The mental load of motherhood is something many of us face on a daily basis. One of the biggest contributors? Mom who need to remember EVERYTHING, for everyone. In our house the realization that I was the only person in the family who […fill in the blank…] was nagging at me. So one day I decided to start managing the unequal division of the metal load by putting in some home organizing systems in place in an attempt to family proof our home.
What is family-proofing? It’s creating family spaces, systems and habits that are simple, repetitive, intuitive and most importantly – less work to maintain.
Here are my 3 go-to home organizing systems:
1. Set Up a No Questions Asked Landing Station
The first step in family-proofing a home? Redirect questions away from yourself and into predictable systems. My favorite way to do this is to create a Family Landing Station.
The Family Landing Station or Entryway Drop Zone is the magical receptacle for all outgoing and incoming objects. Keys, mail, shoes, lunch boxes and backpacks have a space to call their own and people who know where to locate them.
Visit Entryway Landing Station ideas on Pinterest for inspiration.
The key to Family Landing Station is this – your mental load can’t exist in two places at once – it can either live in your mind or be transferred into systems that others will need to learn and follow themselves.
Mom Tip #1: Create the Drop Zones in the locations family members usually place keys or backpacks rather than being in charge of moving them to another location or nagging someone else to do it
What some ideas for organizing products to place in these drop zones? check out these inexpensive products:
MomTip #2: Personalize the Landing Station with items that are unique to you and your family. My unique items are a tape measure that’s easy to access and a hanging tote bag to collect old batteries as they accumulate.
2. Incorporate Clear Boxes Into Your Organizing Routine
Your second step for family-proofing your house is to make your items visible by using clear bins.
Simple clear bin systems are a great way for moms to distributing the metal load of locating needed items to others rather than carrying it alone.
It might be tempting to hide all the clutter and create the minimalist lifestyle magazine look.
The problem? Family members are less likely to find things independently. Instead, consider leaving at least some of the items out on display or in clear boxes where they are easy to find…and, yes, family question proof.
Mom Tip #3: Six quart clear bins work especially well for kid’s toys. These boxes are light and are easier for small hands to move and stack themselves. You can go up to a 41 quarts bin size and still keep the boxes manageable for older kids as long as they are light and placed on low, easy to reach shelves.
3. Use Rolling Organizers to Keep Areas Contained
Lastly, invest in low level organizing systems such as rolling bins, mobile laundry baskets or utility carts.
The magic of rolling organizers is that you dump things into them, roll them from place to place or simply hide them under a table or in a corner until they are needed again.
Here are some ideas of how to use them:
- Family members want to watch TV? They can start by clearing the living room of their school items and toys. Between the rolling organizers and the entryway drop zones they should be able to find the correct spot for most items quickly.
- Art supplies get used and left out on a regular basis? Store them in a utility cart. Kids can roll it to where they need and return it when they’re done, without assistance.
- Do the same items keep getting misplaced in the living room? Keep the remote, glasses and other high use items in one single rolling storage bin to help everyone locate what they need independently.
Is this method perfect? No, but at the end of the day small easy measures are a good place to start. If you set a reasonable and consistent habit for your family, you can reduce the frustration that comes from a house in constant organizational upheaval
Mom Tip #4: Don’t want to clutter spaces with permanent organizers? Try using collapsible laundry baskets instead. They are easy to store and work for laundry and anything else that needs to be taken back to its correct location.
These three organizing systems are an important part of my support system. They are helpful on days when we are pulled in different directions, overwhelmed, or just plain tired. Finding keys when we’re running late, easily locating the Halloween costumes in the garage, or having a cleared dining room table for dinner are small but positive steps towards reducing our maternal mental load.
And if life is just too hectic for home organizing systems read Hosting When Your House is a Mess? Here’s How to Survive to feel better about your current state of organization.