I was listening to my almost 16 year old son explain to a college mathematics professor how to work as we were all sweating out in the hot sun of Jamaica this past July. The professor was slinging a sledge hammer, busting up concrete to help make way for a new concrete wall. He was working very hard and wearing himself out. My son said, “You need to work smarter, Mr. Samuel, not harder.” 
Now I don’t know where my child learned that, but he went on to show the professor how to let the weight of the hammer do the work. That’s pretty good thinking. And it applies to homemaking.
Working at home is just that: WORK. Anyone who stays at home, especially with the added responsibility of little children around, knows that it is work. If you work outside the home you either work yourself twice as hard with two jobs (both your paid job and your home job) or you let your home go and live with it, because something has to give.
There’s enough work in a home to last several lifetimes, if we’re honest about it, so its best to learn how to work smarter, not harder. Learn how to take all the laundry out of a room before leaving it, how to leave a basket at the bottom of the steps and fill it with things that need to go upstairs and take it all at once instead of many trips. Learn to be efficient. 
One of the biggest ways to work smarter in a home is to develop routines.
It can really be difficult to keep a home clean and somewhat organized, specially if you have little ones at home all day long. But, as a homekeeper, your job is to keep the home. Go ahead and embrace your job and do you best. And its easier to do a good job if you have a routine.
Here are some ideas you can build a homemaking routine from. No one said you had to have the house sparkling and the bathroom floors clean enough to eat off of every day. these ideas will simply help you to keep order and cleanliness in he midst of your chaos.
A clean home really does start in the evening. A properly developed evening routine will motivate you to keep the house clean the next morning.
Before going to bed in the evening:
* all dishes should be washed and put away
* pack lunches and refrigerate
* set breakfast table with dishes and vitamins
* set out all pans and utensils needed for breakfast
* give a quick straighten all rooms
When you rise in the morning:
* Make your bed [wash sheets on one particular day of the week such as Tuesdays, blankets during your fall or spring cleaning]
* personal grooming
* After your shower: clean bathroom mirror, sink, counter top, tub, toilet, straighten bottles and shower curtain, put out fresh towels, bring all laundry out, take out trash, replace trash bag, wipe down the floor with a damp towel
* Start a load of laundry
* Wake children, make beds, pick up clothes, children’s grooming.
For the rest of the day:
* Personal morning devotional and prayer
* Breakfast and cleanup
* Keep the laundry going
* Keep the dishes washed
* Work on paper piles
* Make sure your dining area is cleaned up and ready for dinner
(Run a sink of hot soapy water first thing and use this to clean counters and soak dishes. After dishes have been soaking a while they will probably need just a good rinse)
* Make dinner plans, defrost food and set out ingredients
There are so many other ways you could put together your day and make it work smarter for you. That’s the beauty of routines, they can be altered to suit you. Do you have a house cleaning routine? Is it working for you?
What kinds of changes do you need to make?
Hello and welcome! I'm Sylvia Britton, and I've been online since 1996 offering encouragement and help in the spirit of Titus 2 and Proverbs 31 at Christian Homekeeper. CHK is the original Homekeeping site on the internet
Sylvia,
I can really relate to Linda. I am just lazy at times. Thanks so much for posting, it really is motivation to just do what I know I need to do.
By the way, I know you are very busy getting everyone approved for the new forum but I haven’t heard anything yet. Do I need to reregister? I already registered once a week or so ago. Thanks!
Excellent!! Thanks for sharing!
I love the setting the table before bed; when my children were little I always did this it helped so much in the morning!!
oxoxo
Sylvia will you come show me how this works for a few months. Maybe I will catch on then. LOL!
This is actually a very doable thing. I just need to write things down because when I don’t, I forget. I believe this is an age related problem. LOL!
HUGS!
Kim,
Maybe you need to try that index card system Jacki us talking about??? :O)
Yes I think writing things down works best for most people, I know it works for me!
We just started this system using index cards. Every day of the week has its own card and on the card is what chores need to be done that day. For example, Monday is laundry (including diapers and ironing), vacuum, sweep/mop and dishes. We also have a card labeled “monthly” which includes things like vehicle maintenance and wiping our the refrigerator. We also have one labeled seasonal and includes things such as checking the smoke detector, changing the oil and flipping the mattress. I love it so far and its very easy to follow.
Jacki, I used the index card for years and I still use it when I need to get into new habits or get the house caught up quickly! Its a great system, I think.
I believe I bought index cards a long time ago for this very reason but when I got them home I forgot why I bought them. LOL! That’s sad right there. I’m going to go write this idea down before I forget. Ha! Ha!
Sylvia,
Once again, this is one of the most awesome articles.
Thanks for sharing.
My problem is I’m lazy. I just need to get up off of it and do it!!!
I love Sam. He’s quite the feller!! LOL
Sylvia, thank you so much for posting this! You’re a sweetheart for taking the time to share this! Since we started a new school year it’s been difficult for me to get in order everything else outside the school work zone. I’m going to tailor this suggestion from you and get my hind end in gear. God bless you and all that you do!!
This is great with one question….who wants to clean toilets AFTER they shower? I think this plan is awesome but should clean toilets before you shower!!! Thank you!
To each, her own, Lori! 😀 Yes, you can clean the toilet before you shower, it would work just fine.