Hello my beautiful people, today is an exciting day! Awhile ago I told you about a new site called Capessa that I was addicted to enjoying very much. Today I’m joining forces with them to bring you a terrific giveaway, a $200.00 gift card to The Container Store!! It won’t even matter if you don’t have a Container Store near you, you can always use it online. How cool is that!
I’ve put together 10 Tips For A Chaos Free Home that I hope you find helpful. Below you’ll see 5 of them and the other 5 you’ll find listed on the Capessa site. All you have to do to enter this giveaway is to have a read of the 5 tips below as well as the other 5 tips on Capessa and let us know in the comments, on this post, the two tips (one from each site) that would make/or has made the biggest difference in your life. Contest ends Friday, April 11th at 11:59 am.
Tips for a Chaos Free Home:
- Create a weekly cleaning schedule.
- Do a 10 minute tidy each night before bed.
- Create a Command Center in your home.
- Create an I’m Outta Here shelf by your front door.
- Send your kids on a daily Walk-About.
The other 5 tips are here.
And for your viewing pleasure I’m adding another Capessa organizing video below for you to enjoy, I seriously can’t get enough of these! In this one a Professional Organized shares her Secret Tips for Getting Kids Organized.
437 Comments
Your link to the Capessa site did not work– uh oh!
The link to the other 5 tips is not working. :-(
Rid yourself of stuff you don’t want and 10 minute tidy! Great!
i know that if i had a weekly cleaning schedule it would definitely make my house have a less cluttered feeling…i really should start. the kids’ walkabout thing is great idea, too, because my girls love to leave their stuff everywhere (mostly the youngest) and i actually already incorporate the 10 min tidy…except i call it 10 min room clean up for the kids. it’s been a real lifesaver :)
the link didn’t work for me either :(
The “never leave a room empty handed” and a “ten minute tidy up before bed” are my favorite. Those are two of the greatest tips I’ve ever heard as far as keeping the day to day straightening manageable. Keep it up!!!
ok, found the other tips somehow….but a time, life, and definite money saver would be to make a menu plan and grocery list for it. i tried it a bit this week, but i’m off to a rocky start because i do have to go and buy two or three items today.
Top two (for me) tips
From this site: the I’m outta here shelf (in my case by my garage door). Definitely Works For Me.
From the Capessa site: the permission to get rid of things because I do not love you any less if I put the crappy ginger grater you gave me in the church garage sale.
The Ten Minute Tidy before bed (sometimes this happens in the moring before work) and Never Leave a Room empty handed.
Giving myself permission to get rid of things has been huge for me, especially living in a small 2-bedroom apartment with 3 kids. If it isn’t functional, it must go. The more I get rid of, the better mama I become since I’m not busy cleaning or trying to find things all of the time.
Having a command post has also been helpful in organizing schedules and bill paying.
I love things in there place…
10 minute tidy before bed is what I live by…I don’t like waking up to an untidy house…Menue planning is also my best friend…it takes away from the pressures of “what’s for dinner”
Great site you have!
1. Set cleaning schedule would be huge for me. I clean when things are overwhelming and that is exhausting.
2. Weekly menu. I hate the rush at 4pm of oh no what am i going to make. then we eat junk.
#1: Give yourself permission to get rid of things in your home that you don’t use or that don’t bring you joy.
I am a total pack rat. I feel bad getting rid of things especially if “I might need it someday” or if it has sentimental value (the problem is that most things given to me have sentimental value.
#2: Do a 10 minute tidy each night before bed.
The biggest problem around my home is clutter and things not being put away so this tip would definitely help when start doing it.
The 2 that I should incorporate are: Never leave a room empty handed. AND Create a cleaning schedule and stick to it. I have been meaning to and have even gone so far as to create a schedule, but I always get off and never recover. :OP I am committing right now to try my best at the 2 listed above to simplify my cleaning life.
I would say the 10 minute tidy and giving yourself permission to get rid of stuff has changed my life the most. The walk about idea sounds great too!
Do I get extra credit for three tips? The two that absolutely worked the best for me were both on the Capessa site:
1.Use containers to establish boundaries and limits. (I really need to win that from the Container Store.)
2. Give yourself permission to get rid of things in your home that you don’t use or that don’t bring you joy.
The one on this site that works best for me is:
3. Do a 10 minute tidy each night before bed.
I love the video…thank you for posting it!
~Amy
Never leave a room empty handed – I TRY to do this consistently and it really helps!
the I’m Outta Here shelf – I’ve been using this tip with success for some time. I also have an area for keys, purse, wallet, winter gear if necessary, etc, organized by the door.
I would love a gift from the Container Store! Everyone makes fun of me because I’m so list and container dependent =)
Thanks for a great giveaway!
Laura,
Org Junkie??? More like Org Goddess!!! The designated place is a magical rule, and the 10-minute tidy is just what I need for putting away my work clothes at the end of the night. Somehow they always just pile up on the floor and make our bedroom a total mess. Thanks for the tips, and thanks for sharing them with Capessa!
Amber
Capessa Managing Editor
(*Also, sorry for the link issue everybody. It’s all fixed now.)
This is a great idea!
Tip 1 – creating a Command Center – I love this idea! I have been working on setting this up for my home.
Tip 2 – giving myself permission to get rid of things I am not using or don’t love. I’ve been doing this as well. DH is happy to see some of the clutter going out the door.
Oh, I just love all 10 of them. Some I currently practice, others I’m working on, and some I need to incorporate. The two I need to incorporate is the Walk About and Never leave a room empty handed.
It must be SO liberating to shout, “Walk About!” and see everyone spring into action! Sounds like fun! :)
1.) 10 minute tidy
2.) weekly menu plan
thank you for your helpful website!!
Never leave a room empty handed and having the kids go on a walkabout would probably really help around here. Oh! And more containers! So pick me! Pick me! :D Fun giveaway btw!
First is the 10 minute tidy – which I don’t always do, and then feel out of sorts the next morning. The other one is plan weekly menus and stick to a set grocery day – I only just started doing that this week and it was so simple! It makes life so much easier.
We do something like the 10-minute tidy but I try to do it before dinner. I also use containers a lot.
My two are to plan weekly menus and stick to a set grocery day and the weekly cleaning day. Our grocery bill has shrunk drastically, and we are losing weight by not eating so much junky food for dinner!
2. Have a designated place for everything that is accessible and easy to use to avoid a) wasting time looking for things and b) spending money to replace things that you can’t find.
3. Plan weekly menus and stick to a set grocery day.
I need all of them but these stand out the most for me.
I like these and they’ve made a difference for us:
Do a 10 minute tidy each night before bed.
Never leave a room empty-handed.
I’m trying to get my 8 yr old to learn the last one as it really seems to make a difference. Thanks for the link to the neat new site!
Wow!!! In the time that it took me to register with the site 25 more people made a comment to this post LOL
My two are:
Making a Command Center
I haven’t done this yet, but think that it would benefit my family. We do have a calendar, but other information is elsewhere in the house.
Have a Designated Place for Everything
I’ve started to do this as I go room by room and it’s helping. I just think that I need to continue, but I’m having a hard time getting my kids to follow suit. Any suggestions?
Great giveaway!
Doing a 10-minute tidy before bed would probably help me a lot, then the kids couldn’t just mess it right back up lol.
I already do some of the things from Capessa- Weekly Meal Plan (has been a life saver!), containers for boundaries (especially in the playroom), and getting rid of stuff that I don’t really want or need.
I’m back :) I watched the video after making my comment. Loved it! Now I have a lot of work to do. I’m going to be getting advice from all you readers, though, because I live in a mobile home with a family of 6. SPACE IS AN ISSUE!! stay tuned.
The two that are the most helpful to me
- Do a 10 minute tidy each night before bed. (We started a 1/2 before bed tidy up with the kids about a year ago. We don’t get it done every day, but it’s been a serious sanity saver for me.)
- Give yourself permission to get rid of things in your home that you don’t use or that don’t bring you joy. (I am beginning to learn this. My trouble is with things I’ve been given. A few things that I’m having trouble getting rid of I decided to put into storage. Later this year when we hit the storage area to clean it, I should be able to decide if we need to keep it.)
This was a great video. And now I’m once again motivated to get even more organized!! :-0
As for the tips creating a weekly cleaning schedule has done wonders for me! I’ll head to the other site and check out the other 5. I can always use tips for organizing even better!
THESE 2 TIPS WOULD HELP ME THE MOST:
Plan weekly menus and stick to a set grocery day.
Create a weekly cleaning schedule.
i’m going to try to start doing these two to see if it helps with all the clutter and stress
The 10 minute tidy before bed goes a long way toward starting the next day RIGHT!!
I love that I have given myself permission to get rid of things in my home that I don’t use and don’t bring me joy…I still have a lot more that I could get rid of.
Creating a weekly cleaning schedule. In fact, I have tried to do this and been only moderately sucessful in putting it in place.
And – Have a designated place for everything that is accessible and easy to use to avoid a) wasting time looking for things and b) spending money to replace things that you can’t find.
This is something I’ve always tried to keep true in my living spaces and slowly but surely my husband has caught on too :)
The 10-minute tidy up and have a designated place for EVERYTHING. Gotta work on these!
Tip from the Capessa site I learned the hard way just this last week: Have a designated place for everything.
I forgot I had an item until I went out and bought one… then came home and found I already had that item tucked in the back of a drawer. *sigh* lesson learned! :-)
The two biggest tips that have made a difference in my life are: Create a weekly cleaning schedule, and plan weekly menus and stick to a set grocery day. They have both saved me time and money. My house is cleaner and more organized and my life is less stressful!
Create a Command Center in your home.
Give yourself permission to get rid of things in your home that you don’t use or that don’t bring you joy.
I think these two tips would best help me control the clutter in my house.
Thank you for all you do to help the unfortunately unorganized like me! :)
I have recently begun to follow the tip: *Never leave a room empty handed. It’s amazing how much easier it has made my life! Also, I have heard less complaining from the kids and have seen a much neater room now that we follow this tip with their toys: *Have a designated place for everything that is accessible and easy to use.
Thanks for the tips and for hosting this giveaway.
10 min. tidy each night before bed:
This one helps me out tremendously. Usually by bed time, the living room is looking a little rugged – but with a 10 min. tidy up, it looks a lot better. It really helps my mood in the morning to see my living room straightened up.
Plan weekly menu’s & stick to a set grocery day:
I keep trying this one, but have a hard time sticking to it. I know the evening routine goes more smoothly when I have a menu and it also is good for the grocery budget because we all know that those mini stops to the groc. store to pick up 1 or 2 items end up costing us more!
Getting rid of things that don’t bring me joy and making a cleaning schedule– wonderful tips!
1. Have a place for everything
2. Have a place at your entry to taking things out of your home (The I’m Outta Here Shelf!)
Hey love your blog! Love Capessa too! Thanks for the contest. I go in that store and drool. :)
Janelle
Those are some great tips! They are all so good but the two that I can apply to my life and benifit me the most are setting up a weekly cleaning schedule and use containers to establish boundaries and limits. I also LOVE this one: Give yourself permission to get rid of things in your home that you don’t use or that don’t bring you joy. Hard for me to remember that but boy does it help when I do!
I need to instigate the daily walk-about — starting today and including every member of our family. In fact, I think I’m going to make it a nightly ritual before we go to bed!
And I swear by a weekly menu and designated grocery day. It keeps us from eating out every night!
Short cut using cake mix and vanilla wafers is great! And I love the kids walk about idea! Hope I win!
For me it’s definitely the 10 minute tidy before bed and the weekly menus – I am a mess if I don’t do those two.
I definitely need a command center (other than the island in my kitchen), and permission to get rid of things.
Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
How funny I was just on the Capessa site watching this video the other day, and just found it here on this post.
I love these tips! I am in dire need of some containers! So the tips that I am implementing are:
Capessa:
1.Use containers to establish boundaries and limits.
(I have started doing this and it has saved me so much more time and less time spent looking for things.)
2. Send your kids on a daily walk-about!
(I love teaching my kids how to clean and they love helping! This a fun way to get the house tidy and keep the kids busy!)
The tips are all great, but these two would make a HUGE difference in my life:
1. Plan weekly menus and stick to a set grocery day.
2. Create a weekly cleaning schedule
WOW. Great giveaway. I have been meaning to creat a weekly cleaning schedule – I think it would really help me. And I’m going to try to never leave a room empty handed. Good Tips.
The one tip that I live by: have a command center in my home; the tip that would make a huge difference: plan weekly menus and stick to a set grocery day.
This is an easy one. Every night I do a 10-minute tidy and it has saved my sanity. It’s a wonderful (WONDERFUL) feeling to get up in the morning and walk into a clean kitchen. On evenings where I’m feeling particularly productive, I’ll take that 10 minutes to also set up stuff for the next morning (cereal bowls, coffee, etc.).
I also have an “I’m outta here” bakers rack by the front door. Purse, keys and cell phone are always there hanging on hooks plus there’s a couple of baskets with other things like scarves and umbrellas.
I try and never leave a room empty handed. it hasn’t completely solved the clutter problem, but it does help!!
I love the idea of the daily walk-about. I think I’ll set a timer so they can have a race. I see stickers in their future!!!
Now, is there any way to get my husband involved in the process? How about an adult walk-about? He is as bad as the children!!
It always amazes me how quickly things pile up. why is mom always the 1st one up, and the last one to go to bed?
Create a weekly cleaning schedule from this site and Plan weekly menus and stick to a set grocery day from capessa.
planning menus has worked for me in the past, but the cleaning schedule i’ve never been brave enough to start. looking around, though, it wouldn’t hurt!
The 10 minute tidy and a weekly menu plan would both really help me. Sometimes I start those things, but I never seem to stick with it. I think a GC for the Container Store would certainly motivate me! :)
For me, a weekly cleaning schedule has been a huge help! I put each day on a separate index card that I can easily have with me, clip on the fridge, etc. This way I am not overwhelmed with the week, but can focus and complete my work each day.
Also, giving myself permission to get rid of things that I do not use or that do not bring me joy has allowed us freedom. Our small space is not cluttered and we enjoy what we do have. Furthermore, I know that someone else may use or gain joy from what I go rid of which is a win-win situation!
Thanks!
I love schedules. I always plan my menu’s in advance (thanks to Menu Plan Monday) and shop on the same day every week. One thing I would like to work on is having a Cleaning Schedule. I am horrible at keeping up on that. Please enter me in the give-a-way!
the two that would help me most are to create a weekly meal plan, and to make a weekly cleaning schedule!
I do keep to a grocery budget, but often find that our meals at the end of the month tend to be pretty bad since I haven’t done a good job of planning how to use the groceries I’ve purchased.
I LOVE the Capessa site. I too could get lost for a day.
What a great tip for an “I’m outta’ here shelf”. I’m always overflowing with things that don’t belong here.
blessings,
julia
julia ward – a BLINDING heart – a writer’s blog – http://www.ablindingheart.com
check out my latest post:
E-books Now Sold In Classified Ad Format On Ebay
Never leave a room empty handed and stick to a set grocery day! What GREAT tips!
I am the mother of two girls and a messy husband and sadly, I am also a packrat who’d rather do anything but clean! But I am desperately trying to get my act together,which is why your ten tips caught my eye. The most helpful tips you gave me are “give yourself permission to get rid of things you don’t use or son’t bring you joy.” My Father came to America from Romania where he and his four brothers and sisters were nearly starving. He taught me to save everything. (You should see his house!) and “the ten minute tidy”. I couldn’t believe how much stuff can be put away in 10 minutes! Thanks!
I so need to do a 10 minute clean up at night! This would help with all the clutter that gets left out and added to the next day.
I also need to have a place/home for everything. I do well with most but it needs to be for EVERYTHING!
Thanks for the tips and the great giveaway!!!
One thing I have done for years is to make a weekly menu and have one specific day for grocery shopping – I can definitely say that one works!
The other one that I’ve tried to establish, that I think would work very well, is to have a weekly cleaning schedule. I can’t decide between focusing on a “zone” of my house for the week, or having a different room each day as my focus. Help!
Here are two tips that I want to implement in my daily life:
From your blog: It’s a toss-up between Create a Command Center or an I’m Outta Here shelf by your front door. BOTH need to be done in my home, and I’m certain it would make my life easier.
From Capessa: Give yourself permission to get rid of things in your home that you don’t use or that don’t bring you joy.
I really struggle with that one!
By the way — I adore your picture!!!
Have a designated place for everything and develop a weekly cleaning schedule. Doing these two things alone would make my life much less complicated!
1. Create a Command Center in your home. I have had a command center for years now. It is mainly for my bills so they get paid on time. Recently I added more stuff to it like coupons/ to read/to file and of course the big calendar with lots of space to write my activities. If I don’t have it written down it won’t get done or if bills are not placed in my to pay bill draw it will be overlooked!
2. Plan weekly menus and stick to a set grocery day. In January I started to meal plan. Before my life was so chaotic and I always dealt with that dreading question, “What’s for Dinner?” It was enough to drive a person crazy. Thank you for holding my hand every step of the way and to make my life a bit easier. I also added a set day to do my grocery shopping. Since Monday’s is when I plan I now do my grocery shopping Tues night or Monday night depending on if there are things planned in the week.
Again thank you for helping me deal with this hectic life I lead.
Give yourself permission to get rid of stuff you don’t enjoy. Create a weekly cleaning schedule (hoping to do this soon!).
give yourself permission to purge…
never leave a room empty handed!
Great tips! I always take 10 minutes at night to tidy the house, it’s so refreshing to wake up to a picked up house! Also, I like the tip to give yourself permission to throw away things! Amen!! No more clutter! I’d love to have a gift certificate to the Container Store, I don’t have one around here! :(
I find the 10 minute tidy-up before bed as well as the weekly menus and set grocery shopping day to be the most useful. All the tips are beneficial in some way though! Thanks!
10 minute tiday and permission to get rid of things in your home that you don’t use or that don’t bring you joy.
Do a 10 minute tidy each night before bed.
Give yourself permission to get rid of things in your home that you don’t use or that don’t bring you joy.
man if i could learn and actually do that last one I’d be in great shape.
My favorites are #2 here (the 10-minute tidy) and #1 on Capessa (using containers).
I’ve found that a lot of the daily mess of life really can be cleaned up quickly, just by spending a little bit of time putting everything back where it belongs. I often use a few commericial breaks during my last TV show of the night before going to bed to do this – it makes a big difference in how overwhelmed I am the next morning.
And containers are such a great way to add limits, and they can be really fun to decorate with! I use a fun pot in my office to hold pens and scissors and a neat mug in my bedroom to hold hair bands. Using colorful containers can be a great way to still have my things easily accessible, but a little prettier in the display.
Never leave a room empty handed….that would be a huge help keeping up with the clutter created by my four little ones. The other big help would be doing a 10 minute tidy before bed. I’m usually so tired that I just fall into bed and leave it all for tomorrow. There’s always somewhere to start though.
1. Do a 10 minute tidy before going to bed–from OrgJunkie website.
2. Never leave a room empty handed–from Capessa.
I might have to stay up a little later but by tidying up b4 going to bed I don’t have a mountain of dishes in the morning. When I’m going from room to room I have something in my hands(especially when I’m on the phone; I feel more productive that way).
OMG, the command center would make a HUGE difference! If you could see my desk area and our bar!!…you would be embarrassed for me:(
Planning weekly menus and set the grocery date would be the other one to make a big impact for me. I’m terrible at planning and then when I bo buy groceries, I’ve either over spent or forgot to buy this and that.
Finally, the 10 minute tidy would really help around here. I hate waking up to a messy house but between Truett’s toys and all my ebay items to sell and blog giveaway items, I just can’t stay organized. It seems like everything is laying around everywhere!
You totally rock when it comes to organization!
The two tips that I liked the best were: use containers to establish boundaries– I have done this a little, but after watching the clip, I need to do some more of that.
The other tip was– 10 min tidy every night. Great tips! Thanks so much.
–Misti
1. Make a daily weekly cleaning schedule
2. Give yourself permission to get rid of things in your home that you don’t use or that don’t bring you joy.
Just reading thru the comments gave me some wonderful ideas but the two I think I’ll handle the best are from your article 1-Do a 10 minute tidy eachnite before bed. 2- Plan weekly menus & stick to a set grocery day. It will definitely make me appear organized & take some of the pressure off myself.
Martha W.
ki4ggs(at)yahoo(dot)com
My 2 favorites are:
1. Create a command center in your home.
and
2. Have a designated place for everything that is accessible and easy to use to avoid a) wasting time looking for things and b) spending money to replace things that you can’t find.
The command center for me would be huge. I tried to do this last year, but it isn’t big enough to hold all the “stuff” and I need it too.
Thanks for the contest and the organizing tips!!
1) Do a 10 minute tidy each night before bed
2) Have a designated place for everything that is accessible and easy to use to avoid a) wasting time looking for things and b) spending money to replace things that you can’t find.
I’m outta here shelf-I am going to make one of those today, when I leave I am wandering around trying to find everything I need to take with me.
Plan weekly menus and stick to a set grocery day.
I need to do this b/c I never have all the ingredients I need. I like the thought of planning out the week.
Having a weekly cleaning schedule and menu-planning with a designated shopping day!
For the former, I’ve really been working on adding tasks I tend to avoid, such as ironing and dusting, to my list. I’m also working on getting things on my schedule that only need to be done monthly or quarterly, such as washing windows or dusting ceiling fans.
For the latter, I LOVE the cook’n software. I’ve been using it for a couple of years, and it really makes my life easier. So does the set shopping day – which is Thursday for me because my local store has $10 off a purchase of $50 or more. =)
1-Do a 10 minute tidy each night before bed.
2-Have a designated place for everything that is accessible and easy to use to avoid a) wasting time looking for things and b) spending money to replace things that you can’t find.
They are all good though!
The weekly cleaning schedule has changed my life. Well, my house anywy (and I really need to get back to it). I also cannot function (emotionally or finantually) without a menue and grocery list.
Do a 10 minute tidy each night before bed – this is so useful for me when I do it! It makes my mornings much happier and much more relaxed :)
Amy
I’ve seen that Capesa video before. It’s awesome. My two tips I find helpful are having a place for everything, so the kids know where to put their toys. The other would be the ten minute clean up at night. It just makes your surrounding much more peaceful and stress free.
My faves…
From Capessa:
Use containers to establish boundaries and limits. I love containers. My newest one – using a decorative basket on the bottom shelf of the coffee table to house the all the remote controls. (Do they multiply at night, or what?)
From OrgJunkie:
Do a 10 minute tidy each night before bed. We try to do this before lunch and/or naptime and then again before bed at night. That way if I miss one or the other time slot at least we’re not completely overrun by toys the next morning.
Thanks for the other ideas. It’s always good to be given permission to get rid of things that you feel strangely tied down to! :)
I am so not organized. I have one room that you would probably run screaming from. The 2 tips I like best are 10 minute tidying (starts today thanks to you) and get rid of things I don’t use or don’t bring me joy. That is harder than you think!
Thank you for this contest.
Dawn
I would have to say the weekly cleaning schedule and never leaving the room empty handed are my favorites!
1. Create a weekly cleaning schedule – it keeps me on track.
2. A weekly menu – this is a must for me! I can’t live without it!
Plan weekly menus and stick to a set grocery day. This is my absolute favorite new habit. It helps a dinner time to not have to say… what is for dinner :)
My 2nd favorite Create a weekly cleaning schedule. I am someone who loves lists and just like the grocery thing this allows me to make a list and do it. Also it helps if my hubby can see the list and I haven’t done something yet, he can always do it if he has time :)
SPREAD THE WEALTH!!!!
This is easy for me, because I sadly have only followed two of these!
1. 10 minute tidy before bed has been a cleaning life saver! It’s amazing how much you can accomplish in 10 minutes and how much it limits my dread of any BIG cleans!
2. Weekly menu and grocery day. I only recently started this, but I plan my weekly menu around what I already have in stock and then plan groceries around that! It saves money, time, and definitely is a stress reliever!
…and oh how I would love a gift card to The Container Store!!
I like these two:
-create a command center
-set a weekly menu
I think the weekly cleaning schedule will help the most. But I like all 10 ideas. Thanks for doing this.
For me the two tips that help me the most are the one that just get me moving enough to do something.
Cleaning/Tidying for 10 minutes before bed makes a huge difference in what my apartment looks like. That is enough time to get the dinner dishes into the dishwasher, the counters wiped down and the blankets from the sofa folded back up. Or enough time to put away all the clothes that have been collecting on the chair in my room.
Never leaving a room without something in my hand is huge as well, though the word ‘never’ is still more of a goal. But if everytime I travel from my room to the living room and back something else makes the journey with me, well it just keeps life in the common areas a little nicer.
What a fun giveaway!
The two things that would make the biggest difference in my home would be a weekly cleaning schedule, and utilizing more containers. (So just how perfect would it be if I actually won?!)
Thanks Laura!
There are so many that I use but the 2 best for my family:
1) 10 minute tidy (Otherwise it snowballs).
2)Grocery List and Day (I do a menu for the month and try to grocery shop every other week).
this is great!!
Create a weekly cleaning schedule.
Use containers to establish boundaries and limits.
thanks for the ideas!!
Love your site! The 2 tips that have helped me are:
1. 10 min. tidy before bed. It’s good in the fact that I do it right after my kids are in bed and I have a few minutes to sit down and watch t.v./surf the internet, and I don’t feel guilty because I’ve done the 10 minute sweep and tidyed things up. Plus I don’t have the “mess” right when I get up in the morning.
2. I have FINALLY given myself permission to get rid of things that I don’t love or don’t enjoy. It was the hardest thing as there was always a “story” behind every bit of clutter. But once I got over the hurdle of it, it’s actually quite “freeing”!
Thanks for offering this giveaway!
~Tanya
the4moyers(at)msn(dot)com
Wow! What a great giveaway!! Thanks so much for doing this!
My two favorite tips are:
1. A weekly cleaning schedule – this has helped me stay focus and not skip any needed area. It helps SO much when you have people stop by last minute and you know your home is pretty much clean.
2. The weekly menu! Wow this has been such a life saver.. not only in the grocery bill department, but I don’t get asked “what’s for dinner” – now they can see it in living color on the fridge!!
Thanks so much! Hope I win :-)
well, the ‘never leave a room empty handed’ is a great tip that i’ve never even heard of, thanks! another tip that i really like, and actually do, is the outta here shelf. we use the top of our shoe cubbies and it works like a charm. very few forgotten things!
I would have to say that I firmly believe in “Never Leave a Room Empty Handed” this is a great one to teach to the kids! And also I would like to fallow the “Create A Weekly Cleaning Schedule.” There was a time when I did this and it is very helpful, I would like to get back to implementing it again.
I have to agree with a previous poster….I need to create a weekly cleaning schedule and never leave a room empty handed. They would make a big difference for me!
I think never leaving a room empty handed is a good rule of thumb, as well as setting up a weekly cleaning schedule…however I tried this once & it failed because my work schedule was so crazy at the time – maybe it will work if I try it next week, once my schedule becomes more normal.
weekly menus, never leaving a room empty handed, cleaning schedule and command center….I’ve established all of those in my home and amazingly it is starting to show!
10 minute tidy and never leave a room empty handed.
GREAT tips!
I would say that setting a cleaning schedule and giving yourself permission to get rid of thing your don’t use or enjoy would be most helpful.
I have been doing the “10 Minute Tidy” since my son was born and it has by far been my most helpful tip…Now, when there’s just no time during the day,I can know that once I get him to bed it won’t take long to get things straight. It may sound funny, but I sleep better in a tidy house!LOL! The tip that I’m most excited about trying is the “Plan Weekly Menus”…If I could just stick to this one, I could sve myself alot of stress and money! Thanks for all the awesome tips…And the chance to win such a generous prize!
10 minute nighttime tidy and never leave a room empty handed.
This one is easy for me to decide– if I would make a cleaning schedule, and also would do a ten minute tidy up before bed, it would really make a difference. I do tidy up during commercials, and that has really helped.
Great! I love a good giveaway!
The ten minute tidy before bed would really help. We also struggle with not having a place for everything, so that tip would help a lot as well, if we could just implement it!
My two favorite suggestions are 1. to use containers to corral stuff. I have containers everywhere in my house, but I’m so addicted I need more (hint hint for the prize!) And 2. to create a command center. I have been trying to make it work for me. I’ve tried a lot of different places and have temporarily settled in the kitchen.
#1 The ten-minute tidy before bedtime. This guarantees that I won’t start the next day looking at a messy house!
#2 A designated place for everything. Helps create a comfortable, clutter-free environment.
Can I really only pick 2?
I’d have to say doing a 10 minute tidy every night and having a designated spot for everything (#2 on both lists) is what works for me.
This is the first time I have checked out this blog. I am AMAZED! I can’t wait to try ALL the tips but the two that I am most looking forward to trying out first are: 1. Create a Command Center in your home and 2. Use containers to establish boundaries and limits. Thank you for sharing your gift of organization!
Your number 3, We just built in a new cabinet in a wasted corner in the kitchen. This is the new location for the mail/school/paperwork to go up stairs files. It also houses the two “junk” drawers and a cabinet for craft items. Capessa number 5, has really changed my life. I started to feel so much lighter once I started giving myself the freedom to get rid of things.
Although I employ quite a few of your organizational tips, the two that I think have made the most impact on me are to do a 10 minute tidy before bed each night (flylady calls these her bedtime routines) and to plan weekly menus and have a set grocery time each week (first thing Monday morning for me!)
I’ve used containers, especially stackable plastic drawer units, to organize every room of my house for years. I’m working toward giving myself permission to get rid of things (I come from a long line of “hoarders”).
I use a variation on the “I’m outta here” shelf. Since we leave via the attached garage, and there’s no room for a shelf in the narrow corridor, I use a tote bag. I can’t leave without my car keys, so at night I make sure my keys are in my purse and with my purse is everything I want to take with me the next day. If I need something from the fridge, I leave a bright colored note on the top of my purse as a reminder.
I actually do use most of these tips. I guess I’m even more organized than I thought. The 2 I find most useful are:
Plan a weekly menu & a set grocery day
10 minute tidy at night
I would love that gift card. We’re going to be moving to a bigger house soon. I could use some containers for organizing my new home.
My favorites would have to be the 10-minute clean-up and having a designated space for everything that is accessible. I have a 15-month old daughter, which means that my house is usually total chaos. The first thing that I do once my husband starts getting her a bath is put all of her toys in their designated areas. That way, once she is asleep I can sit and relax in a clutter-free living room. Also, I am the organized one in my house, and my husband always throws his pocket stuff (keys, wallet, phone, change) on the counter when he gets home. To fix this I have given him a small metal box that keeps everything in one spot and keeps him from having to ask where his keys are as he is walking out of the door.
10 minute tidy up each night is my absolute favorite, I get up to less of a mess which helps my mood tremendously.
Letting go of things that are useless or just a fixture due to age is the one thing I struggle with the most and want to embrace the most.
Thanks for all your great tips and the new sister site.
My favourite tip is the 10 minute tidy-up. I do this in the morning though because I hae to leave the house by a certain time. If I try to do a 10 minute tidy-up at night, I end up staying up too late as my 10 minutes multiplies. :)
I also like the container idea. I use this more in my classroom than in my home. I need to do it more at home though.
I think I am almost converted to the menu planning. Almost.
your tip
doing a 10 minute tidy up and
giving your self permission to get rid of things are a great help
I love your website! Thank you so much for all the tips. I love all ten, but I think the two that will make the most difference in my families life are Having a designated space for everything (my kids think that it’s where ever they drop things) and the Walk About. Great ideas to help keep the house clean without it being all “Mom’s job”. Love the site!!!!!!!!!
For all of you who haven’t done the menu thing I really recommend it. I do a dinner swap with my neighbors and it makes life so much easier not having to decide what to make for dinner each night.
The 2 that have been a lifesaver for me are A WEEKLY CLEANING SCHEDULE– since I have employed this method, my house is clutter free and always clean–no worries about whether someone will drop in or not, I’m ready–talk about stress-free!
The second is HAVING A MENU PLAN,STICKING TO IT AND HAVING A PLANNED SHOPPING DAY. First of all, I save money by doing this and of course, my husband loves that! We have a once a month eat out day and eat all the leftovers so that saves money. Of course, this all takes so much stress from me because my husband is happy and my kids are happy because they know what we’re having to eat and they appreciate that night out so much more!
Thanks!
I have been watching all the Capessa videos ever since you first posted the link, I love it!
I think a 10 minute tidy every night before bed would be life changing. And yet I don’t do it. I have no idea why, except for laziness.
The other one for me would be PERMISSION to get rid of things. I have so much stuff my mom gave me that I don’t want, need or even like, yet I feel bad getting rid of it. Yet, she had no problem dumping it off on me! No wonder her house is so organized, she purged everything over to me!
(I heart the Container Store!)
Making a menu schedule and sticking to a grocery day is a lifesaver for me. This is the only way that we consistently eat at home and it makes it soooo easy. I love the tips about the I’m outta here shelf and the Walk-About.
My two would be:
1. Never leave a room empty handed.
2. Do a 10 minute tidy each night before bed.
I think it’s the small stuff that bogs us down sometimes. If I could make a regular dent in the small stuff, it would never become a big task to clean up.
Create a weekly cleaning schedule.
I’ve actually started to do this, and it has helped A LOT, it makes me feel so much more organized.
Plan weekly menus and stick to a set grocery day.
I have tried this tip time and time and time again, and I just can never get it to work for me, I’m not sure why.
1. Give yourself permission to get rid of things in your home that you don’t use or that don’t bring you joy.
2. Create a weekly cleaning schedule.
Give yourself permission to get rid of things in your home that you don’t use or that don’t bring you joy.
The 10 minute tidy up before bed.
These are the two that would make the biggest difference for me. I have stuff sitting everywhere taking up space and it would be so nice to wake up to some things already in their place!
hello! i’d like to enter this contest! i use a lot of these tips already and i have to say that two of the ones that make the biggest difference in my life are doing a short clean-up at the end of every day so that everything is tidy when i wake up to start a new day. i also use a ton of containers to differentiate spaces and create a place for all things. that’s helped a lot too especially with the family (they’re all labeled – the containers, not the fam, lol)
My two would be picking up at night and never leaving a room empty handed. I know that when I straighten up at night, I feel ready to just start right away when I wake up. If I don’t I wake up already feeling behind. And I am the worse about not putting that one thing away or walking past something. So I know that if I do that it really does help.
Oh, I need to have the ten minute tidy, and I definitely need a weekly cleaning schedule!! great ideas! Thanks!
I had a hard time just picking two!
3. Plan weekly menus and stick to a set grocery day.
5. Give yourself permission to get rid of things in your home that you don’t use or that don’t bring you joy.
I also like the Command Center…
1. Capessa — Letting go of things that my family doesn’t use anymore. For some reason, I felt it necessary to hold onto things forever but once I let go my house feels like it has a different energy to it, and I feel so much better!
2. Orgjunkie — Create a weekly cleaning schedule. I actually use one from motivatedmoms.com, and it makes my chores seem less intimidating and do-able.
Do a 10 minute tidy each night before bed. This step really gets you ahead. You wouldn’t believe how much you can do in ten minutes.
Give yourself permission to get rid of things in your home that you don’t use or that don’t bring you joy. A fresh tidy home is like a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day!!!!!!
Wow to only pick one from each site is tough. My first pick from this site, I have to say having a weekly cleaning schedule would help so much. I just started my little girls on a chore chart and it has helped both them and me alot. Now I just need to do one for myself. I love the idea about having a designated place for everything. My house is just so full of junk right now that if I had a place for everything I know most of it wouldn’t fit and then I could give myself permission to get rid of it because I don’t love it or need it. As it is right now since I don’t have anyplace for it I just get overwhelmed and don’t do anything. My goal for this weekend is to find a place for all the junk in my family room and closet.
Thanks for having this site. I look forward to reading it everyday.
The weekly cleaning schedule would definitely help me and planning weekly menus and sticking to a set grocery day.
That is such a great idea I would just have to stick to the schedule :)
These are my two favorite tips:
1. Give yourself permission to get rid of things in your home that you don’t use or that don’t bring you joy.
2. Create a command center in your home.
They are all great tips, some I implement well, others (like the 2 I mentioned) are goals I’m striving for.
I would say #2 on the other site… HAVE A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING! It seems this is the most FUNDAMENTAL organizing tip ever. Since I am forever in BASIC BEGINNER land… THIS IS THE ONE I NEED TO LEARN!!!
Let’s see ..
The ten minute tidy and the weekly cleaning schedule are the top two that would improve my life now.
I’m pretty good about never leaving the room without something in my hand… If I could just teach this to my husband and children.
From your site, I’m choosing “Do a ten minute tidy before going to bed”. I think this will help my morning to look brighter when the kids get me up at 6 am!! From the Capessa site, I’m choosing “Give yourself permission to get rid of things in your home that you don’t use or that don’t bring you joy”. I’m a pack rat – and I get it from my Dad. I really need to start purging, especially now that I have three children!
Do I have to choose just one?? I definitely need to set up BOTH a Command Center and an I’m Outta’ Here Shelf. I can’t bear how much time I waste looking for misplaced items.
Do a 10 minute tidy each night before bed & Give yourself permission to get rid of things in your home that you don’t use or that don’t bring you joy
on your list I think that the walk about would do us wonders as well as the i”m out of here shelf. Typically I shove things in my purse and under it but I usually forget something.
Thanks for the contest!! It’s come at a perfect time.
crud, I did this wrong. i did two from your list and went over there to do two from her site. then I realized what I did wrong. please delete my last comment and replace with this answer…
your list: the walk about. I try but it’s so hard.
the other list: containers for boundaries. It has helped our whole family so much but we are still working on this one too.
thanks for all you do!
Janet
I like all 10 tips, the 2 tips that i using now are I’m Outta Here and designated place for everythings that is accessible & easy to use to avoid…
thank you for all of the tips.
“Never leave a room empty handed” is the tip I really try to use consistently. It doesn’t keep the house perfectly clean, but it sure does keep clutter at bay.
The weekly cleaning schedule is something I’m working on getting back into as I fell out of practice when I had my second son. It makes a world of difference in my house!
Never leave a room empty and a 10 minute tidy up would help me immensely!
Thanks for hosting a giveaway!
Weekly menu plan is a necessity since I have a daycare and also my son is a celiac.
10 minute tidy before bed, I am still working on but it makes a huge difference in my morning.
Oneof these things that I already do is
1) Plan weekly meals and stick to a set grocery day.
I would like to
2) Create an ultimate control center.
I definitely need a weekly cleaning schedule & a weekly menu. I love to organize, but I hate to cook & clean! :)
I think my top 2 are
5. Give yourself permission to get rid of things in your home that you don’t use or that don’t bring you joy.
and
Do a 10 minute tidy each night before bed.
1. weekly cleaning schedule
2. make a set grocery list and stick to it!
both are tough for me!
Oh, it’s so hard to choose just 2!
How about :
Give yourself permission to get rid of things in your home that you don’t use or that don’t bring you joy
and
Do a 10 minute tidy each night before bed.
1. Create a weekly cleaning schedule (I just do so much better with a plan in mind for the day, than just leaving it up to whatever I feel like) and 5. Give yourself permission to get rid of things in your home that you don’t use or that don’t bring you joy. It has been so freeing. I’m learning that space is more valuable than the things I had been for so long trying to attain!
My biggest 2 that have helped me is a weekly menu plan/ grocery day AND the 10 minute cleanup before bed. (tidy the house)
Pick me pick me
I think most of those tips work for me (when I use them!), but you said to pick two, so I pick:
Use containers to establish boundaries and limits.
and
Create a weekly cleaning schedule.
I didn’t know that there were “The Container Store” in Canada… now I’m excited, even though there isn’t one near me (far as I know!)
I’m pretty new to this whole organizing thing, but happening upon your blog, Laura, is really what got me started. My fiance and I live in a very tiny one bedroom (~520 sqf) in which we combined 2 households of, well, stuff. We’ve spent the last year arguing about how messy and cluttered our home is, until I realized that we just had too much stuff. So I finally allowed myself to let go of items I’d been holding onto for years. Such as my box of prom/dance shoes that was taking up space in our closet. We were able to hold a yard sale that yielded an extra $100. I couldn’t believe how much of our junk actually sold! We are donating the rest of the lot to Goodwill. Now that our home has been thoroughly purged, it’s time we start organizing it! Our next goal is to create a command center for all the mail, memos, announcements, and any other incoming/outgoing bit of information that would keep us organized. Unfortunately, it’s a project that must be delayed, as we are moving 1500 miles next week. However, it will be the very first thing I do once we move (other than buying a bed!). I refuse to allow our lives (and living space) to become so disorganized again. A new home is the best place to start, right?
The weekly cleaning schedule and menu planning have both been wonderful additions to my chaotic life!!!
And I could be moving in a couple weeks (should find out for sure tomorrow) I NEED that gift certificate :)
Oh, be still my soul…they have Canadian shipping! :) Count me in!!!!!!!
Okay…these two tips would/could make life MUCH easier…
My dream is to
“Have a designated place for everything that is accessible and easy to use to avoid a) wasting time looking for things and b) spending money to replace things that you can’t find.” I waste SO much time looking for things under the piles!!!
AND
“Create a Command Center in your home.” Then I’d be able to find my planner when I need it…and my receipts, and my school papers… Novel idea!
The I’m outta here shelf, we need that! And never leave a room empty handed..that is going to be a new rule in this house!
mcginnisfamily5(at)gmail(dot)com
I was never an organized person before kids, but having two little ones now has forced me to become so! The two things which have definitely helped me stay on top of the daily clutter are the ten minute cleanup after the kids go to bed(which is really more like 15 minutes for me) and to get rid of stuff we don’t need! We’ve donated TONS to shelters/etc. and have diminished the clutter a ton.
I would have to say the two biggest helps are a command center and weekly menus. They definitely help me! What a great giveaway! Thank you!
Doing a 10 minute tidy each night before bed is so simple and would really help me especially tonight! Having a designated place for everything that is accessible and easy to use to avoid a) wasting time looking for things and b) spending money to replace things that you can’t find is my second fav. This is something that would work well for our family as I think we are on our 4th hammer in the two years we have been married!
My two favorite tips that would help me out immensely in my home are – taking the time to weekly menu plan and commit to a shopping day AND having a weekly household routine established (loved the article on this by the way!) :) I’m hoping to be able to participate in Menu Plan Monday soon to get started on one aspect of the two asap! :)
With 3 toddlers, for sure the two that work the best for me are 10 minute tidy each night before bed and then the menu planning. Our grocery budget (with 3 in diapers) gets blown WAY out of the water if we don’t plan, and the house VERY QUICKLY falls apart if I don’t spend that time after they’re in bed but before I am to tidy up a bit!
I love the suggestions! I found 3 instead of 2 that would really help me.
From your other post:
Never leave a room empty handed.
Give yourself permission to get rid of things in your home that you don’t use or that don’t bring you joy.
From this post:
Create a Command Center in your home.
Thanks for the great tips! I’m looking forward to putting them in to motion.
1. Use containers to establish boundaries and limits.
2. Do a 10 minute tidy each night before bed.
I’ve started using those two and they have helped tremendously! I like having the boundaries with my containers (come to think of it I need to get some more) and the tidy-ing before bed really helps for the morning madness.
For me the most helpful things have been my weekly cleaning schedule, menu planning(dinner only), and especially the freedom to get rid of things we don’t use or love.
#1: Give yourself permission to get rid of things in your home that you don’t use or that don’t bring you joy.
I am a total pack rat. I just can’t bring myself to get rid of things especially if “I might need them someday” or if it has sentimental value (the problem is that most things given to me have sentimental value.)
#2: Do a 10 minute tidy each night before bed.
The biggest problem around my home is clutter and things start piling up. So maybe a 10 minute tidy (30 times a day!)would definitely help me.
The 2 tips that have made the most impact in my life are
1.) Do a 10 minute tidy each night before bed. It is amazing to me how much can be done in just 10 minutes!
2.) Give yourself permission to get rid of things in your home that you don’t use or that don’t bring you joy. It is so hard for me to get rid of things for just in case. I keep reminding myself that I am blessing someone else’s life.
# 1 ) Create a Command Center in your home.
My best advice so far. We are working slowly trying to get this in place at our home. We have a couple of bins and a table at the entrance to our house where everything gets stored, ie mail, newspapers, keys, shoes, everything. We have slowly started to get it organized and sorted, but once we have everything in place, it should make finding things (coupons, bills, etc) so much easier and make us happier by not ripping our hairs out when we are looking for things.
# 2 From capessa is so similiar to this that it might be nill to say anything more on this.
(”Have a designated place for everything that is accessible and easy to use to avoid a) wasting time looking for things and b) spending money to replace things that you can’t find.”)
#2 ) So to be fair my # 2 is giving one’s self permission to get rid of things in the home.
We had a ‘laundry accident – flood’ a few years ago, and it has been slow going trying to get our basement rebuilt and our garage back from being a storage container. One really begins to feel how bad we really start to keep things around because of memories or laziness, or whatever.
I recently discovered your site and love it! Planning weekly menus and sticking to a set grocery day is something I need to do again. And I love the daily Walk-About idea! I also really need to create a weekly cleaning schedule. Thank you for all your great suggestions!
#4 on this site: I find it also helps to make sure I put things there the night before to save time in the AM!!
#5 on Capessa: I NEED to convince myself of this one!!! I’m currently going through all my teaching materials and tossing and giving away – I haven’t been in the classroom for 5 years!!
I strongly believe in and have been doing it for years; (The 10 min. tidy before going to bed rule). Its such a pleasure to wake up to a straighten up home.
I am also a big fan of the;(Never leave a room empty handed). There is always something that was brought out from another room by the kids or myself that needs to go back! Its doing these little things that really add up. Thanks for this great site, its very helpful.
Tips for me:
1. Containers to establish boundaries.
2. 10 min tidy up.
I am craving labeled containers. I remember being 13 and wanting to put old boxes in the laundry room so that everyone could have a basket. Clean laundry piles with 6 kids just get too high.
Plan weekly menus and having an I’m outta here shelf work for me.
1. Create an I’m Outta Here shelf by the front door.
2. Give yourself permission to get rid of things in your home that you don’t use or that don’t bring you joy.
I would really benefit from a weekly cleaning schedule. I’ve never even thought to set one up. I work full time outside of the home and tend to do everything on Saturday. It really eats up a lot of family time. Also, getting rid of things inm my home I do not love is something I’ve already been doing. I am more aware now of the things I purchase too. Thanks!
Never leave a room empty handed
10 minute tidy
THANKS!
Christy
I think a weekly cleaning schedule would definitely help me out.
I do weekly menu planning and that helps so much!!
I really feel for me that these two are the foundation for us at home.Here are the two that I thought really worked to create more time, which in turn saves more money for our family of six.
- Create a weekly cleaning schedule.
- Have a designated place for everything that is accessible and easy to use to avoid a) wasting time looking for things and b) spending money to replace things that you can’t find.
Renee
Mom of four
Here are the two that I need to implement:
Create (and keep!!!) a weekly cleaning schedule. On the fly doesn’t work too well!
And… Give myself permission to get rid of things in my home that I don’t use or that don’t bring me joy.
These two are making my life simpler and more organized:
Plan a weekly menu and give myself permission to get rid of things in my home that I don’t use or that don’t bring me joy.
I like “10 minute tidy” and “never leave a room empty handed” – two very quick and easy changes that don’t seem like a lot of work but make a big difference!
The top 2 for me would be, and I am still working on both:
1. Create a weekly cleaning schedule.
5. Give yourself permission to get rid of things in your home that you don’t use or that don’t bring you joy.
Hi, I really enjoy your blog. It keeps me thinking…
My two favorite tips are 1. the outta here shelf (i am constantly hanging on to things that could have been long gone and back with their rightful owner) and 2. the never leave a room empty handed strategy
Thanks!
Create a Command Center in your home.
Give yourself permission to get rid of things in your home that you don’t use or that don’t bring you joy.
I have to say that these are my two items to use. Although giving permission is the first for me.
I’m a horrible packrat that has recently (within the last 3-4 years) realized the stress that it is putting upon me and my family. I grew up in a family that mostly needed things and couldn’t get them due to money issues. So keeping something “just in case” is a second nature for me.
Letting things go is becoming a blessing for me so far. I have not regretted letting anything go yet, and I let many different items go, as far as a AIO Dell printer still in the box.
A command center not only would let me see what is needed on a daily basis, but would help me to let others help me and my fmaily in the event we needed it. A command center would be a list of repeat purchases needed to make our home run. It would be a list of regular appointments. It would be a book of important addresses and telephone numbers, and even accounts. A command center would aslo have a list of daily cleaning chores that I would do and what anyone can do to help out. I think a command center is one of the most important things a family can have.
Containers and the 10 minute tidy
I give myself permission to get rid of things I don’t use or enjoy or love, and
I also do a ten minute tidy before bed every night! These two things have helped me immensely to be more organized.
Goodness, they ALL make a difference, it’s hard to pick just two :)
*Do a ten minute tidy before bed. I like to wake up to a house that is picked up, not one that has stuff strewn about.
*Use containers to establish boundaries and limits. I also label them all, so that everyone knows what is supposed to be in them.
I would have to say having a control central and giving myself permisson to get rid of things have helped the most. I aspire to do many of the others too!
Do a 10 minute tidy each night before bed. – I feel so much better after getting things straightened up. I can’t handle spacing the real cleaning out (like only doing dusting one day and vacuuming the next…..it makes me feel like my house is never completely clean) but I love decluttering and putting away each night!
The other fav is “Use containers to establish boundaries and limits” totally helps keep things where they belong!
Sticking to a weekly cleaning schedule has really worked for me. I always know what has to be done each day to keep my home nice and clean. I also use “containers to establish boundaries and limits”. I have done this for quite a few years. It has really helped keep certain areas of my home very organized. Thanks for hosting this contest.
I think a weekly cleaning schedule would help, but it’s so hard when the nights we are home change each week! And I really need to start giving myself permission to get rid of things. I think if I spent money on it I need to use it, or that I don’t want to spend money replacing it. This is especially true for clothes!
Plan menus and weekly cleaning schedule are my two goals/needs.
My top two are definitely:
-Use containers to establish boundaries and limits (I’m a container freak! I love them so much and they make life so much easier!!)
-Give yourself permission to get rid of things in your home that don’t bring you joy or you don’t use.
Being military we move every 4 years and I live by this last rule. I’ve learned to let go!
My favorite tips are:
Never leaving a room empty handed
The I’m outta here shelf
The Container Store is a slice of heaven for me – I hope I win.
1. Giving everything a “home” to make finding things easier is a huge issue in my house. We lose things too often. That is something I’m working on bit by bit and I see improvements every day…finally!
2. The 10-minute tidy is awesome! When I started doing this my kids, and my hubby, thought I was nuts. “We have to do what?” I’m not sure they understood it. Now it’s easier to do, everyone sees how much it helps, and my 5 year old can be heard saying “I didn’t get to finish!” when the timer goes off.
The two tips that make the biggest difference for me are “Plan a weekly menu and stick to a set grocery day” (this saves me from going 4-5 times a week to the store, burning time and gas) and “Give yourself permission to get rid of things in your home that you don’t use or that don’t bring you joy” (this covers a lot…and mostly clutter).
There are others mentioned that I will try and incorporate that I don’t currently, and what a fun contest!
For me, the 10 min tidy up before bed has made wonders. I feel so much better each morning that i don’t have huge messes to clean up.
Also, I have been planning weekly menus. I not only save money (not eating out as much) but know that my family is getting some good together time.
What a great prize you are giving away. I would love it!
Create an “I’m outta here” shelf and never leave a room empty handed.
Create a weekly cleaning schedule & use containers to establish boundaries and limits.
“Do a 10 minute tidy each night before bed.” — this is a great tip. I’m sure I can spare 10 min before going to bed to pickup after myself, husband and/or dog. My husband and I do have a cleaning schedule, but we’re really bad at sticking to it. And then we do catch up on the weekend and it takes FOREVER!
The never leave a room empty handed AND the tidy up before bedtime help me keep my sanity. Sometimes I have to be careful about the ‘never leave a room…’ or I could go ALL day just putting things away lol
The two tips I need to use in my life/home are 1) do a 10 minute tidy up every day and 2) allow myself to get rid of things which I do not use or do not make me happy. These would deifnately make a difference.
Definitely #1 and #3. I am trying to get a command center area together and I really need a weekly cleaning schedule. I can focus so much better with a list that I don’t have to recreate over and over again! I could really use $ for the Container Store!!!!
I think that never leaving a room empty handed and the 10 minute tidy would help us the most. I will start today trying to incorporate these and see what happens.
I think the 2 tips that have helped and will continue to help me to tidy up is to do the 10 minute tidy up before bed and using containers to establish boundaries and limits.
I have a lot of things and the containers really help keep things organized.
P.S. I love the blog… I’m glad I found it!!
Keri
I could use many of these tips! The most useful would be to create a weekly cleaning schedule and to use containers to establish boundaries and limits.
Most definitely planning a menu every week with one shopping day and having an “I’m Outta Here” shelf helps a ton in keeping organized! I may still have to work on other things, but I have these down pat!
Megan
Well, we’ll start from your site. The first one is one that I’ve wanted to do but get too caught up in the details of how intricate it should be and if I should go room by room, or task by task. The shelf is also a great idea, just hard to find a place for it at my house (small, open entryway).
At Capessa’s, definitely using containers for boundaries and then tying that one in with everything has a dedicated place is what I’m currently trying to do. I’ve even started lists now of what size containers I need for which projects.
From this post, “#2. Do a 10 minute tidy each night before bed.” Before bathtime, we take 15 minutes for a family tidy and straighten each room and return every toy and every tool to its bed for the night. It’s working great!
“5. Give yourself permission to get rid of things in your home that you don’t use or that don’t bring you joy.”I love to get rid of things we don’t need. It gives me great joy. Occasionally, something stays only because my MIL gave it to us – but only if it’s presence isn’t more irritating to me than the fit she’d throw when she discovered that it is gone. Blessedly, she is learning that our space issues just compound with every baby, and we’d rather have children than stuff.
My life is so much easier with a weekly cleaning schedule. A quick glance in the morning and I have my plan of attack for the things that NEED to get done regularly or this place becomes a pig sty! I also have a menu for each week and always shop Sunday morning, bright and early, while the store is still quiet.
1. Planning weekly menus is a huge money saver. It helps to make the grocery trips quicker and more productive. Another way to shorten time at the store is to group your items by the area of the store where they’ll be sold. So you don’t backtrack 17 times.
2. The weekly cleaning schedule is great. I need to be more disciplined in my routine, but this is a great help.
Many, many of your tips have made a huge difference for me and my family. The menu planning has saved of so much money. The two that really spoke to me on my journey to get everything organized are:
1. having a designated space. This is something I need to focus more on. With 8 people in 1500 square feet it is beyond a challenge but I am up for it. I have my notebook in hand and walking around the house to jot down what I see needs the most attention first and then tackle it!
and
2. create a command center. When I read your post last week or so I was very inspired by it. Today I found the area where I am going to create my command center. I am even going to post about it with pictures! Woo Hoo!
I could use so many of these tips, but specifically, 1. Create a weekly cleaning schedule. and from the other site 2. Have a designated place for everything….
Both are areas that would help me to get organized with my time and my home.
The 10 minute tidy before bed – it’s so nice to wake and get ready in a tidy house.
Plan a weekly Menu and stick to a set shopping day – now if only I could find a way to avoid a once or twice a week pit stop at the grocery as well!
I live by a weekly menu and set grocery day. If I can’t go on Mondays my whole week is off.
I need to have a weekly cleaning schedule. I always think about it but I need to keep to it. I also like the 10 min tidy up.
Your tips are helping me with getting my house in order since we just moved back in. Thanks
I love the plan weekly menus and stick to a set grocery shopping day. I also love your command center, Boy do we have that problem! I typically have always done the walk through at the end of the day just so you can wake up to a clean house before the whirl wind of children come through. hehe. I am going to love this sight. thanks
The “10 minute sweep before bed” and the “Never leave a room empty handed” would make a huge and easy difference if I would just stick to it!
A walk-about is a fantastic idea!
And I definately need to give myself permission to get rid of things in my home that I don’t use or that don’t bring me joy.
Great sites!!!!
I think it’s a great idea to create a weekly cleaning schedule. I was actually just thinking about that very idea this morning. I also would like to begin getting rid of things that I don’t use or that don’t bring me joy. In fact, I’m going to clean out my closet tomorrow – and will be asking this question a lot!
How fun —I always do the nightly pick up after everyone is in bed—and then on your other list–I always make a menu—you can always see my menus on my blog–and on the sidebar. I so enjoy a clean home and wonderful stocked kitchen so I can make wonderful dinners.
This was fun!
Julieann
http://juliean-mylife.blogspot.com/
3. Plan weekly menus and stick to a set grocery day.
And
Create a Command Center in your home.
I could save so much time and money if I was able to cook more often. We could be healthier too with less take our.
Think of all the money I could save with bills paid ON time…. what a concept… :)
I just LOVE your blog! I love to organize and with 5 young kids (7 and under) I NEED to organize constantly!
Tip #1- I need to set up a command center, this will help me keep the paper mess down and I’ll know where all of those thing are. Right now I just have a mess on the kitchen counter for my “command center” it is not working…
Tip #2- Plan weekly menus and stick to a set grocery day- this is one that I do and it has made life so much easier, though I make a menu for a month and do one BIG shopping trip with weekly small ones for perishables.
Thanks for the tips! I loved them all and will be working on implementing more of them!
Do a 10 minute tidy each night before bed…I do this almost every night, and it definitely makes my mood for the evening better.
and i like the idea of #5 on the other site:
Give yourself permission to get rid of things in your home that you don’t use or that don’t bring you joy.
I am consistly never leaving a room with-out something in my hands to put away, but sometimes forget where I was going.
I totally need a weekly cleaning schedule. I would so rather organized than clean.
I love to never leave a room empty handed! I often do that the wrong direction, where I’m taking something to a room it doesn’t belong it (like the phone), so that’s brilliant!
1-plan weekly menus & stick to a set groc day
2-create a weekly cleaning schedule
All of these tips are great and I already use/plan to use most of them in an attempt to get my life better organized as a SAHM with a 13 month old. The 2 that have the biggest impact for me are: Setting a weekly cleaning schedule (I’m a former teacher and thrive on schedules and routines) and planning your menu/grocery list and going on a specific day each week.
I need to do them all!
1. I’m going to learn to take better advantage of containers.
2. Create a weekly cleaning schedule…and stick with it!!
From the other site: weekly grocery list and not ever leaving the room without something in hand. Both have helped me tons. One saves time and money…and the other helps me keep the house clean without trying (and saves time)…too bad I can’t MAKE hubby do it ;)
From this site: weekly cleaning schedule and an I’m outta here shelf. I make a list of 10 things each week that I want to get accomplished. Then, I do them. I don’t have to have them in order, just do them. When I get them done, I X them off…If I do 10 in one day, I ALLOW myself the opportunity to do whatever the other days (although I never do…I just add more to the list…but I do ALLOW myself).
Our “shelf” is actually in the kitchen. It was made for my husband. It’s actually a little wooden box I decorated that he can open and empty out his pockets. He uses that space and one of the coffee tables to put his things…so on the way out the door for work, he just grabs and goes :)
My two most life-enhancing organizational tips from these lists are:
- do a 10 minute pick-up before bed
- give yourself permission to get rid of things you don’t love.
And I love the Container Store!
I’ve read enough to know all the organizing basics in theory. I’m now working on implementing them. The two that are my current goals are “Have a designated place for everything that is accessible and easy to use to avoid a) wasting time looking for things and b) spending money to replace things that you can’t find.” and “Give yourself permission to get rid of things in your home that you don’t use or that don’t bring you joy.” That one is the toughest for me. I keep stuff out of guilt.
Thanks for the chance to win a G.C. to The Container Store!
ooh! i would LOVE to spend $200 at the container store! pick me, pick me! I try to never leave a room empty handed (tip from capessa) and I’m sure I would benefit greatly from a nightly tidy up.
Oh, I absolutely love this! Ok, the first tip that I use and love is the tip about taking 10 minutes to tidy up before bed. This is the hardest tip for me because I tire myself out to the point of exhaustion every day but when I get up in the morning and see my dining room table, stove, kitchen counters and sink all ready for the new day, I appreciate my “yesterday self” for cleaning up for my “present self.”
The second tip that I love is to make a meal plan and shop on a designated grocery day. This tip has saved us almost a thousand dollars since i’ve started doing it, which has only been 4 months. I prepare for that day by getting all coupons ready for all stores I plan to visit and I know that by doing that I won’t waste gas and precious time.
Hi! I just LOVE your site, and looks like Capessa is very interesting. I implement almost all of the ideas. I especially use the evening tidy up, the command center, the menu plans with the certain day for shopping. The ones that I need to DESPERATELY work on are the decluttering, and having everything that we use accessible and in the correct place so that they are easy to find.
I am VERY excited about the gift certificate to the container store. I just LOVE that store. I wish we had one close. I think the closest to here is in Texas or Florida. I go to the website and just drool!! LOL!!
never leave empty handed, and the ten minute tidy work for me!
First off…love your website:)
#1 Do a 10 minute tidy before bed is very helpful to me…..love waking up to a semi clean house
#2 Never leave a room empty handed….always cleaning and/or putting things where they belong!
I think the two tips that make the biggest difference to me are the weekly cleaning schedule and the weekly meal plan/grocery list. Pick me!
Ten minute tidy up and weekly menu grocery list would make a huge difference to me.
I made a weekly cleaning schedule, and it worked GREAT…for about 3 weeks, till I started slacking. I NEED to get back to it! The weekly meal planning also helps me a lot. Can I pick one more?? I am going to try the “never leave a room empty handed” thing…this sounds like a great idea!
Thanks for the great contest.
Blessings-Andie
I can’t even tell you how excited I am about this prize giveaway!!! All of those tips would do wonderful for my home, but the command center is a definite solution I need to get in place. I’ve got a blueprint started, but haven’t found the right table/desk to build off of… it will happen though!
I also am loving menu planning! It’s so nice to have a plan for both grocery store and each evening when we can’t decide what to have for dinner. It saves us so much time and money!
Thank you for hosting this wonderful contest! I could really use some storage bins!
I need to do
2. Have a designated place for everything that is accessible and easy to use to avoid a) wasting time looking for things and b) spending money to replace things that you can’t find.
( In the places I have done this it is wonderful, need to do it to every room)
&
Create a weekly cleaning schedule.
I think if I sat down and did this my life would have less chaos…
Thanks for all the tips! ! ! !
The two tips that make the most impact in my life are the 10 minute before bed tidy, and this one:
“Give yourself permission to get rid of things in your home that you don’t use or that don’t bring you joy.”
Reevaluating what is important to me is a constant process; getting rid of last years/weeks “important” things makes room for todays important things!
I am SO glad I found this website and Capessa!! With 3 kids and being a fulltime student, my house turns into complete chaos!! THe tips from your website that have helped are:
The “Walk About”… LOVE IT!! and it is so simple and effective!! (I hate stray socks too!!)
I also LOVE the 10 minute tidy before bed. It ensures a less hectic morning trying to get me and the kids to school on time!!
The things I have implemented from Capessa are:
Have a designated place for everything that is accessible and easy to use to avoid a) wasting time looking for things and b) spending money to replace things that you can’t find. Again.. this helps TREMENDOUSLY in the mornings!!!
Finally, I love this tip: Give yourself permission to get rid of things in your home that you don’t use or that don’t bring you joy. I am such a pack rat and this piece of advice really enabled me :)
THANK YOU for restoring some image of sanity in my household with your tips! I LOVE your site!!
By far, the weekly cleaning schedule makes the biggest difference in my home.
what has helped me the most is to give myself permission to get rid of anything I don’t need, use, love. the second would be a command center for temporary holding of mail or papers that need attention, when those are taken care of they are filed away in their proper places.
My favorite organizational habbits are to have a cleaning schedule and to use containers for boundaries. Containers are to me like diamonds must be to other women! ;-)
Thanks for the contest,
Laurie H.
I must say that your tips contained some things that I never had thought about! It gave me some things to think about and fix!!!
The two tips that work the most for me is the 1)10 minute tidy each night coupled with the kids daily walk-we do this together each night and I love to sit in the family room after everyone has gone to bed and not look at a PILE of toys everywhere!! The other would be my 2)weekly menu and grocery day-I am amazed at how much better meals are going and doing MMP really keeps me accountable.
Thanks for hosting this!!!!
The 2 tips that are the only way to keep me on track is a weekly cleaning schedule, and weekly menu plan.
Thanks for a great website!!
The ten minute tidy up at night and trying to implement the weekly menu plan.
I love the weekly cleaning schedule, I have to say I don’t always do it but when I do it works out great.
#1 – Plan weekly menus and stick to a set grocery day. I’ve been doing this regularly for a few months and it saves time and money.
#2 – Create a command center. This is my goal! My family leaves everything stacked on the counter, including backpacks and jackets that I’ve hanged hooks for! So, not only do a need a better command center, I need to train my family to use it.
Love the other tips as well, especially the 10-minute tidy and never leave a room empty handed.
Finding your site (and Capessa too) has been AMAZING for me! Before I had kids I was SO organized and life was much less chaotic. Ever since kids…. things went down hill. Moving into this house has been VERY hard for me to get organized. We have VERY limited storage and I am having to force myself to get creative. Some things have worked and others haven’t. I LOVE the Container Store. It is something I discovered in Dec. and get their e-mail regularly. Ok…. the 2 things that will help me most are:
1. Use containers to establish boundaries.
2. Create a command center.
Thanks for helping me get life back in order. I love the “Walk-about” idea. I use to do that with my boys, but when you don’t have a designated spot, because it’s not containerized…. it gets confusing. So… my plan…. containerize, teach them the “correct home” for things and then the “Walk-about” will be more of a success. See I NEED the Container Store gift card!!
Weekly menu and the 10 minute tidy are great ideas that I regularly use. Except mine is a 15 minute tidy but it never ceases to amaze me how much I can get done in such a short time.
I love you orgjunkie!! From Capessa’s site – menu planning has made the biggest difference in trying to get my life organized because it has taken the stress and anxiety out of supper times – I hope it is life long!
From org.’s site I want to introduce the “walk about” to my kids because There is nothing worse than getting up in the morning and beginning my day in clutter. That throws off the start of the day and makes me feel overwhelmed to begin with. Love the walk about tip and I will have my 2 boys do that at night before bed.
I think I should win because today is the 14th anniversary of my first date with my husband and we are such neat freaks, we went to the Container Store in Highland Park, Texas on our honeymoon. LOL We bought two giant Lazy Susans which I still own. They’ve lasted 14 years so far and are still going strong.
Never leaving the room empty handed, and encouraging my family to develope this habit as well, has been the best thing for us. We homeschool and husband works from home…the 4 of us are always together here in the house all the time. There is no reason why I should have to pick up after anyone!!! We all live here, we can all work and help out. That’s what a family does.
Naturally, I feel the other best tip is making the kids (and husband) walk about a few times a day for 5 or 10 minutes seems to cut down on messiness. I also don’t allow my children to fight over “it’s not my mess, I didn’t leave it there”. I feel we are all servants of each other, you do something nice for me today, like pick up a piece of trash I forgot and tomorrow I’ll do something nice for you, etc. We reap what we sow kind of thing. It all comes out the wash. What goes around comes around. We sow love and kind servanthood in our home. I hope anyway! That’s the plan.
Blessings.
I really need the 10 minute tidy and I’m realizing more and more the value of a weekly menu and a shopping day. I’m tired of last minute trips to the grocery store!
I love these two ideas:
1. Plan weekly menus and stick to a set grocery day
If you go on the kraft food website, there a “bag meals”, which is 4 meals you can buy in one grocery bag. We have used 4 different weekly menus with the grocery list and I absolutely love it, saves so much time trying to figure out what to cook for dinner, etc..!
2. Do a 10 minute tidy each night before bed.
This is an absolute must! I didn’t even realize that I do it until I read it here, how funny.
Honestly all of the tips are awesome, but I guess the two that I like the most are having a command center in your home and never leave a room empty-handed (what an incredible idea that’s just so darn easy!).
The two that are most helpful to me lately are:
Create a weekly cleaning schedule.
and
Give yourself permission to get rid of things in your home that you don’t use or that don’t bring you joy.
By knowing what I need to do every day, I am more apt to get it done more often. Also, getting rid of things feels so good! We just took two giant bags to Goodwill!
My favorite ideas, one to do and one I am doing, are……..
5. Give yourself permission to get rid of things in your home that you don’t use or that don’t bring you joy.
I tend to hang on to everything, for sentimental reasons, even if I don’t like it. I think I need to stencil this around the house so I will be reminded of it. So simple, yet so hard to do!
Create a weekly cleaning schedule.
I have been working on this one, and trying to get the kids involved. I am still trying to perfect it, the kids don’t like assigned chores (who does!) and I am having a hard time setting a set time to do them. Also, we need to get organized better (so those containers would be VERY handy!) so all the kids can find things and put them away independantly. I have started labeling gallon sized zip lock for the youngest kids toys, but still trying to find a system for the other 2.
I am so glad to have found you, I intend to visit weekly and add a new “tool” to my home organizing plan.
A Command Center! I need a Command Center!
My 2 favs are:
From OrgJunkie.com
Create a weekly cleaning schedule.
It would make my life so much easier if I did a little everyday rather than try to do it all on Saturday.
From Capessa.com
Plan weekly menus and stick to a set grocery day.
Without a weekly menu I waste time every evening trying to figure out what to cook.
Also, visit my blog at whenlifegivesyoulemons2.blogspot.com
Here are the two tips that would help me the most if/when I implement them!
Have a designated place for everything that is accessible and easy to use to avoid a) wasting time looking for things and b) spending money to replace things that you can’t find.
AND
Create a weekly cleaning schedule.
What a great giveaway!
The two that mean the most for me are
Create a weekly cleaning schedule.
Next Have a designated place for everything that is accessible and easy to use to avoid a) wasting time looking for things and b) spending money to replace things that you can’t find.
thanks for all the tips they are great
Diane
So many good tips. On this list perhaps the 10 minute tidy. It is that point that I just deal with all the clutter that seems so big but takes just a couple minutes to deal with. On the other list, menus definitely menus. It saves me time, money and chaos. But I am in the process of containerizing all the kids junk. Which is why it would be so great to win the gift certificate. IF sympathy counts for anything…I have 4 kids (6, 4, 2, 9months) and I homeschool. So I need all the help I can get.
These two are important to me:
1. Never leave a room empty handed- this can make such a big difference in time and energy for me!
2. Command center- I have one or two areas that could use more organization – especially for homework. You had some great tips!
THANKS!
Never leave a room empty handed and do 10 minute tidy before bed…alot can be accomplished in 10 minutes
Give yourself permission to get rid of stuff you don’t enjoy and planning weekly menus – both revolutionized my life! Love this site!
1. At our house the nightly 10-min. tidy-up is like a formula for sanity in the morning! I tell ya, there is nothing better than waking up to clutter-free living (even if it becomes clutter-full by lunch!)
2. Containers. Beautiful, colorful, making it a joy to contain just about anything! Need I say more?
Great ideas! I’m a little familiar with the 10-minute tidy idea and it has really been helpful with 5 children. What I like most about the catchy phrase, is that I’ve seen so many dads adobt the “10-minute tidy” command. It is so nice to not always be the one who notices things are not in their “homes”.
That brings up the other idea that I look forward to trying – a designated place for everything… While this is always been my philosophy, I like the terminology once again – making a “home” for everthing. Young and old alike can benefit from this very descriptive way of explaining how everything needs to be in its place. I will certainly use this in the future.
Thank you for all your ideas! Sally
Use containers to establish boundaries and limits and create a weekly cleaning schedule have helped me tremendously in getting our house under control.
I still have a long way to go, but your site is an inspiration. “)
Having a weekly cleaning schedule that includes my children is a tremendous help in keeping our home-school home clean (enough). I rotate the chores occasionally so the children learn how to do different tasks.
And giving myself permission to get rid of things I don’t love and use frequently has been a life-changer. Our church thrift store loves it too!
Definately the weekly menu plan and the 10 minute tidy are life savers for us.
I loved the 10 minute tidy pick up at night and then I like the dividers or containers in the drawers. Thank you so much for your advice. emily
I do the 10-minute tidy each day, but it isn’t right before bed. Since we live in our RV and drive almost every day, I do my quick clean up right before we move.
Never leaving a room empty handed is something that has worked for me for years! Especially useful when you live in a two story house. But even in a really small space, it is a great habit.
I liked the 10 minute tidy up and the permission to give stuff away!
5. Give yourself permission to get rid of things in your home that you don’t use or that don’t bring you joy.
and Create a Command Center in your home.
———–
These are great advice, have everything in one place all the time. I have baskets held up by magnets on the back of my door. It’s the perfect space. I’d like to find something more substantial though, I’ll have to check out the Container Store.
I really need to do all of these! The two that would help me the most are:
1. Have a designated place for everything that is accessible and easy to use to avoid a) wasting time looking for things and b) spending money to replace things that you can’t find.
2. Have an “I’m outta here shelf”.
Both of these would help me waste less time. I can’t tell you how often I’m late becasue I can’t find my: keys, purse, cell, coat, etc. My biggest problem is that my front door is in the kitchen and I can’t leave everything on the kitchen table! Using the back door is not an option because it’s in the basement and I’d have to walk all the way downstairs and around the house (uphill!) to the car!!!
I love the Create an I’m Outta Here shelf by your front door and Plan weekly menus and stick to a set grocery day. I currently plan menus, but could really use a shelf by the door we use all the time. Great tip!
I love the suggestion to contain everything. I try to have a place for everything but having a container too would make such a difference. I liked your idea of a Walk-About too. We do a slight variation of this now. When I would have everyone join in to pick up a room, the van, etc. I noticed that some of my boys never seemed to “see” the same stuff I saw. So, I started giving everyone a specific number of things to pick up. Often I’ll say something like “everyone pick up 5 things”. Now that I have a bigger spread of ages at my house, when we have a big job, I’ll say “everyone pick up your age”. That way I feel like my 16 year old and my 3 year old are a little more even matched.
Love your site!
Tracy in NC
My two favorite suggestions are:
1. Use containers to establish boundaries and limits.
I think this would help our family alot. We have four MESSY boys, live on a farm, and homeschool. So, having contaniers and places for everything would help with clutter control and the overall organiztion of our home! I struggle with figuring out a system that will work for our family.
2. Have a weekly cleaning schedule.
A schedule helps in times of chaos, because you can always go back to the schedule and start the next time.
I love this quote from the Well Trained Mind book, “Schedules are servants, and masters. Make a schedule, but don’t panic if you don’t stick to it every day. On the other hand, chaos always results when there is no plan for the day, the week, the month, and the year. And, chaos alwways masters us; we become slaves to whatever needs to be completed immediately, and are unable unable to focus on what must be accomplished in the long run.”
My 2 favorites are to set a weekly cleaning schedule and to containerize. I have addicted to containers ever since surfing to your site over a year ago. I never would have thought that I could get organized and make things look beautiful just by using containers. Thanks Laura! You rock :-)!
Plan weekly menus and stick to a set grocery day
&
do a 10 minute tidy each night before bed
make the whole week go by smoother.
I think the two that would make the biggest difference around my home would be a) creating a weekly cleaning schedule and b) giving myself permission to get rid of things I don’t need or enjoy.
3. Plan weekly menus and stick to a set grocery day. This has helped me w/ dinner nightly and my budget.
Do a 10 minute tidy each night before bed. It helps me feel good to walk into picked up rooms in the moning!
As a Type A personality, I really enjoy reading blogs of like minded people. Most of the tips I already employ, but my two favorite are ones that cut down on major clutter, such as never leave a room empty handed and the 10 minute tidy.
The ones that have worked for me so far are creating boundaries with containers and 10 min tidy. I am always surprised how much better it looks in just ten little minutes!
Container Store, how do I love thee?
All of the tips are great, thanks for putting them all together. I really need to create a command center, I think that would really help a lot of my problems. I also love the 10 minute clean up before bed & the never leave a room empty handed.
The weekly menu planning is something I’m working on now and have great hopes that the set grocery day and lists will help immensely. I love the 10 min tidy. We do it right after breakfast and again before bed.
The two things on your list that are MUSTS in my life are to menu plan weekly and have a set grocery list AND to have a set cleaning schedule (so I don’t spend my whole day spinning my wheels.)
While I have tried “Plan weekly menus and stick to a set grocery day.” I am just not good at it. I am working on it, but I envariably fail at one or the other.
What has helped the most is “Create a weekly cleaning schedule.” I have a room a day and a small check list for each room that I try to do in about 15 minutes. Then if I can get another additional 15 minutes in to actually do more than maintenance clean I am ahead of the game!
I have also worked on “Give yourself permission to get rid of things in your home that you don’t use or that don’t bring you joy.” I still have trouble with it as I “might need it later” but I am working on if I haven’t touched it in 6 months, out it goes. It is working some in our house.
For me the weekly cleaning schedule and getting rid of stuff I don’t love is key. I’m just starting with all of this — the payoff as one area gets organized keeps me going!
I can use a lot of those tips. From the Capessa site, use containers to establish boundaries and never leave a room empty-handed. From your site, the weekly cleaning schedule works best for me as well as a 10 minute tidy before bed each night. I hope I’m entered in the contest.
Create a weekly cleaning schedule.
Plan weekly menus and stick to a set grocery day.
My two favorite suggestions are “never leave a room emptyhanded” and “create an out of here shelf by the front door”. Putting items in their “home” and removing items that no longer serve a purpose are fundamental in having an organized space which is of a big concern to me as I have five children aged 10 and under.
My two would be. The 10 mintue tidy, which really makes a difference and the one I need to work on is making sure everything has a designated place. Thanks!!
I have used this tip below a lot in the past few months. Using freecycle.or to give away lots of things to help me clean.
Tip #1: Give yourself permission to get rid of things in your home that you don’t use or that don’t bring you joy.
We try to do this tip listed below before going to bed at night. It makes for getting up and ready in the morning easier for my son and myself.
Tip #2: Do a 10 minute tidy each night before bed.
My favorites that I currently do are the weekly menu w/grocery shopping on a designated day and a cleaning schedule. I am going to work on never leaving a room empty handed and creating an out of here shelf by the front door.
I need to implement having the kids do a daily walk-about and using containers to establish limits and boundaries (and to keep toys, papers, etc in their place and not gathering up in odd places around the house.
These were the most helpful tips for me & my family:
Give yourself permission to get rid of things in your home that you don’t use or that don’t bring you joy.
Do a 10 minute tidy each night before bed.
Thank you for sharing!!
Two of my favorite, I must admit-
Plan a menu so I don’t forget
What is needed for each day
And from the store keep me away!
The second item that keeps me sane
Keeps me from half-way losing my brain
Is having the kids walk-about everyday
Things are returned where they should stay!
By far the most useful tip, if I could actually implement it, would be the 10-minute tidy before bed. It’s not a lot of time, but you can get so much done and make such a big difference! Second tip would be menu planning, because we get in such a rut if we don’t!
Bonjour! I already do tip #1. Just started doing it a few weeks ago, and it’s made a HUGE difference. I will definitely try #3, as our home office is upstairs, while we enter the home from the garage and into the kitchen. Definitely need some kind of central location near that door to dump all our stuff for later retrieval/collating!
Thank you!
Salut,
Marjorie
Hey–I love the idea about not leaving the room empty handed, and sending my kids on a walkabout.
Pick me to win!!
It was cool seeing you on Capessa.
Create an I’m Outta Here shelf by your front door. (we have one in the garage as that is how we leave the house) and Give yourself permission to get rid of things in your home that you don’t use or that don’t bring you joy.
I’m already doing the weekly meal plan, and that helps A LOT. My mind feels uncluttered as I’m not stressing about dinner all day, let alone at 5:00 when the kids are losing it.
On Laura’s list, I do the 10-minute tidy, though I find myself doing it both at night AND in the morning. When I come down in the morning after my husband has fed the kids, I have to pick up all of that. Then, I can sit down at and eat and start my day.
Thanks for the giveaway chance!
10 minute tidy and command center have made an impact around my home
I know there are already a zillion comments on her, but I’m going to add mine anyway.
#1 – I have a weekly schedule (written out to the hour every day). I find that this has helped me tremendously in the cleaning department. I have a tendancy to clean too much and spend less time with my children because of that. I find that since I have daily scheduled cleaning times – I spend an adequate amount of time with my kids and they are less whiny and grumpy! I make a list that I keep on the counter of the things that need to be cleaned that week and since I have a different amount of time allotted in each day – I clean what fits into that time slot the best.
#2 – I have recently started meal planning and I LOVE it! I try to stick to every other Monday for grocery shopping but occasionally have to rearrange that due to hubby’s schedule or appointments, etc.
Laura
I like the 10-minute tidy before bed…we do it in our house and it is amazin what you can get done in 10 minutes
I also like the”never leave a room empty handed” it is inevitable that there is always somethin where it shouldn’e be, and this would definitely help with that.
Great tips, thanks!
I like all of the tips and I am going to try to use all 10. My favorite’s? This is a hard question. But Probably the meal planning. This will help me with the 3pm panic of “what am I gong to cook for dinner” it will also probably make my dinner time easier and not so stressful with my three children if I already have a game plan. I thought what else might be helpful for me is along with the meal plan to make a plan for a activity for my kids at that time of day too. So while I am trying to get dinner ready they can be decorating a place mat or something that is not so hands on for me. My second favorite was making a weekly cleaning schedule. I am going to try that because currently I am trying to do everything every day and that is not working. I want to get a dry erase board to put in my command center and write my schedule on it. Along with using the organizing tips from capessa I plan to purge a lot so that I am not trying to keep up with my kids cluter, and also get them on board with the walk abouts.
Thanks for all the help keep it comming:)
Most helpful to me is to have a cleaning schedule. I’m a SAHM and this was one of the first things I did once I started to get into a groove. My husband and I divvied up the tasks in a way we decided was fair.
I also like the idea of having a designated place for everything. This weekend, we spent lots of time looking for the keys to our safe deposit box. Did I mention we had spent a lot of time looking for the same keys the weekend before? We found them TODAY (a day late and more than a dollar short) in… the glove box of my car! This is a hard one for us, but one we definitely need to work on.
You’re tips are awesome!
(and I’m thinking you’re a genius)
My 2 needed tips:
Never leave a room empty handed. (amazing…THANK YOU!)
and
I’m Outta Here Shelf.
What are your thoughts on that being a hanging shelf?
Thanks for the chance to win!
I really need to learn to “Give yourself permission to get rid of things in your home that you don’t use or that don’t bring you joy.”! I used to have a weekly cleaning schedule, but I need to revamp it so “Create a weekly cleaning schedule” would be my other one.
I LOVE the Container Store! Just went to one in Chicago while visiting there!
The two tips I really like (and actually use the first one on a somewhat regular basis) are:
–Plan weekly menus and stick to a set grocery day.
–Send your kids on a daily walk-about
1) 10 min tidy! I always do this, and it really DOES help!! :)
2) Give yourself permission to get rid of things in your home that you don’t use or that don’t bring you joy: I have REALLY been trying to do this lately, and it does seem to be helping. Sometimes it’s so hard to let go, but it has to be done. :)
Never leave a room empty handed…this one always makes a huge difference when I do it.
Create a weekly cleaning schedule…we have been talking about doing this for awhile now and now I’m motivated more than ever to give it a try.
Thanks!
Holy comments!!
I love planning my menu every Sunday night.
And having a command center is great!
HI! I love your site… simply love it. I am a “wannabe” organizer though. I try for a short while but have had such a hard time KEEPING UP with it! However, there are two tips that I love…
1. Having the kids do a walk-about. This is fantastic! I like having a name to go with this instead of just “kids, pick up your junk!” LOL. I will be implementing this one into our routines.
and
2. Permission to rid myself of things I don’t need or that doesn’t bring joy. This one has been a lifesaver over the last couple of years. When I married my hubby, I married his family… and they are total pack rats. The stories I could share! And while my dh is not prone to the same tendencies, he does like to save unimportant stuff. We have talked about the clutter in our home and when we moved from CA to ID, it was awesome to just toss so much unnecessary stuff or give it to Goodwill. What a way to bless us and our house AND to bless someone else that may have a use for it!
Thanks so much for all that you do. I really enjoy spending time at your website! Have a blessed week!
I used to have a weekly cleaning schedule and it worked so well!! Then I got pregnant and that went down the tubes-I need to get back to that….I like the 10 minute tidy time before bed as well. I patted myself on the back because I do a lot of these already. Finally, something I do well!! :) I’d LOVE LOVE LOVE to win! Organizing bins are my addiction!
Here are my two favorite:
4. Never leave a room empty handed.
5. Give yourself permission to get rid of things in your home that you don’t use or that don’t bring you joy.
I’m outta here shelf
The first I still need to work on, but the second I am really good at. My friends and family think I’m crazy, but I love to get rid of things. :)
Oh and that I’m outta here shelf? I keep all the lost and found on it. My friends know where to look.
I would have to say by far the best tip I have gotten from your blog and luckily it was on your list is the menu planning. Now, this was not a revolutionary idea, I used to do this. But I had gotten out of the habit, and your blog helped to remind me and has made life much easier.
The second tip is the 10 minute tidy. I try to do this everyday and it makes a HUGE difference when I do.
Having a weekly schedule makes it easier to remember to do everything, even if I don’t do it on the scheduled day.
Menu Planning has really saved us money! We don’t eat out nearly as much now.
My house is virtually clutter free because I always follow your rule “never leave the room empty handed”. Now, what I need to do is begin “having a weekly cleaning schedule”, so that my house stays actually CLEAN-CLEAN! Love this site. Thanks.
Never leave a room empty handed—I try to do this now. It takes me 15 minutes to do anything now because I get sidetracked!
10 Minute Tidy before bed—This helps so much the next morning!
Do a 10 minute tidy each night before bed.
–We’ve been doing something like this irregularly but after dinner. We just have to make it more of a habit!
Plan weekly menus and stick to a set grocery day.
–We do weekly menus (not always on a set day though) and it saves us quite alot of money and time.
- NEVER LEAVE A ROOM EMPTY HANDED
- 10 minute tidy before bed
These two things alone would help with the clutter…
A weekly cleaning schedule would definately help and giving myself permission to get rid of things!
Menu planning and the kid “walk about” are my favorite ideas!
I would have to say that my two would be:
Use containers to establish boundaries and limits.
Give yourself permission to get rid of things in your home that you don’t use or that don’t bring you joy.
Actually all of them our great, but I like these two the best.
Toni
My two favorites are :
Give yourself permission to get rid of things in your home that you don’t use or that don’t bring you joy.
And spend 10 minutes cleaning up before bedtime.
I am always surprised by how much I can get done in 10 minutes! Also, the less you have – the less you have to clean!
Ok, let me first start off by saying that I never win anything…but I SO hope to win this time! We are planning a trip to Houston in 2 weeks to visit the Container Store!
So, now for the rules…10 minute tidy all the way. My whole family gets involved…3 people x 10 minutes each= 30 minutes of picking up. It’s wonderful. I also agree with the use of containers for boundaries. This works well with teaching my daughter to keep things to a minimum.
I love your site…very inspiring.
Thanks for this wonderful opportunity!
Holly
The two tips that have helped me the most are using containers to establish boundaries and limits and doing a 10-minute tidy every night. Both of those tips have really helped me keep the areas that I have organized in my house organized. Starting this week I’m implementing the meal plan so I think that will help, too. They are all great tips.
ALL were such good tips!
Having a cleaning control journal of when you do what helps immensely.
I am disabled, so I always make my actions do double duty (never leaving a room empty-handed).
Bins, baskets, etc. are wonderful for organizing.
Another tip I read somewhere…every week (day before trash day is ideal) go through your home with two trash bags…one for trash/junk and one for giveaway/donations. If you do that every week, it will help keep things under control.
We also shred junk mail EVERY DAY as we open it. That also helps prevent hot spots from flaring up. We shred everything that has our name and or address on them. It is better to be safe than sorry.
I would so love to win your giveaway. We are in a new BIG home (went to almost 6,000 sq. ft. after living in a tiny but stuffed house of under 900 sq. ft.) but we combined 3 households (and 7 barns), so we really need more storage solutions as we go through all the boxes and decide what to keep and what to re-purpose to others. I want to fix some containers for my step-daughters for when they set up housekeeping for themselves (this home has lots of storage space), but I don’t need three complete sets of Corning Ware, professional baking pans, Kitchen-Aid mixers, Cuisinarts, etc.
The thought of selling some items that cost so much that they can use makes me ill.
Some items I have no problem letting go.
I hope that you all have a wonderful week!
The “daily walk about” and “never leave a room empty handed” would be really good habits for me and for our family.
The walk about would be a painful and easy thing for me to implement with my young kids. The most ‘freeing’ thing for me has been to allow myself to get rid of things. I’m very much a keeper of things and now I have at least one empty drawer in every room of the house and our storage area you can actually walk in. What a great feeling!
Wow… well… from this page, making a cleaning schedule would totally help ( it did when I did it before anyway!)
From the other page, planning our weekly menu (every meal for my toddler too) is a huge help! :)
And a bonus… giving myself permission to get rid of things has been so freeing this past week or two. I’ve been working hard to simplify, and if keeping that “cherished” momento that has been cursing me by floating around my house doesn’t bring me joy (note the curing it has been doing), then I’ve been covering my eyes and letting it go! :)
Thanks for the giveaway… come on over to my place to enter my giveaway for a Pampered Chef cookbook! :)
I have been on such a organizing/decorating kick. LOL. 2 that I find helpful are.
1. Have a designated place for everything that is accessible and easy to use to avoid a) wasting time looking for things and b) spending money to replace things that you can’t find.
2. The 10 minute tidy.
I have 3 little girls under the age of seven and we have been trying to get them organized the two I look forward to trying are:
1. Never leave a room empty handed
2. 10 minute room cleanup before bed
We have already started to trying a command center and even though I don’t have it the way I would like quite yet I know that it will be useful.
#5.Give yourself permission to get rid of things in your home that you don’t use or that don’t bring you joy.
and
#3. Create a Command Center in your home.
Would be my greatest stumbling blocks and ironically would also leave me the most fulfilled!
I am a pack rat who assessed emotional attachments to objects. I also tend to use the entire house as a command center which obviously leasd to much stress over lost items.
Great ideas!
I think the most important tip for me is “Give yourself permission to get rid of things in your home that you don’t use or that don’t bring you joy.” We have to much clutter and the next would be “Do a 10 minute tidy each night before bed.” Whenever we do this one I wake up motivated and energized, if I skip this I get up to start the day behind the “8 Ball”. Thank you for the giveaway!
For me, meal planning and sticking to the grocery list are time, money and sanity savers. Too often I’ve forgotten to take meat out for dinner, or gone to the grocery store without a plan only to come home with bags full of nothing much. The other tip that really helps me is the “I’m Outta Here” shelf. This is really good for snacks I want DH to take to work, or bills I’ve asked him to mail.
Thanks for all of your great tips and ideas!
Creating a weekly cleaning schedule and to never leave a room empty handed. Love these and now have already incorporated them into my life!
I love, love, love both the Command Center and the I’m Outta Here shelf. And I’ve finally just recently given myself permission to get rid of things that people have given to me. Really, if I’ve been the entrusted keeper of these things for the last ten years, will they even remember? If they don’t see the thing in the To Go pile, it would never cross their mind. And even if it did, when you give a gift, it now belongs to the recipient to do with as they wish. No obligations or invisible strings allowed.
For the second page of tips, I’ve already been thinking about trying to use containers to establish boundaries and limits. Actually, the gift certificate would be so handy for this part of the plan! I’m getting excited just thinking about the possibilities. I’m a container addict.
We plan our menus every two weeks and try to only go back to the store for milk and maybe bread. So I would like to incorporate tip #2: Have a designated place for everything that is accessible and easy to use to avoid a) wasting time looking for things and b) spending money to replace things that you can’t find.
This would make my life much more manageable. And I am attempting to do this, but it’s a work in progress.
I’m too malcoordinated to leave a comment at Capessa. But I have to say the “I’m outta here” shelf–and of course the menu planning–have been real lifesavers here. Trying to let them inspire me to get on to the next ones that I’m not doing as much (cleaning chart or 10-minute tidy, anyone?).
Thanks ladies for the great tips!
A “10 minute room rescue” each night and a weekly menu plan/grocery list are my two lifesavers! Thanks for the fun and helpful blog!
I love the containers for setting boundaries and the 10 minute clean-up! I think those two go hand in hand and it keeps me from spending every Sunday putting up everything we own!
Man, how to narrow it down!!! I’d say the 10 minute tidy and planning menus & grocery shopping ONCE a week. I’m a mess if I don’t have a plan!! The Container Store is my idea of heaven!!! Whoohooo!!!
The two that help me the most are Create a weekly cleaning schedule and the Never leave a room empty handed. Those two will help me a whole lot!
1) Giving myself permission to get rid of anything we don’t like or use…this is a BIGGIE for me!
2) Create a cleaning schedule! This is a totally foreign concept to me & is something that I REALLY need to do!
Thanks for these great tips!!
Sending the kids on a walkabout and planning my meals and sticking to my grocery list are most important for me!
I love checking out what great ideas you have and the fun projects you suggest!
I definitely need to create a new weekly cleaning schedule. It seems I clean as needed right now (and everything seems to need it!). I also love the idea of a weekly menu. I usually plan for a few days, but then I skip a few. Or I’ve planned for a month, but that was too much work. A week and it’s corresponding shopping list sounds more “doable”!
Im really in love with #3 The command center idea!!!
And then— #1 Using containers to set boundaries- I went and bought a few containers this week to organize the lego sets and doll sets that the kids always have everywhere! Hopefully this will be a BIG help!!!
Ooo i hope i win! I could really use these winnings to get life in order around this place!
You have a great site & what an awesome giveaway!!! All the tips are great, but the two that would make the biggest difference for me are:
1. Create a weekly cleaning schedule.
2. Plan weekly menus and stick to a set grocery day.
Since the name of my blog is “An Uncluttered Life” it is safe to say that I use almost every one of these ideas. The house is always tidied before bed, Saturday is meal planning and Sunday is grocery shopping day, everything has a place, and our command center is in our office. I have a nanny 5 days a week, so it does help that she cleans everyday and helps watch my son. But, I’ve been living an uncluttered life for many years now. We just had a Goodwill open a few blocks away, and I love giving away all our clothes and items that we haven’t touched in 6 months. Love your site- and the tips are great!
Cayce
Definitely permission to get rid of things (I live in a dorm) and command center.
I’m getting married in 26 days :) and I can’t wait to start meal planning! It’s difficult now to do for just myself – but I know it will help us stay on budget and save a lot of time.
I also think the 10 minute tidy is extremely valuable. I try to do that now – but making it a habit to do every day will definitely help.
Creating a weekly cleaning schedule has been a huge help in helping both my husband and I stay on top of things in our home. I even typed up objectives for us that are posted on our cleaning schedule. The second thing that has been a huge help to me and also is saving me money is meal planning. I usually sit down on Saturday or Monday evening and plan my meals for the weak. It is nice to have it planned out and not to have to worry about it.
The “I’m outta here”-shelf is great! I keep collecting stuff that needs to go some other place in boxes and they are always in the way – so I will empty a shelf in my hallway-closet and designate it for this purpose – THANK YOU!
And I LOVE the “don’t leave a room empty-handed”-idea. It’s a step more to the “if you take it out, put it back”-mentality and I have been doing this for years now – helps a lot in reducing clutter and keeping the house ready for unexpected guests (and own mental sanity! ;->). GREAT!
This is the first time I have been to your blog, and I’m addicted! Can’t wait to find more time to read your excellent tips and tricks.
My two most useful tips from the sites are:
1. Use Containers to establish boundaries and limits. This is a big one for my kids and myself!
2. Plan a weekly menu – with our busy schedule, this has been a lifesaver!
A weekly cleaning schedule along with the permission to get rid of the STUFF would surely increase my JOY!
I also adore the idea of the I’m outta here shelf!
I plan weekly menus and stick to a set grocery day and I like the 10 minute tidy each night.
Thank you so much for the chance to win this fabulous giveaway.
I think the two tips that would make the most difference in my life are:
10 minute tidy before bed
and
Never leave a room empty handed
My worst problem is picking up as I go.
I’m new to your site, and am thankful I found it.
This is my first time on your site. How fun and informative! The two tips I’m “taking home” are:
1. “Use containers to establish boundaries and limits.” Sticking stuff in containers is not a new one, but the with the idea being to establish boundaries and limits was a real light bulb moment!
2. “Walk About” – This is a great reminder to me. I like the idea of having a “code word/phrase” that simply means pick up and to make sure my son knows that it is not an overwhelming reguest such as “clean up your room” might be, but a quick spruce up that we can do easily anytime (especially if everything has a home)!
1)Do a 10 min tidy every night has been a great help to me and the family! It is a much better way to begin the next day, when the previous day’s *fun* has been returned to its rightful home!
2) Use containers to establish boundaries-wahoo! The junk drawer has a boundary now! I have become a container JUNKIE! With 6 kids, there’s a lot of stuff that needs homes in this house, and containers have come to the rescue- dishpans hold daily homeschooling books for ea child, dresser drawers have containers for socks, clear shoeboxes with lids and LABELS now line the playroom closet replacing the occasional avalanche which formerly resided in there.
All your tips are surefire ways to enjoy success-thank you! Those 2 are my current favorites, and I seem to transition thru the list as various things take center stage in the drama of homemaking. Thanks for leading the charge!!
I love the 10 min. tidy up and Never leave a room empty-handed. I wish I’d used the 10 min. tidy up when my kids were little! What a great habit for them to have as well. I’ll start now just for my own peace of mind :>) Never leaving a room empty-handed will help keep things in their correct places. Thanks so much!!!
Top 2 that would make a difference (if I did them):
1 – 10 minute walk around
2 – Give myself to get rid of things I don’t enjoy or don’t use (actually, this would be a better rule for my DH, who holds on to things out of guilt)
Never leave a room empty-handed and do a ten-minute tidy before bed each night are two great tips for me. It is the little things that make such a big difference when you are trying to maintain order. Sometimes it is easy to look at the clutter and get overwhelmed, but I can handle a few baby steps at a time :)
10 minute tiddy up at night and plan out menu and grocery list. Awesome!
While most all of them would be helpful, the two that would probably prove the most helpful are:
*Create a weekly cleaning schedule* I am sure if I did, I wouldn’t feel so overwhelmed
*Give yourself permission to get rid of things in your home that you don’t use or that don’t bring you joy.*
I unfortunately suffer from a severe case of hoarder disorder and it has reeked immense havoc on many, many areas of my home and my life.
I would LOVE to be blessed by this giveaway! My family would, too. :-)
The tip that has already helped me the most is to tidy up for 10 minutes before I go to bed. It makes my day start off so much better when I wake up in the morning and see that I made “real” progress the night before in just a few minutes!
The thing I NEED to do and know would significantly change my life is to plan weekly menus and stick to a set grocery day. This is something that I’ve been turning over in my mind and need to work into my weekly homeschool/cleaning/errand/etc. schedule.
Thanks for your helpful tips – there are a lot of great ones!
Blessings to you both…
my top two….
give myself permission to get rid of things that I don’t use and don’t bring me joy.
10 minute nightly pick-up.
I hope I win.
I am trying to be organized, but it is soooo soooo hard! I am making progress, though. Thanks to this site!
The two tips that will help me most are (1) the Walk-About and (2) not leaving a room empty-handed.
Great tips! I’m new to your site and enjoy the ideas.
The two that would make the greatest difference for me (currently) are:
Create a weekly cleaning schedule.
Plan weekly menus and stick to a set grocery day.
Thanks!
never leaving a room empty handed sounds good to me (although if i am carrying a child, does that count? ;)) also ten minute tidy up is wonderful. as soon as my husband goes to put my son down , i race around cleaning up his toys. when he is old enough, i’ll make him do it!
10 min. to tidy up in the evening-I have 4 children 7 & under, so there are always little treasures on the floor in the evenings!
Using containers to create boundaries. I am still learning the value of this & trying to make spaces more productive & purposeful in my home. I would be blessed to win the $200 prize to the Container Store!! THanks.
they are all great tips! probably most useful is the 10 minute tidy up before bed and having a designated place for everything.
i’m so glad i found your site.
My two are:
10-minute nightly pick-up
Use containers to establish boundaries and limits.
The two I use the most are:
Use a weekly cleaning schedule, and
Never leave a room empty-handed.
Thank you for your site and this giveaway!
Jessica
I love the idea of a command center. I am always trying to figure out where to put papers that are important.
I also love the drawer dividers in the drawers for kids. We are in desparate need of that.
Thanks!
I’m a new reader and love your blog.
10 minute tidy–I can’t believe how much I can actually get done in 10 minutes, and when I come downstairs first thing in the morning and see my clutter free counter and kitchen table, my whole day seems manageable.
permission to get rid of stuff–why was I keeping stuff I don’t need or don’t want. It is a process, but if I can get my house clutter free, I think my head will function much better.
Definitley the weekly cleaning schedule and the weekly menu plan. Chaos would ensure if I didn’t have some kind of control and plan.
We really need to create a Command Center in our house!
I love planning weekly meals & our weekly grocery shopping trip. It makes life so much simpler!
10 minute tidy and your outta here shelf!these work well for me….
would love to win this….in a house of 7,5 of which are boys-men,i could sure use this one..lol..
thank you
Never leave a room empty handed
And 10 min tidy before bed.
I use an I’m outta here shelf and it’s been so long since I’ve had to search for my keys on the way out of the house. I’m working on never leaving a room empty handed. It does make such a difference!
It’s so hard to decide! I think having a home for everything and using containers but if I have to chose from the other list I would say having the kids do a walk-a-bout a few times a day. Fun giveaway!
I definitely need to remember the 10 minutes before bed, and the never leave a room empty-handed tips!! THANK YOU for the reminder!!! :)
These two tips would be eXtremely beneficial in our home:
1) Command Center
2) Permission to get rid of stuff
Both are on my “to do” list.
ThanX!
The tips I like the best are never leave a room empty handed. W/ the mess we make daily, that would cut the accumlation down. The second tip I like is making a weekly cleaning schedule. I started one a while back and stuck to it till I had my last baby. I haven’t been able to find my groove again. Would love to make a whole house cleaning schedule and stick to it. Need that balance between cleaning and kids.
It was very difficult to narrow it down to one from each site – these are all great! The two that I found the most helpful (and are things I need to tackle) are 1) the walk-about and 2) Give yourself permission to get rid of stuff. With the walk-about, my daughter is only 18 months so she’s a little young to do this full force, but we do put her toys “to bed” at night and she is very good about putting things in their designated space.
Weekly cleaning schedule, and weekly menu plans/groceries. Those are my two.
Thanks for the giveaway!
Let me just say that I found your website about 2 weeks ago and I have been obsessed ever since! I am naturally a very messy (not dirty, just messy) person and ever since I have been living on my own, I struggle to keep things neat and tidy!
For the past 2 weeks I have been doing the “10 min tidy”…I set the clock, and whatever cleaning I can get done in 10 mins, is all I have to do! I have been able to keep my living space and kitchen so much more organized!
As for the suggestions from Capessa’s list, I think never leaving a room empty handed would help me a ton! Grabbing stuff to take upstairs, moving a glass to the kitchen, etc, would keep me so much more sane!
Thanks for all the great tips!
Nicole :)
I want to start getting more organized (before kids start coming along!) I like the 10 minute cleanup idea, and I could really help myself by giving myself permission to get rid of things.
#1 I really need to start a weekly menu. My pantry is FULL, yet I can never seem to figure out what to cook without going to the store!
#2 I will start an evening 10 minute ‘pick-up’ session with my hubby. The two of us could do a lot of clean-up in 10 minutes!
Thanks for the tips!
I love all of these tips!
1. 10 minute tidy!
2. never leave a room empty handed
The Ten Minute Tidy before bed (I have to do this every night or I can’t sleep..some sort of OCD I’m sure..lol) and Never Leave a Room empty handed.
The weekly cleaning plan has helped, and I LOVE containers! I’m still trying to organize my home and I rely heavily on containers.
My two favorite tips are:
From Capessa Website
5. Give yourself permission to get rid of things in your home that you don’t use or that don’t bring you joy.
And from the list here
Create a weekly cleaning schedule.
Have I done both of these things? NO, but I am slowly inching my way there.
My 2 favorite tips are:
The Ten Minute Tidy before bed.
Never Leave a Room empty handed.
This made me smile because I just created a weekly cleaning schedule for myself on Monday! Hopefully that will help me keep things tidier.
I always have trouble letting myself let go of things, so that will be my other favorite tip. I never thought of it as getting rid of things that don’t make me happy–maybe that will help me this time around!
I love the command center, I do that now, and it is so helpful. I also really like the idea of making a proper place for everything, so that you know when something is not in the right place, and it can be moved. Great tips!!
The two biggest for me are:
2. Have a designated place for everything that is accessible and easy to use to avoid a) wasting time looking for things and b) spending money to replace things that you can’t find.
I wish I had enough room in my house to make a space for everything. I try so hard, but really, I need to get rid of more stuff.
and
Do a 10 minute tidy each night before bed.
I’ve tried to get my husband to buy into this, so that we both do it, but somehow I just can’t get him on board!
I must say sending my daughter on a “walk-about” has helped me the most! But my version of it is a little different. I send my daughter outside for a walk-about. She is 5 and I homeschool, so I normally send her outside in the afternoon, this gives me time to quickly run through the house before my husband gets home and strighten up without her underfoot.
I also think having a weekly cleaning schedule is important. I remember my Grandma telling me Monday is for Laundry, Tuesday for Ironing, etc. I have designated Monday for Laundry, that is my main goal for the day. Every day of the week has something scheduled for it. This has worked wonders in my home.
I need to do a 10 minute tidy at the end of the day so everything doesn’t get so piled up that it’s overwhelming. I also need to give myself permission to get rid of stuff I’m not using and that doesn’t do any good for me. These are great tips! Love them!
Definitely the weekly cleaning schedule will make the biggest difference for me. I already work with the mantra, “Never leave a room empty handed,” but there’s so much more than just clutter to stay on top of. Thanks for the great tips on how to create a schedule (also love the mission statement).
My two tips that would help the most are:
1. Have a cleaning scheudle. I am rather random and often avoid the jobs I don’t like doing for too long.
and . . .
5. Give yourself permission to get rid of things in your home that you don’t use or that don’t bring you joy. I am a bit of a hoarder, not like on Oprah but I definitely find it hard to get rid of things.
But I could use some MORE stuff from the Container Store! Thanks for hosting this giveaway!
The ten minute tidy up before bed is a big one in my life, kids are asleep i can just go around and quickly put everything away.
also think Plan weekly menus and stick to a set grocery day will be a big help once i get it into place. Cant wait to look at ur site, love being organised but at the moment seems so scarey.
Do a 10 minute tidy each night before bed.
Never leave a room empty handed.
These are KEY in my home!!
My favorites are permission to get rid of things in your home that you don’t use or that don’t bring you joy (do I really need to keep this even though it was from my grandmother?) and Weekly Cleaning Schedule – but mine’s Daily – Sometimes it’s overwhelming how much there is to do. So I stop and look at my list – did I do #1? No, then do that. Then go to #2. And step by step, it gets done.
Well, I really need all of these in my life, but the ones that would probably help the most to begin with are:
Create a weekly cleaning schedule.
and
Plan weekly menus and stick to a set grocery day.
Thanks for all of the great ideas.
I’ve always been a organizer wannabe and since I was in grade school, your #1 tip on this site of creating a weekly cleaning schedule has been a lifetime help for me.
The #5 tip, give yourself permission to get rid of things in your home that you don’t use or that don’t bring you joy, that I saw over at Capessa is something that I need to live by. My mother is a packrat and that can’t be healthy.
I don’t think I’ve signed up for this yet (of course, if I have, you could just delete this one!.) :)
Also, awesome, awesome, that you’re on Capessa!
I love the 10 minute tidy before bed and I live by the weekly menu planning. I hate to wake up to a mess, so I always tidy up quickly before bed … especially the kitchen. I make sure the dishwasher is run every night so hubby can empty in the morning and I don’t have to pile dishes on the counter when I get home to make dinner. As for the menus … it keeps us on track for a faster non-impulse buying trip to the grocery store and since my husband makes lunches while I’m reading to the kids and getting them off to bed, he can see what to pack for the kids’ lunches without having to ask me! Love it!
Oops! Okay, now you need to delete the first comment.. I forgot to leave my answers.
Definitely the most helpful tip from this page has been to create a weekly cleaning schedule.
It’s hard to pick only one from the list on Capessa. I use all of them except for number 4, which I need to work on. My favorite is using containers but my most helpful would be creating specific homes so you can find things when you need them and not waste money buying extras.
From this site: #1 – Create a weekly cleaning schedule. I’ve been meaning to do this forever and these tips just jump-started me into action.
From Capessa: #4 – Never leave a room empty handed. Now if I can get my husband to live by the same rule, we’ll be set!
WOW! These are all fantastic ideas! Thanks for sharing!
I have been trying to do the 10 minute tidy-up before bed (mostly in the kitchen & kids shoes).
I usually make a weekly menu with grocery list (but don’t always shop on same day).
I need to have a command central & containers (instead of using my island counter top for everything including school papers).
I have finally given myself permission to throw out stuff that doesn’t bring me joy! That’s such a relief!
I just recently found your web site. I love it! My 2 favorites are what you called a walk about, we call it Pick Up Race. My kids respond well to challenge.
The other is the container idea. I am trying to incorporate this one. I have a Mystery of History Co-op and Keepers of the Home girls group that meet in my home. I never have enough storage for all the supplies needed. Containers are expensive so this contest was very appealing. Thank you!
1. Have a weekly menu and set grocery date. (This has saved me not only money but time.)
2. Creating A Command Center
Hi!
1. Schedule cleaning
2. Menu planning
I’ve implemented the menu planning and it’s helped a ton… really life changing. I’m working on setting up schedules so the cleaning schedule ideas is perfect!
Thanks so much!
Babsi
This is my first day viewing your site and I love it already! My two favorites are:
Plan weekly menus and stick to a set grocery day. (It has saved me lots of $$ and time!)
Do a 10 minute tidy each night before bed. (We definitely need to make this a regular routine before my kids head up to bed so my husband and I aren’t cleaning up all their toys after they are sleeping!)
1. Out of here shelf
2. Use containers to boundaries and limits.
I have been giving myself permission to get rid of anything that doesn’t give me pleasure or that we don’t use. What a difference that makes!
I think the next biggest helper would be to have a weekly cleaning schedule. I believe I will try that starting this week.
Thanks for the tips.
Definately the creat a command center(which we did beside the front door) and use containers to establish boundaries and limits. I have baskets on the little hutch we use as a command center, on the dining room hutch, in the kids rooms,laundry room etc.
o.k. i’m always reading and trying to find new ways to keep organized. so my two faves are
10 MINUTE TIDY what a great idea
NEVER LEAVE THE ROOM EMPTY HANDED i do try to do that, but to write it down to help you stay organized brillant!
Great blog and prize. Definitely a weekly cleaning schedule and containers for our stuff is the way to go for me and my family.
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