Peaceful Home Part 6: Housekeeping

A peaceful home housekeeping

You probably knew it was coming. Laundry. Dirty dishes. Clutter.

It’s hard to be peaceful inside if we are surrounded by a cluttered mess. I’m not saying your home should be perfect, but a peaceful home is neat and tidy enough that we can use our spaces. We should be able to walk from room to room without fear of tripping, sit down on the couch without moving a pile of laundry, or find something when we need it.

A well-ordered home inspires a peaceful feeling.

I promised earlier in the week that I was going to share my cleaning secret with you, and here it is–the 10-minute tidy.

10 minutes is a short amount of time. No matter how busy you are, you can find just 10 minutes in your day. But at the same time, it is powerful!

  • You can do a lot in 10 minutes. Yes, it’s short enough to be doable, but it’s still plenty of time to be productive. You might be surprised at how much you can get accomplished in just 10 minutes.
  • Consistency is key. Do this every single day (we do it twice–once just before my husband comes home from work, and once just before bedtime).

Spending just 10 minutes, 1-2 times a day tidying up the house can help you keep your home from getting out of hand. Another bonus is that productivity is motivating! Many times after I finish that first 10 minutes, I’m motivated to do more things that need to be done.

So, make it a point to spend 10 minutes tidying up each day. Get your kids involved and race the timer. Make it fun!

Action Steps

Other things that I have found helpful in housekeeping,

  • Declutter. Most of us have too much stuff! That stuff weighs us down, and clutters up our homes. Get rid of things you don’t need.
  • Practice gratitude. Cleaning can be a bit of a drag. One day, I overheard my son in his room picking up his toys. As he picked up each item, he thanked God for it. What a difference it would make in the tone of our homes if we were to practice gratitude in the midst of the drudgery of laundry and dirty dishes.
  • Listen to music. I love to listen to music while I’m doing housework! My current favorite is this CD.
  • Start fresh. As much as possible, I like to start fresh each day. That means that dishes are washed the night before and rooms have been at least tidied up before bedtime. This makes a world of difference. Starting the day with a messy house means that you’re behind from the first minute you wake up. I love to wake up to a clean house!
  • Maintain. Consistency is key when it comes to keeping house, and slowly I have learned to implement this. Working just a little bit each day will keep your home well-ordered and help make it a haven for your family.

Continue reading here: Homeschooling: When Things Don't Go As Planned

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