Today I’m officially starting chapter 4 of the Art of Homemaking.
It is entitled “A Place for Everything and Everything in it’s Place.” It is the longest chapter in the book (so long that it is actually broken up into 8 sections) and is chuck full of information and advice that really is pretty awesome. As I reread it I thought again about how the women in decades past elevated the occupation of homemaker from a station to an art.
These women were amazing, their dedication, organization, frugality, and desire to make their homes beautiful is something else. And I appreciate it…a lot…even if I’ve been accused (far more than once) of being a raving feminist.
The intro to the chapter says:
“An ideal homemaker realizes that order must be the first law of her home. With her home free from clutter and confusion, maximum progress and accomplishment may be enjoyed by family members. This helps bring about a tranquil atmosphere which is a blessing to all.”
Today I was at the hospital for some testing. My husband couldn’t be with me. He had to wait in a different area. Simon was at school and my girls were with my mom. We were all separated. As I lay there I started thinking about the title of this chapter…A Place for Everything and Everything in it’s Place…and I wanted all of us to be back where we belong, together in our place.
Tonight we are having our weekly family movie camp out. Everyone is piled here around me fast asleep, happy, fed, and all together…tonight everything is in it’s place….and Mrs. Hoole couldn’t be more right—It is a tranquil atmosphere and a blessing to all. Some days are crazy and some are frustrating and some are overwhelming but some days…some days are wonderful.
Now, while I’ve had my family on my brain this chapter is all about putting your home in order…and boy am I ready to dive into this. (Yes, I’m being serious…I don’t know if it’s spring fever, or what but I am so ready for this. Really ready.)
Mrs. Hoole writes in the chapter intro that:
“Habits can make or break us as homemakers. Habits become so automatic that we never even think about them or notice them, but oh, their effects…”
So before we dive into section 1 of A Place For Everything I’m wondering what GOOD habits do you have that help bring order to your home?
What do you do automatically everyday that helps to keep your home free from clutter and confusion?
Um..I’ll start. I think I mentioned this before but every morning before I turn on the computer I have to do my morning reading but before I do that I have to make my bed. So, since I do turn on the computer everyday I also make my bed everyday. Without fail. It’s one thing that will always be done—my bed will be made. It’s like clockwork.
Another is a quote that has been stuck in my head that is slowly but thankfully becoming a habit. The quote is: “Do it. Do it right. Do it right now.” And as weird as it sounds it’s changing my life. If I have something to do I just do it (even if I don’t want to)–and do it right and complete the first time and I do it as soon as I can–like right now, without waiting until I feel like it or tomorrow or whatever. This way of thinking/being is a habit I’d love to adopt so I’m working on it and slowly but surely it is changing me and my home…and one day I’m hoping it will just be automatic.
So how about you? What helpful habits do you have? or are working on?
Please do share…spread your awesomeness.
-liZ
*In completely unrelated news the van has been spider and web free for 6 days now—I think we got them! Hooray!
*In completely unrelated news the van has been spider and web free for 6 days now—I think we got them! Hooray!
A habit I developed when my 4 kids were young was I put a load of laundry in the washer each night before bed, when I got up I put it in the dryer, when it was done drying that load was folded and put in each childs basket. I never had laundry piling up nor did it seem a chore, it was just a routine and it only took me 10 minutes to fold. Each child had their own basket and had to put away what was in it each morning, being only one load there was not much for each person so it went swiftly. Now my kids are grown and moved out but it is still a habit I have kept.
gosh i love these posts! i am trying really hard not to be that multi-tasker to the max that i was. im a total work in progress though. im trying to get showered and dressed and have the house cleaned before doing anything else. it has helped a ton with how i feel and think. and i accomplish so much more in the day. something i started doing was cleaning out my car weekly. sounds crazy, but it has totally changed my mood. i cant handle messes and that one always stresses me out. so at least once a week we get 3 juice boxes and a coffee from mc donalds then head across the street and i clean out my car. it only takes a few minutes but helps my attitude so much! my biggest struggle are the laundry and meal planning. im still working on getting there. have a great weekend!! and hope you are well?
I hope people share some good habits because I am in desperate need of some! 🙂
One small thing I do is to clean up the kitchen before I start making dinner. Because we have dinner every day, the kitchen usually doesn’t get too terrible. Sometimes it makes dinner late, though; I probably should clean it earlier in the day.
I can relate to that one. Because we have 6 kids and a total of 8 in our house we always have dishes to do. I hate having to clean the kitchen before cooking (which is usually the case) because by the time the cooking and eating has finished the kitchen looks as bad as it did before we began 🙁
Hope your testing when okay.
I really like these posts. I’ve been trying to teach my daughter to do it right but I certainly should add the do it right now!
My best habit is having an empty sink (ie the dishes are done!!) before going to bed. There are a few days that it doesn’t happen but oh it is so nice to be able to start the day with a clean kitchen. I also used to do dishes after every meal but have relaxed to doing them after dinner, since it’s not worth fighting my daughter to let me do something not super urgent. I also pack my husband’s lunch the night before. Oh and making the bed- such an easy thing to do and it makes any room look more pulled together. I actually kind of get bugged by not making our beds before checking out of hotels. 🙂
Looking forward to the rest of the comments. 🙂
Since I hate folding an putting away laundry and if the clean dry laundry is put in a pile at the foot of our bed it will stay there until it rots, my habit is to fold and put away the laundry as it comes out of the dryer or leave it there until I have time to deal with it properly.
This is a great idea – I HATE washing as a chore and it always seems like such a big deal, and I have been trying really hard to make it into something that just happens. The timing of this seems like it would fit into any kind of day! Fantastic.
I like that you have a saying that goes through your head; I do too. Mine is “Don’t be lazy.” Same concept, to do whatever it is right now, and do it the right way. It’s helped me a lot since I adopted that saying.
I need a saying like that. I really like it. Ugh. I am so lazy.
One thing I did to try to become less lazy: I came up with a schedule for myself for an ideal day. I asked myself what would a perfect day of “homemaking” look like? Then, I jotted it down, and I keep it posted. I know that I won’t be able to do it every day, and some days I will still be lazy, but it’s a nice guide to refer to when I am having a hard time being motivated!
Jenna
callherhappy.com
Something that has really helped me a lot is making a list each Sunday of the things that need to be accomplished and things I WANT to accomplish. Not, just housework but errands, sewing projects, family time, stuff like that. This makes it easier for me to remember the things I want to do instead of filling my time with things that don’t have as much worth to me. I’m much happier too with what I can accomplish
I love these posts!! I have gotten my own book and I just love it. You and this book have inspired me to be better and do better. I have a habit that I just noticed is a habit that I do and don’t notice anymore. I clean up while I cook. While something is simmering or heating in the oven or anytime I’m waiting on something, I’ll clean up. So that when I’m done my clean up is close to nothing. I think that’s what I hated most about cooking. Was all the clean up afterwards. Something else I just started and hope to keep as a habit is chore charts. my children are super young and their chores consist of brush teeth, get dressed, and the like. Simple. So it has helped me do my own chores as I help them do theirs. Two for one. The children are learning to clean and I’m getting to clean things as well.
I love your saying and have adopted a similar one in my crafting since I realized it saves MORE work to rip it out as soon as you notice the mistake than to try to fix it as you continue. And it NEVER works or looks as good to “fix it as you go.”
Other habits I love (though I have a long list I’d like to add): I make the bed as soon as I’m out. I shower/get dressed/make-up & jewelry if I’m going to work and all-around get ready for the day before heading downstairs. I wash the dishes before/while cooking dinner (if I am just boiling a pot for pasta or baking something) then I leave the warm/soapy water in the sink for after-dinner dishes & wash the little items, leaving the big items to soak if needed. I like to get them ALL done before bed but if there isn’t enough room on the drier, I leave it for the next day.
I always clean/tidy the house & wash dishes before leaving for any overnight trips. I hate hate HATE coming home to a messy house after a vacation. It’s like a double-downer (leave a wonderful, relaxing place + messy homecoming).
I do the “take-an-item-with-you” when changing rooms/going up or down the stairs because I hate wasted efforts. This goes along with laundry – it’s all folded, in the basket, waiting to go upstairs then it gets put away before bed (or at least the intention is there; it may take 2 or 3 days). I love the cleaning-as-you-cook-habit, too 🙂
Thank you so much for these posts! They really make my day & help me meditate on ways to improve myself so much more than anything else lately!! 😀
I LOVE lists. It reminds me of what I wanted to get done, and the little shot of joy I get when I cross something off my list is motivating!
I live in South Spain, with a warm and soft weather. Since I live here (I moved 10 years ago) I have a washing machine I can make start 3, 6 or 9 hours after I push the button, so I use to delay the beggining 6 hours, when I’m still at work. When I come back home my laundry is almost finish, so I can hang it to dry during the night (I finish working at 23 hrs) and my clothes are dry in the morning. No more black clothes turning dirty grey (terrible sunlight!), no more crunchy clothes.
Another habit I have adopted is: if it’s dirty, clean it RIGHT NOW. No excuses. If you clean a little spot right now, it won’t grow up to became a mess.
Thank you for sharing!