + family to help them each become a better homemaker, too.