Unveiling my low-maintenance home management system that actually WORKS!
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- Опубліковано 4 жов 2024
- UPDATE! The Homemaker's Brain Box is officially available for purchase! Thank you, everyone, for the encouragement. You can find yours here:
homebrainbox.m...
Also: I have started to post a series of videos to help you see how to make this system for your own home. If you're interested, subscribing and tapping the bell is the best way to keep in touch. Because my channel is still small, I don't expect UA-cam to put me in your main feed very often. But we'll see!
I've seen a few posts asking about how we homemakers juggle all the "things." I've been tweaking this method for a couple of years now, and finally feel ready to share!
I wanted...
- to not have to re-make the same decisions every day
- but not have to re-make the whole system every time our schedule changed (dropping naps used to throw my whole rhythm off)
- in a system that wouldn't fall to pieces if I missed a day
I've tried SHE, FLYlady, CleanMama, Home Comforts... basically every method I could find, and can definitively say that THIS is the best. I've learned from each system and brought the best aspects together to make something new.
Everything fits in an index card file box (4x6).
First up is the "day" cards. I block out certain times of day for certain activities.
Each set of activities has either a deck of cards or a clip chart.
There are decks of cards for anything from outdoor activities (park day, bubbles, zoo) to cleaning routines (kitchen wipe-down, bathroom, vacuuming). When I pick up a deck, I start wherever I left off. The card gets moved to the back of the deck when we're done with it.
(My mom has a card system for chores, and when we were at home, she'd lay the day's chores out on the counter. She'd announce that the first kids to pick theirs would get the best ones, and of course we were motivated. So this card system is also great for delegating... my kids aren't quite old enough for that aspect, but I thought I'd throw that out there.)
The clip lists are like decks, but for tasks that are quick. I don't want to have to be going back to my file box every 5 minutes! So I flip the binder clips closed as I complete each task instead.
When the clock says it's time to move on, the to-dos go back into my box for later. I am 1000% comfortable with moving on with my day, even if I don't finish something. It will be there for me when that type of time block comes up again.
And because I have my time block cards mapped out, I know exactly when that'll be.
Neurodivergent friends have told me that this homekeeping system is ADHD-friendly and great for AuDHD as well!
So while I started as a frazzled mama, always thinking of the next to-do (or 10), I've finally started letting my system carry that mental load for me. I can focus on the things that matter most!
I call it The Homemaker's Brain Box 😊
Hey! Its Sarah from the group 😊
This is SO clever!
Can’t wait for this to be restocked! 🤩
I like this idea, but for me need something to help me figure out tasks I can do when my chronic health issues pop in & out. When I'm physically or mentally down, then harder to figure out what level of task that I can do. Often all I can do is set a timer & "do something" for 5 to 15 minutes before resting again. Having a pre-thought out list of 5 to 10 minute tasks might be a help.
I separate my tasks out into time blocks because that's what works for me. What if instead, there could be sections for how you're feeling? When you check in with yourself throughout the day, it would be easy to pick up whichever task is at the front.
Thank you for sharing! Not sure I can recreate this genius system for myself, but I hope to try. I’m a young mom of 2 under 2 and I struggle to get it all done every week.
You are so welcome. I had 2 under 2 when God started tutoring me toward this system. It's still a work in progress, but it has been such a great tool for our family.
I think my favorite part is that I don't have the to-dos looming over me while I rest. When I was trying to keep track of everything in my head, it's like the to-do list never ended. But now, there's a time for everything, including rest. Tonight, I played Candy Land with my family and didn't feel guilty about taking "time off" while there was a dirt spot on the floor waiting to be mopped. It was lovely! I feel like I finally get to enjoy being with my kids.
I'll post a video soon to help give you an idea of how to get started!
I like the system and the organization, but it feels overwhelming!
I hear you! I hope I'll get better at explaining it with practice. At its core, the system has just two parts: the schedule and the tasks.
A lot of the cleaning schedules I see online and in books make the task list *into* a schedule. It's simpler visually, but it falls to pieces whenever something unexpected comes up. That's why I separated out the flow of the day from the particular tasks to be done. Instead, the schedule helps you remember which *category* of tasks you want to focus on. When your schedule changes, it's easy to accommodate (and still keep your house clean).
I will be doing a step by step video soon, to help you see how making your own version is actually a lot easier than it looks. I hope you'll stick around!
Wow I love this sooo much. Thank you for sharing it with us all.
I would love some help with things like how time blocks work and recommendations on that- I’m not tidy. I’m not organized. I can fake it for work projects but that’s because I get a rabid honey Badger grip on it. I don’t know if I could make this work for me but boy I want to.
I see you. I used to just do whatever was top of mind, or easiest, or most urgent. It worked okay during some seasons of life, but... hang on. Did it? I can think of one season when that strategy actually resulted in a clean and peaceful house. It was when I was newlywed, worked part time, and had the summer off from school. Ha! Well, I certainly had the mental bandwidth for it back then.
I don't think of this system so much as having an iron grip on a routine, though that may be what it seemslike from the outside. This is just a system for recording and remembering my decisions, so that I can just make each choice once. It's past me coming to the rescue for my future self, doing my thinking ahead of time for days that I feel stretched so thin, overwhelmed, and don't even know where to start. I rely on it, but I don't feel restricted by it. I hope that makes sense.
My next few videos will walk through baby steps for making a system that works for you. I hope you'll stick around 😊
So, your loop decks you just complete in your block of time for the day, correct? And you complete as many cards as you have time for that day, and pick back up another day?
Do you make a block of time for each loop deck?
Clip list are things you’ll need to be doing very often/daily? Do you block out time for clip lists?
Or is that more a routine inside of the block of time- on a card in your loop deck?
lol hopefully you can understand my questions 😂😂😂
Yes and yes on your first two questions 😁
Each time block has either a loop deck or a clip list that goes with it. I suppose you could also use a combination, as long as you remember to check for both. Maybe you could put a task on the clip list to say, "Pick a card." I haven't explored that option much, but I could especially see it work well for homeschooling multiple kids and multiple subjects, or for if you'd like to program activities into your personal time.
Hi its sarah from the group 😊@@Sarah.the.Homemaker
Do you have a standard set that includes basic household chore (and other universal routine) loop decks? I would love to buy a set but don't want to start from scratch.
Yes, I do! I currently have a digital download that you can print straight onto 4x6 card. In July, I'll have physical copies available as well. Here is the link to the download!
homebrainbox.myshopify.com/products/complete-homemaking-task-cards-printable-4x6-index-cards-bonus-outdoor-task-cards