As kids return to school from a long summer, a bittersweet transition is back into a regular routine and schedule. Rules during the summer tend to be looser. When school is back in session, some peace comes with routine. However, in the transition, it can feel chaotic to reestablish the organization and structure, which is likely lacking in the lazy days of summer.
How do you get back on track with home organization and cleaning amidst the back-to-school chaos? Our professional cleaning service has some heavy-hitting tips to help you get and stay organized during back-to-school season.
Make a Chore Schedule
A schedule helps show what time is available for chores. Even a 15-minute window can work for a quick chore to keep space organized. The schedule should include all family members responsible for cleaning, organizing, or other tasks (such as pet care).
As always, a calendar or schedule visual will help make adjustments without forgetting anything when things come up.
Plan Ahead
If you have a schedule, planning is possible. Consider the steps needed to support the organization over chaos. Add these steps to the calendar as well. For example, if meal prep needs to happen on Sunday afternoons for easy lunches or dinners, block the time on the calendar.
Planning ahead also includes having the supplies and tools needed to accomplish the scheduled tasks. This means having cleaning supplies on hand, making a grocery list, and shopping to be ready with fresh food in time for meal prep.
Make it a Habit
In the book Atomic Habits by James Clear, he suggests, pairing new habits with existing ones, among other things. This leads to greater success in building a new habit. For example, if someone wakes up and brushes their teeth consistently, they can attach a small chore to this routine.
When it comes to back-to-school habits, consider when a student comes home, they hang up their backpack and sit down for a snack. Right after the snack, they do a quick chore before starting homework. Or, after dinner, if they clear the table, add a chore such as taking out the trash.
Think about which habits are already in place and how to maximize them by adding a relevant new chore.
Take It in Manageable Chunks
During the week, when the schedule is busiest, keep chores short and sweet—block time on weekends for bigger projects. Consider how larger chores could be broken down, such as doing one load of laundry per day rather than everything on the weekend.
Keep in mind your students’ ages, and give them age-appropriate tasks. Too many tasks or those that are too complicated will lessen the chance of completing them successfully and may cause stress and drama.
Keep it Fun
Whenever possible, make chores fun. Music, prizes, races, or contests are good ways to bring fun into organizing and cleaning.
Chore charts are commonly used to outline tasks, offer a simple way to track progress, and reward positive behavior. If it makes sense for your family, ask your kiddos what reward they’d like to work towards. Keep small rewards in play as they build to the larger ones so they don’t lose interest.
For example, a dollar a week can help them build up, with the big reward being that you double the money when they hit a certain amount. This allows them to buy something bigger they’ve had their eye on.
Recruit Cleaning Help
Many hands make light work. Small chunks mean more hands might be needed, but it also means things will get handled. For big projects, asking for help from friends or family is a great idea. Sometimes, the “all hands on deck” approach can help set things up to make maintenance easier.
An example would be using a residential cleaning company for regular weekly cleaning, making it easier during the week to do a quick tidy and a load of laundry. Another example could be organizing a bedroom so toys have a place or creating a clean, clear desk and shelf for homework.
Remember Downtime
Keeping chores light and fun is important for mental and physical health. The ultimate goal is to plan for downtime and focus on relationships that matter. Busy schedules can create full experiences of extracurricular activities. But they can also rob us of life, keeping us too busy to appreciate each other.
Remember to keep time available to restore and connect with yourself and others.
Contact A Cleaning Service for Cleaning with Care
If getting through household chores is a struggle, let A Cleaning Service give you an extra hand. This will free up time to spend on the relationships that matter: those with your kids, family, and friends.
A Cleaning Service has over 30 years of experience in the cleaning business. Our customers trust our expertise to handle the weekly chores that often fall through the cracks during busy back-to-school schedules.Homeowners in the Greater Washington DC, Virginia, and Maryland areas can learn why we are award-winning and gain the trust and confidence of residents year after year. Contact us today for a quote or more information on how our cleaning services can assist with your residence, home office, or commercial cleaning needs.