Ditch the Drama, Not Your Sanity
Simplifying my life with systems (not as boring as it sounds HA!)
Personal Hook:
I’ll never forget the day I realized I was spending more time organizing my kitchen than playing with my 2-year-old. He was trying to “help” me by handing me a toy while I was folding laundry, and I brushed him off, saying, “Just a minute, sweetie, I need to get this folded first.” As I looked down at his adorable face, it hit me – I wasn’t being present in the moment. That’s when I started thinking about how to simplify my life with systems.
The Realization:
I’d always been the type of person who loved cleaning and organizing (much to the dismay of my friends). But after having two boys, I realized that my priorities had shifted. I wanted to be present in their lives, not stuck in a never-ending cycle of tidying up. One day, while reading Meditation for Mortals, I stumbled upon a quote that resonated with me: “A perfectly kept house is the sign of a misspent life.” It was like a lightbulb went off – I didn’t want to look back on my life and think about all the time I spent cleaning instead of playing with my kids.
The Hack:
So, I started implementing systems in my daily routine. Here are some ideas that have helped me simplify my life:
- Keep socks on the porch by our shoes in a bin
- Organize cabinets and closets with bins
- Create a capsule wardrobe for myself and the kids
- Permanent donation bin in the hall closet
- Laundry bin for just towels
- Cute towels for boys and a new towel rack they can reach
- Organize medicine and use a label maker
- Cleaning schedule to keep me on track
- Meal schedule using a binder with daily themes (e.g., Taco Tuesday, Meat Monday)
- Siri playlists to easily play music all day
- Cleaning caddy in the basement with supplies that I refill as needed
- Kids’ yes zone in the kitchen for snacks they can access
- Outdoor string lights on timer
- Fixing the ice machine in the freezer (yes, it’s a thing!)
- Toy storage in a closet with labeled bins and daily rotation
Reflection:
Implementing these systems has been a game-changer for me. I’ve been able to reduce my cleaning time significantly, which means more quality time with my kids. It’s amazing how something as simple as having a designated spot for toys can make such a big difference in our daily lives.
Funny Fail Moment: I tried to implement a “one-touch rule” where I’d put away every toy and book as soon as they were used, but it ended up being a disaster. My 2-year-old would just hand me an entire basket of toys and say, “Mommy, clean this!” Needless to say, that system didn’t quite work out…
