Home Organization - Edited by Laura Wheeler

Creating Lasting Routines for You and Your Family

 Routines are often thought of as drudgery. But if you look at them in a different way, they become a powerful tool that can help you take charge of the things that matter so you have more time to enjoy life.

Routines can be built around anything from scheduled chores, to tucking the kids in at night. They can help you change nasty habits, when you replace a negative thing with a positive one, and they can help you have structure around which to remember to do occasional things which we sometimes put off because life is so hectic.

A routine is really just a set of habits. You build a routine one habit at a time.

You start early with children, and you already have routines even if you do not identify them as such. Getting the kids up in the morning usually happens in a predictable manner in each home. It may happen differently - an alarm, the baby crying, mom muttering sleepily at the kids, Dad knocking on their bedroom doors, etc. They know when they get up what is expected before breakfast. An infant starts with just getting up and being dressed for the day by a parent, but as they grow and become more involved in the events around them, an expectation of what comes next develops.

Bedtime routines are the same. Most homes have routines for lunchtime, snacktime, or other occurances throughout the day.

The great thing about a routine is that it provides a structure on which to gain a little more control over your life. We talked in step one about developing habits, and how you can add one habit a month. If you piggyback that habit onto an existing routine, it is more likely to succeed.

If I want to begin to read from a book each day with my child, I can do that right after lunch. Lunch happens every day, so it gives me a built in reminder to read the story. Especially when you are trying to get in meaningful periods of intense work on something other than family, a routine can help your children know what to expect when you are busy, and give them a set of guidelines to follow.

If I want to make sure the house is clean each morning, then right after breakfast, but before everyone dashes out for the bus, is a good time to check bedrooms and make sure the major dirt gathering areas are spot cleaned. There are already predictable events occuring, so it is simple to add one to it.

Routines are not life. But they sure can provide a nice framework around which a contented life is more likely to occur when those routines are thoughtfully planned and maintained.

1. Building Life Changing Habits

2. Decluttering and Doing 5 Minute Swift Attacks

3. Creating Lasting Routines for You and Your Family

4. Moving up to Improvement and Beautification