My most popular blog post is 5 Simple Steps to Staying Organized. Want to know why? Because the number 1 question asked by ANYONE who finds out I’m a professional organizer is How do you STAY organized?
Many people have some sense of organization and have the ability to do it themselves. The hard part is keeping things organized. Life happens, items get used, things get out of place. It gets messy sometimes! The key to staying organized is consistency, that’s why I do a weekly reset.
What’s a weekly reset, you ask? It’s simple. It is taking time each week to reset your spaces and plan out your time to prepare for the upcoming week. Think about those chores that need to get done weekly and you have your list. I’ve found that completing the following chores at the beginning of each week really helps set me up for a low stress week so I can focus on my family and my business.
Put all items back in their homes
The number one rule in your house should be “put things back after you use them.” This will help this part of your weekly reset go quickly. If everyone is putting items back where they belong as soon as they are done being used, there won’t be much tidying up to do. If it will take you the same amount of time to set the item down, you might as well put it where it belongs.
Clean out your fridge and take inventory of pantry items
Toss out old takeout and that weird moldy container that’s shoved all the way in the back of the fridge! Wipe down the inside of your fridge and then head to the pantry. Take a look at what items need to be replenished and add them to the grocery list. Any items about to expire? Make sure you use them during the meal planning portion. This will get you prepped and ready for step number 3!
Meal plan and grocery shop
Meal planning is the easiest way to improve your week. After a long day, the last thing I want to think about is “What’s for dinner?” When I have enough time and energy, I cook several meals on Sunday to reheat throughout the week. When I was a teacher, I would pack my lunches for the week so it was grab and go in the mornings.
Don’t have time to grocery shop? Order your groceries for pick up or even delivery! I discovered last week that with your Amazon Prime subscription, you can get groceries delivered from Whole Foods the next day. Keep it simple with easy meals with pantry staples and a couple go-to recipes. Having an especially busy week? Plan what nights you need to order take out!
Laundry
I prefer to do all of my laundry in one day. Other households like to do loads throughout the week. It is totally up to you and what works best for you! I would rather just knock it all out in one day rather than folding clothes every single day. This works for me because I can wash loads in between all of my other weekly reset chores and then fold, hang, and put away everything at the end of the day. That’s right, don’t leave it in the dryer or in the hamper. Don’t pile it on that chair in your room or on the couch. Finish that laundry!
Jam on my planner
That’s the Leslie Knope way of saying, write out my schedule. I look at my calendar, write every meeting in my planner, set reminders or alerts in my phone, and coordinate with my husband’s schedule. Have kids? This is the time to sit down with your partner and map out the kid’s schedules for the week too. Who has time to pick up on Wednesday? Who’s in charge of dinner on Thursday? Little Timmy has soccer practice Tuesday and Thursday, you get the idea. Taking ten minutes to “jam on your planner” with your partner will eliminate the “who’s in charge of what?” that causes stress throughout the week.
Surface cleaning
The best thing I have ever done for myself was hire a cleaning service. There is no better feeling than coming home to a spotless house that I didn’t have to touch. I have them come every other week to do the deep cleaning. Weekly, I do what I call surface cleaning. I wipe down surfaces and sweep the floors. With my new handy cordless Dyson though, I’ve been vacuuming a lot more! I’m telling you, look at your budget, find where you are spending (or wasting) money and use it to treat yourself to a cleaning service, even once a month! IT IS SO WORTH IT!
What else helps to set you up for success weekly? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
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