SAHMs: 5 Ways to Organize Your Life

When the mantra of a house is "anything goes," you may be certain that everything will. Laundry will be lost, mold will form in your refrigerator, your papers will get lost or accidentally thrown away, and the disarray will be reflected in the attitudes and actions of your children. If you are getting weary of the chaos but aren't sure how to turn things around in your home, start with a few of these suggestions:

1. Plan your trips to the store. If you are dashing out of the house to run to the store every day or every other day, it is time to start a family menu. Aim to make only one trip to the grocery store per week by making grocery lists for the following week on Saturdays or Sundays. Reducing trips to the store will also reduce the stress and tension that comes with trying to quickly dress and shuffle your kids outside, into the car and through a busy store. Limiting grocery store runs also carries the added benefit of saving you money.

2. Institute laundry days. Doing laundry as it comes in is a waste of your time and energy. Pick one or two days during the week on which you will do laundry. On those days, do all of the laundry in your house, fold it and put it away. If you need something on an off-day that is dirty, learn live without it. Doing this will keep laundry from nagging you every day, and it will also give you a completely fresh start once or twice a week.

3. Wash dishes as you use them. One of my most-dreaded house chores is doing dishes. I find this feeling is magnified greatly when I have more than a sink-full waiting for me. Several months ago I started washing up dishes quickly after breakfast and lunch. Since there are so few dishes, they clean up quickly and I feel good about my consistently cleaner kitchen.

4. Go outside every day. You and your children need to spend time outdoors. The sunshine and vitamin D will do wonders for your outlook, and the exercise and fresh air will benefit your children. Children who play outside every day sleep better and keep off excess weight easier. Take walks, go to the park, or simply let your kids play in the yard while you read a book.

5. Have a place for everything. Bills, school papers, office supplies, newspapers and magazines, CDs, etc., all need a place to call home. When miscellaneous papers and other items are strayed casually around your home, you are unwittingly creating a chaotic environment. If you have children who are tense, unable to focus or calm down, or disorderly in their manners, take a good look around your house and see if the atmosphere could be contributing to their problem.

Lack of structure and routine can leave a stay at home mom feeling unmotivated, irritable and overwhelmed. These same problems may also contribute to children who are hyperactive or hypoactive, and other behavioral issues. Take a step back and evaluate the atmosphere in your home. By de-cluttering your house, planning trips to the store, spending time outside, instituting a laundry day, and keeping up with your dishes, you will reduce stress and create a more comfortable environment for your entire family.