Feeling like you get nothing done all day and everything is piling up around you? There are some habits that productive homemakers have that can help you. To help you with these habits Quartet is sponsoring this post.
You know that feeling when you go to bed and feel exhausted but also feel like you got nothing done? That can so easily happen when we don’t have good habits in place and end up having unproductive days.
If you are binge-watching Netflix all day you already know where to find more time in your day. Most likely though that isn’t what’s happening. You are likely just not doing your tasks in a very effective way.
This is something I’ve had to start getting much better about because not only am I a homemaker but I also run a business. I was getting so overwhelmed with doing both and both were starting to be neglected and something had to change.
I still get overwhelmed at times and not everything is always done or done perfectly but the key tasks are being taken care of and I feel like I’m getting better at it all of the time.
These are some of the habits I have found that help you to be a more productive homemaker and get more done in less time.
Habits of a Productive Homemaker
1. Write Things Down
This is a habit I’m still working on. I somehow think each time that I will actually remember things without writing them down, spoiler alert, I don’t remember.
The other day my husband asked if I could call and ask our insurance company a question since they close at 5 pm and he wasn’t going to be able to before then. I said sure and planned to in the afternoon. That evening before dinner he asked what they had said. That’s when I remembered, it was 5:15 pm. Oops!
Unless I set alerts, which I hate, on my phone I don’t remember to look at notes I make on it. I need to see it often to really remember.
One place I tend to be often and tend to need to make notes to remember is my desk. Notepads and sticky notes can end up being a lot of clutter and that’s just annoying.
After searching for other options, I found a great solution that looks nice on my desk and is easy to use, it’s a dry-erase board from Quartet designed to be on desks with your computer.
This is where notes for things I need to remember often go or if I’m on the computer and there is something I need to add to my calendar I will write it down on the dry erase board until I can get it into my calendar. No more “oh I’ll remember to do it later.”
2. Have a Schedule
This doesn’t have to be a time blocked schedule for your whole day. It all depends on what works best for you. Some people need a very structured day and others will do better with an outline.
No matter where you fall on that scale, it’s a good idea to know what you need to do each day and have some kind of plan. For me, I like to have a morning routine and an evening routine that are more structured but for the rest of my day, I just have a to-do list.
I also have a cleaning schedule with tasks I do weekly, monthly, annually, and so on. This helps me make sure I’m getting to all the things that need to get done.
3. Stay on Top of Clutter
Clutter can make us less productive in so many ways. When a home is cluttered you spend more time cleaning because there is more to clean and move around. It can also waste your time because you will spend more time looking for things when you need them.
A cluttered workspace can make it hard for you to keep track of important notes and other things you need to keep track of. That’s one of the reasons I love having the Quartet Glass Dry-Erase Desktop Computer Pad, I don’t spend a lot of time searching for notes I’ve made.
And having an organized closet means you will be able to find clothes in the morning to get dressed faster, a less cluttered organized kitchen means less time looking for things when you are getting ready to cook, it just makes everything easier.
Work decluttering into your weekly routine to make sure you are staying on top of it. If you haven’t been staying on top of it you may need to take a few days to tackle some bigger projects. When doing those bigger projects remember that it’s easier to stay on top of these things in the future.
4. Write a Prioritized To-Do List
My to-do lists are endless. There are always more things I could be doing and it can be overwhelming. Instead of feeling like the end of the day you got nothing done because your to-do list is still full, write a prioritized to-do list.
Try to have just 3 things that are your things you have to get done. Then have medium priority and then low. It is less overwhelming when I know I at least got the really important things done.
I like to take my top 3 things each day and write them on my dry-erase desk pad so I see them multiple times a day. Once I have finished those things and wipe them off the pad I feel really good each time I walk by and see nothing on the list.
5. Make Time for Yourself.
Always working and never taking some time for yourself will lead to some major burnout. You may think you are being so productive but once you hit that wall you can quickly fall behind again.
When you make time for yourself and take care of your needs it makes it a lot easier to take care of those other things on your list.
I’m sure we have all heard the analogy of putting your own oxygen mask on first before helping others. It’s so true and easy to forget at the same time.
On your to-do list or another visible spot be sure to include some self-care. It doesn’t have to take a lot of time but do something that makes you feel better physically and mentally every day.
Making these things habits that you stick with all of the time will help you have a much more productive life and also help reduce stress.
No matter what kind of homemaker you are these tips can be used in your life to help. People that aren’t full-time homemakers may find these tips even more helpful since time will be even more limited.
And if you want to get your own Quartet Glass Dry-Erase Desktop Computer Pad, like the one featured in this post, they start at just $26.95.
They also sell other beautiful glass dry-erase boards for your home, everything from dry-erase wall calendars to dry-erase notepads.
Learn more about Quartet on their website and use coupon code DESKTOP30 to get 30% off all desktop glass dry-erase boards.
Deanna Piercy says
I’ve learned the hard way that lack of self care is a recipe for disaster. I got so worn out last summer/fall that I crashed and spent the winter doing precious little. It would have been so much better to have paced myself rather than lose a few months to recovery.
I’m going to check out those dry erase products. I think it might be really helpful for our upcoming events and brainstorming ideas.
Lisa Sharp says
So true! And it does a number on our health as well, physical and mental.
They have so many things that would be great for brainstorming!
Kate says
I checked out the products you mentioned and they look awesome! I like that the notepad has no skid feet. That’s genius!
Lisa Sharp says
I’m asking myself how many dry-erase boards I need because there are a couple of others I want, like those notepads.
Robin Moore says
I have always been a list maker, even catching myself writing down chores I have already accomplished, just to feel the satisfaction of checking them off. Lol.
Alyssa says
All great tips! I especially need to work on #3. It’s amazing how fast the clutter can creep up. My house was super clean/organized on Thursday because we had guests coming over, and now it’s Monday and it’s a total disaster again.
giulia lombardo says
Agree with the entire post I love to do list and I write one daily then cancel every voice is done, I do something similar for birthdays and other ceremonies…
ratnamurti says
Yes, I often forget to write things down. I prefer a diary but also use my cell phone. And I declutter as a matter of course. But sometimes when I’m overstretched, my wee home gets a bit messy. Not for long, a day or so. Mentioning self care though, that’s something which is so easy to let slip. I wonder why we do this? (I do it too). I really liked all of your suggestions.