A couple of weeks ago my awesome contributor, Kristin, shared her daily required organizing task that she does every single day without fail. It always sets her up for a productive organized day. That got me thinking about my own daily required cleaning task. Mine is different from Kristin’s though which is to make her bed. Instead, for me, there is another task that impacts my day even more and it involves the kitchen.
As you know I’m a creature of habit. I do most tasks every day on auto pilot at the exact same times. I’d be plenty disorganized without regular habits in place to guide me. The reason this is essential for me is because I’m naturally a creature of procrastination. Plus I tend to be on the lazy side. However I do also like having a clean and organized house. The only way I have found to marry these two traits is to implement habits and routines to keep me on track. Seriously I’m an unfocused mess without them.
My Daily Must Do Cleaning Task
Every morning I get up at 7:00, exercise at 7:30 and eat breakfast and get ready for the day between 8:00 until 9:00. I head back to the kitchen, turn on the kettle and get to work. My daily cleaning task is to clean and tidy my kitchen every morning. When you live with a food allergic child this one task has to happen or there can be dire consequences from cross contamination. This child is now away at school and doesn’t live with us anymore but old habits die hard.
I absolutely love going about my day knowing my kitchen is clean, tidy and uncluttered. It makes me feel good about myself and I like how it fires me up for a productive day. Even if every other room in my house is a mess, having one clean and organized room makes a world of difference to my attitude and my peace of mind.
It’s my youngest son’s (12) job to clean up the kitchen each night after dinner. However let’s just say his standards are a little different from mine. After dinner each night I basically just leave the kitchen after I eat and leave the clean up to my boy. I never really know what I’m going to walk into in the kitchen the next morning and every day is different.
Sometimes it takes me 5 minutes to reset my kitchen, sometimes 15 minutes. Maybe there are washed dishes that were left out to dry and need to be put away. The slow cooker more than likely needs to be put away. Breakfast dishes that should be in the dishwasher were left in the sink instead. Is it really that much harder to just put them straight into the dishwasher? I also wipe down and disinfect the counters.
Some days it’s as simple as a sink full of dirty breakfast dishes and popcorn bowls from the night before.
Random recycling on the counter that someone couldn’t walk the 10 steps to the recycling bin.
On other days there’s a little more that needs to be done. For instance, a slow cooker that wasn’t washed the night before because “it has to soak mom”.
During this time I also like to put my dinner in the slow cooker if that’s what’s on my menu plan.
I also take a moment to turn on my diffuser so my whole house smells clean (even if it isn’t)
Thankfully it doesn’t ever take me too long to get it all done since I keep up with it every day. All I know is my day can’t officially start until my kitchen is clean. I can usually get it all done in the time it takes my kettle to boil for my morning cup of tea. I like playing the beat the kettle game. A girls got to do what a girls got to do 🙂
Before
After
I know it’s going to seem trivial to some but it’s what works for me. It might be something else for you as it is for Kristin. The point is to find that one organizing or cleaning task that makes you feel accomplished at the very beginning of your day. It should really be something that takes 30 minutes or less to ensure success. Maybe that’s writing out a Plan of Attack for your day, or decluttering 5 things into your donation station. Maybe it’s wiping down the sink and toilet in your bathroom. Find what works for you and schedule it into your day, every day. Eventually it will become a habit that you no longer think about and that my friends is the sweetest of spots.
Share with me in the comments what that one daily organizing or cleaning task is for you. Have a super weekend y’all!
Amber Oliver says
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I do something similar, though I’m not as consistent as you are. And my kitchen usually didn’t get cleaned up the night before. :/ I have a feeling that if I could be just a *little* more diligent with a daily, morning kitchen cleaning, it would make a world of difference for the state of my kitchen overall. . .
Amber Oliver says
Aw, it looks like it changed my *heart* to a couple of question marks. 🙁 But that was a heart. Love your kitchen habits. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Laura Wittmann says
Not sure why it did that, sorry about that. Nice to see you here, hope all is well with you!!
MaryJean says
I read someplace that you should only move an object once, hence, if it goes in the dishwasher, put it in there and not in the sink where you have to move it again to the dishwasher. I try to do this, but it is difficult to always accomplish especially when you live with others. ?
I do the same as you with cleaning my kitchen up before I begin my day. I’m the type of person that can’t eat first thing in the morning. My body just doesn’t like food in it that early. So, I clean up first, then eat and then make my bed and wash-up or shower for the day ahead.
I always tell people, I really dislike housework, but I hate a dirty house so that’s what keeps my house clean. I would much rather be doing something else that I enjoy then housework.
meryl says
We don’t actually have a morning. Since husband quit his job 10 years ago we are not generally tied to anything and are both night people. So we get up around noon – but we go to bed 3-4 am.
I also don’t have a choice generally in what we are doing when unless it relates to work or my EGA meetings or is something very urgent as husband always has plans – okay, generally it is a trip to one or another Walmart – that we have to do.
So when we get up we have to hit the road to get anything done during the day. We get up, dress, and go out to Wendys for lunch, except Sunday when we go to Costco for lunch and walking around – no shopping unless it is on the list. I wash the dishes from late snack (our replacement 3rd meal of the day) before we go to bed and they dry in the dish rack. When I make dinner at night the dishes are used again along with others and pots.
Making the bed as mentioned by your contributor consists of pulling the sheet and blanket(s) back into position – takes seconds.
I try to do things when we get up that I can do in bed so that I don’t have to quickly pop out of bed. 2-3 days a week I will sort and fold the laundry washed the night before while in bed in the am. On Tuesday when I strip the bed to change the linens, I strip in the morning while still in it. I let the bed breathe all day and make it up again just before we go to bed. I hate sheets and have found this is the only way I actually change the bedding every week. If I have to strip and remake the bed at the same time – it just doesn’t get done.
Carolyn Fitzpatrick says
I have to agree with you having a clean kitchen does make a big difference in my day is also. I would also like to know what is the name and color of the Formica counter tops.
Laura Wittmann says
Hi Carolyn, thank you so much. We just had the counters put in last year and really wanted something that would work with our older cabinets. The laminate countertop is called Antique Mascarrello. Hope that helps!
Hedy Hahn says
I love a clean kitchen too. Ours is sort of our family room because we have an island and use it for everything. I found that I don’t like getting up to a mess so I try and put everything into the dishwasher at night before bed. When I’m finished eating, I wipe down the stove and counters, no kids live here to help. I’m rather neat so the bed gets made each morning and things are put away. I do like your blog and especially your kitchen that looks original, not one of these all white and gray kitchens.
Laura Wittmann says
Thank you Hedy, I really try and keep it real here so I sure appreciate your comment!
Jenn says
A clean kitchen is a must for me! It’s actually part of my night routine so I wake up to a clean kitchen every morning. For me, if it is not done I feel out of sorts haha.
I love your kitchen layout! It’s so open and airy. We just bought a new home and although I love my kitchen we do not have a window so it makes it feel closed in. I just love how yours is set up.
Anne-Cathrine Nyberg says
Can’t do it in the morning as I am off to work and leave at 7 am, and no way am I getting up earlier then I already have to!
But I hate getting up to a cluttered kitchen so I or someone else in the household tidy up in the evening instead
Laura Wittmann says
That’s great, everyone must do what works for their family as every situation is so different.