For one, you have to adopt a mindset that housework is as big a part of your everyday schedule as tasks assigned to you by your boss. By thinking this way, you never tend to put off tasks that are quite easy when addressed immediately but get very tedious if left to build up – cleaning and maintenance are two things that quickly come to mind.
By treating housework as you would your job, you will go about it in a more organized manner. Like you would schedule meetings, calls, and fieldwork, you can organize what needs to be done at home in chunks ordered according to urgency and importance. You can test and fine-tune this new system in the kitchen as it is the one room in your house that is always bustling with activity. This sample kitchen planning guide will help you get started.
1. A good starting point in being organized around the house is getting yourself a daily planner like the one you have at work.
2. Take the time to sit down and plan an efficient schedule, complete with tasks and their descriptions, as well as the time needed to finish them. Be sure to include essential tasks like:
- Leftovers and produce older than two weeks must be cleaned out of the fridge to make room for fresh supplies.
- Don’t overlook the upkeep of your kitchen cabinets. Clean the doors as they tend to accumulate dust and splashes. Keeping them clean will make them last longer.
- Once a week, take the time to do an inventory on one cupboard. Throw out expired items and wrappers.
This allows you to monitor how much food supply you have left and shop more effectively. By cleaning out your cupboards, you can also plan more creative kitchen storage solutions. By knowing what you have and where they are, all tasks will be made easier.
3. In addition to jobs that you do semi-regularly, you have to also make a schedule for your day-to-day activities. By setting aside a specific time for cooking, cleaning, and garbage disposal, you make more efficient use of your time and also ensure that you don’t forget anything.
Also, be sure to:
- Wash all dishes to prevent them piling up and for hygienic reasons.
- Wipe down and disinfect your countertops and work surfaces.
- Sweep the kitchen floor to prevent slips and accidents.
- Throw out the garbage and line the bin with a fresh bag.
Making sure that you perform the above without fail will go a long way into making your kitchen cleaner, safer, and more pleasant overall.
The only downside to shifting to this system is the initial confusion as you get yourself used to working on schedule. When the tasks become second-nature due to repetition and you getting the hang of it all, things will seem effortless and even fun.
