Whatever you’re facing in your reproductive or family journey, one thing is sure: Life still happens. It can be hard to keep your home in order when things get busy or feel overwhelming.
You might feel like you can’t possibly clean up when you hardly have enough time to sleep or shower. And while you certainly shouldn’t be hard on yourself if it doesn’t always get done, there are ways to maintain your home while dealing with it all.
Clean home tips for a hectic lifestyle
Even if you’re not typically the tidiest person, living in a messy environment can elevate your stress and make it harder to focus — so keeping things clean is particularly crucial if you work from home.
Here are some tips to help you maintain a tidy space.
Recruit help
If you feel like cleaning your home mostly falls on you, a family chore chart might help. They can make it easier to divvy up tasks. Plus, it takes the pressure off you to remind each person what they’re supposed to do.
If it’s within your budget, consider having a professional cleaning service come to your home once or twice a month. You can also reach out to nonjudgmental friends and family who can help you take on the tasks at hand. Buy some pizza or make an easy dessert to thank them for their much-needed support.
Try 5-minute nightly clean-ups
If the thought of cleaning your entire home seems insurmountable, try straightening up for five minutes every night before bed instead. Set a timer and do whatever you can — you might be surprised how much cleaner your space is after just five minutes!
Do one thing before leaving a room
Each time you leave a room, do one thing to make it cleaner. This could be bringing an empty cup to the kitchen, taking out the garbage, pushing in the chairs, folding a blanket, or putting shoes away.
Get tools and supplies that make it easier
Cleaning might not be fun, but it doesn’t have to be particularly hard or complicated. With that in mind, consider tools and supplies that make it easier.
For instance, if you cringe at the thought of vacuuming because your vacuum is cumbersome or there aren’t enough accessible outlets, a cordless stick vac might solve this issue. Or, in a pinch, grab that sticky roller and take care of annoying lint and dust around the house.
Or if your kitchen towels always seem to be in the laundry when you need them to wipe down the counters, disposable cleaning wipes could be a simple solution. For those who prioritize eco-friendliness, there are many non-toxic, biodegradable options.
Try a few things, see what works, and figure out a plan to maintain a cleaner, more pleasant space where you can breathe a little easier and relax a bit.
