How I Keep My Home Running Smoothly with a Simple Chore System
When life gets busy, keeping the house in order can feel overwhelming. Between daily responsibilities, taking care of all our animals, and finding time for myself, I knew I needed a system that was simple, realistic, and actually worked. After plenty of trial and error, I found a routine that keeps my home running smoothly without taking up all my time.
Why a Chore System Matters
For me, a clean and organized home helps reduce stress and keeps everything feeling calm. But I didn’t want to spend hours every day scrubbing and tidying. That’s where my simple chore system comes in. It breaks tasks into manageable steps, making it easy to stay on top of things without burning out.
My Simple Chore System
I break my chores down into three categories: daily tasks, weekly tasks, and monthly deep cleaning. Here's how it works:
Daily Tasks (15-30 Minutes Total)
These are the small but essential things I do each day to keep my home feeling fresh:
- Morning: Make the bed, load or unload the dishwasher, do a load of laundry, wipe down countertops, vacuum common area rugs.
- Afternoon: Pick up clean of common areas.
- Evening: Load the dishwasher after dinner, take out trash, set up kitchen for morning routine.
💬 Pro Tip: Setting a timer for 15 minutes makes these tasks feel even more manageable.
Weekly Tasks (30-60 Minutes Each)
I assign one bigger task to each weekday to avoid feeling overwhelmed:
- Monday: General laundry - this includes bedding, pet beds, throw blankets, cleaning towels, etc.
- Tuesday: Dusting surfaces and wiping down mirrors.
- Wednesday: Outdoor yard work.
- Thursday: Cleaning out the fridge and wiping down kitchen appliances. This is especially helpful as Thursdays are my meal planning days for the week so having my fridge organized helps me figure out what is available before making a grocery list. So I'd suggest this chore to be assigned to the day you choose to meal plan.
- Friday: My weekly full house clean. I clean my house, in a general sense, every Friday- top to bottom. This is not a deep clean but I am going through each room and obviously this may take me longer than an hour, so some things get moved around as needed. If needed, I will finish up on Saturday morning.
💬 Pro Tip: I listen to a podcast or music playlist to make these weekly chores feel less like a chore.
Monthly Deep Cleaning
Once a month, I dedicate a little extra time to deep-cleaning tasks that make a big difference, this can include:
- Wiping baseboards
- Cleaning ceiling fans
- Washing windows
- Organizing drawers or cabinets
- Cleaning curtains
- Deep cleaning appliances
💬 Pro Tip: I often pick one or two monthly tasks and knock them out while I’m already doing my weekly cleaning, again dependent on the time available to me.
How I Stay Motivated
- Checklists Are My Best Friend: I keep a simple checklist in a notebook so I can mark tasks off as I go. I prefer the pen and paper method, but you may want to do this on your phone or tablet.
- Reward Yourself: Whether it’s enjoying a cup of coffee after finishing my morning tasks or relaxing with a book at the end of my cleaning day, rewarding myself keeps me motivated.
- Embrace Flexibility: Some days get busy, and that’s okay. If I skip a task, I just pick up where I left off the next day or when I am able.
Final Thoughts
Having a simple, flexible chore system has been a game changer for me. It keeps my home feeling organized without adding stress to my day. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by household tasks, try starting with just 10-15 minutes a day, you’d be surprised how much it helps!
➡️ Follow me on Instagram (@living_in_wonderland) for more simple home organization tips and routines!
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