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Organization Tips to Help You Juggle Home and Work
This October marks 8 years in business as the Organized Chick! It’s so incredible to look back on this journey and think about all of the incredible clients I have had the opportunity to help. Looking at before-and-after photos of projects that I have worked on over the years is so much fun to reminisce on. I have had the pleasure of seeing spaces transform but most importantly, people have transformed through the organizing process. In my 8 years of being a professional organizer I’ve also learned a great deal about balance; how to run a successful business and maintain a happy and healthy family!
I too wish that my weekends were longer and work days offered more family and personal time. Being in business for myself has definitely tested these limits. I have often found myself overextended and working long hours but through it all, I have learned some great tricks to keep myself organized and maximize family time together! Learning to balance home and work is possible with a little elbow grease, ingenuity, and most importantly intentional behavior. Realizing your why and making a dedication to focus on what really matters.
#1 | Utilize a Family Calendar or White Board
Easily keep track of everyone’s schedule with a family calendar or whiteboard placed in a central location, like the kitchen. Many of us respond well to visual information, so, by keeping a calendar that includes each family member, we can easily see what our week entails! Try color-coding each family member’s task to make it even more visually organized.
#2 | Dedicate a space for daily work and school items
Have you ever felt in a panic because you can’t find you keys-purse-homework-shoes and are already running behind? Maybe you’re trying to get the kids out the door and they frequently miss the school bus because their backpack is wedged under the sofa or their left shoes cannot be found. Consider a series of coat hooks or cube organizers to corral daily work and school items. By decluttering your entryway and dedicating a space for these items, you can save yourself both time and stress each morning!
#3 | Schedule ‘Me’ Time
I am a firm believer that everyone needs personal time. Moms especially know that we can’t be the best for our families if we’re not taking care of ourselves. I highly encourage you to find out what self-care means to you and dedicated time for it. Whether that means scheduling time to go to the gym, get together with friends, or read a book; get it on the calendar so it becomes part of your routine.
#4 | Develop a Chore Routine
Instead of spending every weekend catching up on chores and tidying the house, develop a chore routine that spreads all of your tasks across the week. By breaking your list into smaller chunks, you will only spend about 30 minutes a day taking care of home tasks and you will be able to reclaim your weekends! Get your family (or roommates) involved to maximize efficiency and share the workload! Challenge your family to declutter every day.
#5 | Take Breaks During Your Day
Balancing home and work isn’t just about balance at home! We spend 40 (or more) hours at our place of business…that’s a lot of time. Therefore, it is imperative that we find balance in our workday as well. Taking breaks during your day to take a walk, enjoy your lunch, or run non-work-related errands can help you both work efficiently and decrease stress. Maintaining an organized and tidy workspace can also help you work with ease; consider using a portion of each day to declutter and organize your desk.
Balance can be achieved! It may take a little creativity and changes to your current routine, but I promise, it is worth it! Honey…you and your family are worth it! Get everyone involved. Discuss a new break plan with your supervisor or coworkers. Invest in a few small items to keep track of your schedule. Dedicate a place for daily items. Reclaim your weekends, spend more time doing what your love, and GET and STAY ORGANIZED!
Contributed by S. Walter
