From Chaos to Calm Actionable Tips for a More Organized Home Life
Family life these days can be stressful. Many parents must work more hours to make ends meet. They sign kids up for multiple activities to give them every opportunity possible. Meanwhile, video games and social media seep into every spare minute at home, stealing time family members might have spent resting or hanging out together. No wonder family life feels like a race with no finish line. But strategies to give yourself a little breathing room can be surprisingly simple. Here are six ideas to help everyone at your house feel calmer and more in control. Restore Routines Sticking to set times to finish chores can lend a sense of order. Setting homework, housework, and bedtime schedules can be calming for children. Teach your child to perform basic tasks at the same time every day, such as making their bed. For parents, planning set times to pay bills or shop for groceries can restore a sense of control. This strategy may seem obvious, but the rush to meet other commitments can easily eclipse common-sense habits. Plan as a Team Post a family calendar in a central location, such as on the refrigerator, and make updating it a shared weekly task. Some families with older kids use a digital calendar synced to everyone’s devices, but paper is better for teaching young children the process of collaborative viewing and updating. Set a time every week to huddle about the coming week. Include homework due dates, errands, activities, and household routines to make sure essential jobs get done. Delegate a household task to each child, and add due dates to the
by praising them for getting off to a calm, well-planned start. This skill, instilled early, can make your child’s adult working life far easier.
Set Limits FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) is rampant among families. Parents often over-commit to too many activities in an effort not to miss any valuable opportunities. As difficult as it is to say no when your child asks to take part in too many activities, it is essential to preserve order. Establishing boundaries around your children’s commitments will teach them two valuable skills: setting priorities and valuing free time. Both are essential to a fulfilling, sustainable life. Don’t Procrastinate Much of the stress in families’ home lives springs from a mad rush to meet commitments in too short a time. Cultivate a habit of looking ahead at future deadlines and demands, and stop trying to save time by cutting it close. If your soccer player needs to arrive at practice on time, allow 30 minutes for the 20-minute drive. If your fourth grader needs supplies for next week’s fundraiser, shop for them this weekend rather than the night before the event.
Encourage Realistic Standards As odd as it may seem in our highly competitive culture, settling for less than perfection can go a long way toward de-stressing your home life. Setting perfectionistic standards can lead children to feel stressed and defeated before they start. Aim for positivity rather than perfection. Ask more questions rather than making demands. Say, “What is your plan for homework tonight?” rather than, “You need to get started on your homework.” This subtle change will empower your children to build a sense of personal mastery. As subtle as these changes may seem, they have helped countless families extract order from chaos. Try them yourself — and enjoy the sense of calm and control that will result!
calendar. Enjoy watching your kids learn teamwork, organizational skills, and accountability!
The 10-Minute Prep Teach your children every evening to plan ahead for the next day. Join them in a 10-minute planning session to lay out their clothes and gather all the necessary supplies. Reinforce the habit the next morning
2 • 678.902.2822
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator