Managing the home while juggling work and childcare is one of those real-life challenges that can feel overwhelming. But with a planning, prioritizing, and some clever hacks, it’s totally doable! Here are some tips that can help you manage cleaning and maintaining your home without losing your sanity, especially when you’re wearing so many hats:
1. Set Realistic Expectations
- Embrace Imperfection: It’s important to give yourself grace and realize that your home doesn’t have to look perfect all the time. Some days will be messy, and that’s okay! The goal is to maintain a livable space, not an Instagram-worthy house every day.
- Prioritize Tasks: Identify the non-negotiable tasks that must get done daily, like dishes, or tidying up common areas, and focus on those first. Don’t beat yourself up if less urgent tasks (like organizing the closet) get pushed to another day.
- Be Kind to Yourself: Sometimes, the to-do list won’t be completed-and that’s totally fine. Understand that balancing work, childcare, and home maintenance is already a huge accomplishment!
2. Create a Flexible Cleaning Routine
- Break It Down: Instead of trying to clean everything at once, break tasks into smaller, more manageable chunks:
- Daily: Tidy up living areas, do dishes, and clear clutter from high-traffic areas.
- Weekly: Vacuum, mop, and deep clean one or two rooms. Tackle tasks like changing bed linens or cleaning bathrooms.
- Monthly: Handle bigger jobs like decluttering closets, cleaning windows, or wiping down baseboards.
- Be Flexible: Don’t stress if your routine doesn’t go as planned. Adjust your cleaning schedule based on your energy levels and workload. If you can’t deep clean every week, focus on high-impact areas like the kitchen and bathrooms.
- YOU CAN DOWNLOAD A CLEANING TEMPLATE HERE (pdf download)
3. Involve the Family
- Delegate Tasks: You don’t have to do it all by yourself. If your kids are old enough, involve them in simple chores, like putting toys away or helping you sort laundry. Even toddlers can contribute by handing you things or helping tidy up.
- Make It Fun: Turn cleaning into a fun family activity. Play music, make it a game, or use a reward system where everyone gets a treat after finishing their chores. This makes it more enjoyable for everyone and teaches kids responsibility from a young age.
- Partner Contributions: If you have a partner, divide the household duties fairly. Discuss expectations and rotate responsibilities so one person doesn’t feel overwhelmed with tasks.
4. Use Downtime Efficiently
- Maximize Short Breaks: Whether it’s during the kids’ naptime or between work tasks, use those short breaks to tackle quick chores like folding laundry, wiping counters, or tidying up a room. This way, you’re not saving all the cleaning for one long session, which can be exhausting.
- Multitask Wisely: If you’re cooking dinner, clean as you go—wipe down surfaces, load the dishwasher, or sweep the floor while you wait for the food to cook. Watching TV with the kids? Fold some laundry. By spreading tasks throughout the day, you’ll prevent them from piling up.
- Plan Around Energy Levels: Don’t force yourself to do big tasks when you’re tired. Save more labor-intensive chores for when you’re feeling energetic, and tackle lighter tasks during downtime.
5. Declutter Regularly
- Less Stuff, Less Stress: One of the best ways to make cleaning easier is to reduce the amount of stuff in your home. Decluttering on a regular basis—especially with toys, clothes, and kids’ items—will give you more space and make it quicker to clean.
- Tidy as You Go: Encourage everyone in the family to put items back in their place immediately after use. This will prevent clutter from building up and make tidying easier at the end of the day.
- Donate or Store Unused Items: Regularly go through your belongings and donate or store things you no longer need or use. This not only frees up space but also makes it less overwhelming when you do have to clean.
By setting realistic expectations, creating a flexible routine, involving your family, using your downtime efficiently, and staying on top of clutter, you can manage your home while juggling work and childcare without feeling overwhelmed. It’s all about finding what works best for you and your family—and giving yourself grace along the way!
How do you manage cleaning and maintaining the home?