This is part two of a three part series on how to Rock your single mom life.
Following up with last weeks post on how to rock your budget as a single mom, I wanted to share with you how I run my household. It can be really challenging to keep up with work, household chores, shopping, kids and everything that comes with running your house…..ALONE. Over the course of the last 4 years, I have developed a system that really works for us, and hopefully, I will help you figure out how to manage your household as well. Surviving as a single mom is really learning how to make your life easier.
Have Less Stuff
One of the things that I quickly discovered, was that the more things I had in my house, the harder it was to keep up. So, I started selling things like crazy. This was great for me in several ways: I made extra money that I used towards paying off debt, and I decreased the amount of items I had in my house. Once I decreased the amount of “stuff” that my daughter and I had, it was easy to keep things organized and clean.
When you look around your house, if all you see is clutter-shoes, toys, books, etc, you become stressed. It will be hard to maintain your sanity and a decently clean house if you constantly are overwhelmed with your stuff.
First, spend a few weeks going through ALL of your items. Sell what you don’t use or don’t need anymore. Use that money to help pay off your debt or catch up on bills. How many toys does your child really need? How much furniture do you need? How many extra purses, shoes, coats, etc do you need? You can do so much with so little and it will be so much easier to keep it clean and maintained.
Second, spend the next few weeks organizing everything you have left. Everything should have a proper place. If it doesn’t, evaluate if you need that item. Get the kids involved with this as well, so they know where their stuff belongs. The entire purge/organize system took me about a year, so don’t stress if it takes you a while….The end result will be worth it!
Get Your Kids Involved
Your kids should start helping you out from a really early age. It is important to teach them responsibility and you’d be surprised what a 2 year old can do! Start with having them put their shoes in their room, putting their trash in the trash can, and feeding the dog (with help). As they get older, add more items to their responsibility list. This will help you out because your kids will learn how to pick up after themselves and it will start teaching them how to become responsible and mature adults.
Do the 15-Minute Hustle
HUH? This is the BEST tip that I have and has saved my sanity over and over. I started doing this when my daughter was about 6 months old. After I put her to bed, I spent 15 minutes doing a mad dash around the house. For 15 minutes, I would pick up the living room, clean a bathroom, clean the kitchen or put clothes away. Intense focus for 15 minutes-You’d be shocked at how much you can do with no distractions. After that 15 minutes, sit down, relax, and turn on some Netflix or go to bed. Doing this every single night will really help to keep things clean and prevent being overwhelmed on the weekend.
Do Everything At Night
Run the dishwasher every night. EVERY NIGHT. I promise, this will help keep the kitchen clean. Pack lunches at night. Wash and prepare bottles and place them in the fridge. Pack your bag. Pack your kids bag. Pick out everyone’s clothes and lay them out (down to socks, shoes and underwear). Bathe and shower everyone the night before. Preparing for the following day the night before will help your morning run much more smoothly.
Enlist Help Where You Need It
If you can afford it, outsource a few things. I have a professional housekeeper one day a month. She really helps me keep my house deep cleaned and takes some of the pressure off of me. Maybe you need someone to meal prep for you. Maybe you need a dog walker. If you have the funds, or can trade services with someone, figure out what will help you keep your sanity and enlist help where you need it. When we are doing things alone, it can be really hard to admit we need a little help, but ultimately, we all need it from time to time. So, find someone you trust, ask your friends about trading services, figure out how you can afford it, and enlist a little bit of help. For me, I know that the cost of a housekeeper is 2.5 hours of my work. If I pick up an extra day (12 hours), it makes sense to me to pick up that extra shift and have her come clean for me. Maybe you have a friend needs a babysitter for date night or needs a haircut? If you could offer her those services, and she cleans your house one day, I’d call that a Win-Win!!
Give Yourself Some Grace
Remember that you are human. You are doing an amazing job. You are providing for your kids, running a household, and making sure everyone’s needs are met. It is OK if your house is a little messy, unorganized, and chaotic. No ones house is perfect. No ones life is perfect. Your kids love you and think you are a great mom. At the end of the day, remember what is important.
Hopefully these tips will help you realize that not only can you survive as a single mom, you can thrive as a single mom! Yes, it is the hardest thing you will ever do, but also the most rewarding. God has called you to raise these kids and care for them and no one is better for that job than YOU!!! What are some of your favorite tips to help you run your household as a single mom? I’d love to hear them!
This is Part Two of a three part series. Part one is about your finances, and part three is about self-care. Check them out!