You Need Routines. Here's Why.

We frequently envision having a reliable morning routine or a reliable evening routine when we think of routines. Even a sleep routine or a weekly housekeeping schedule can come to mind. Do you have habits that help you stay organized in your life, even though these are important?

If you answered "no" you aren't alone.

Routines Help You Stay Organized

Can we just accept for a moment that maintaining organization requires work? We have a lot of daily responsibilities to balance. Because of this, if we don't have mechanisms in place for staying organized, it becomes absurdly simple to drop a few balls.

But, and this is crucial, maintaining organization may be made much simpler with the correct routines in place. I'm going to go so far as to argue that routines are essential if you want to keep organized, in addition to the fact that the appropriate routines can help you stay organized.

In fact, if you've established the correct routines, you'll go to bed each night feeling successful. Even if there are still a few things on your to-do list, this is true.

"Discipline is choosing between what you want now and what you want most." -Abraham Lincoln

Why Routines Work

Now that we are aware of how important routines are for staying organized, the issue is: what are the best routines?

Simply said, they are the routines that automate to-do lists and relieve the pressure of having to remember everything every day.

Let's examine 8 particular practices that will keep you organized.

• Planning Time

• Meal Planning

• Home Routines

• Batching

• Maximize Waiting Time

• Self Care Routine

• Sleep Schedule

Planning Time

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Regular planning sessions are essential if you want to maintain organization. This is the essential habit to have to keep you organized if you just use one of these.

In actuality, my planning process is really ritualistic. This is due to the fact that pandemonium always results from a lack of planning for the week. Okay, so I may be exaggerating a little, but my weekly planning is essential. It takes place each Sunday.

I take this opportunity to evaluate the events I have planned for the coming week in my favorite planner. I make a list of the top three items I want to concentrate on this week and schedule them in my calendar.

Additionally, my planner contains my monthly budget, so I can simply see which expenses need to be paid that week. I basically have all the information I need for the week on my calendar.

By removing anything that is unnecessary, this enables me to plan ahead and be deliberate with my time and resources.

In addition to using a paper calendar I do use Trello. I have fallen in love with Trello and have found it quite addicting. I am very visual and get the most use out of seeing right in front of me what I need to accomplish.

The idea here is to find what tool works best for you.

So, every Sunday, hold a planning session to get the week started off right. You won't make poor decisions in the moment because you'll be fully aware of what's about to happen.

Another advantage is that it's simple to get everything ready the night before that you'll need the following day. This greatly simplifies hectic mornings. Your day will get off to a much more laid-back start, as will everyone else's.

Meal Planning

Being a homeschooler most of your life revolves around food. Everyone is home for all 3 meals a day plus snacks. This means a lot of cooking but most importantly A LOT of thinking.

A crucial habit for maintaining mealtime organization is menu planning. I personally schedule my meals as part of my weekly planning session on Sunday. Additionally, you can establish a schedule for scheduling your weekly grocery store advertisements. The most crucial thing is to choose and keep to a time that works best for you.

Not only will you keep organized, but you'll also save money if you establish a pattern of weekly meal preparation. You refrain from eating out or purchasing unneeded fast food. Additionally, you can save your shopping price by organizing your meals around store sales.

By meal planning, you can prepare extras of a few recipes when you know you'll have a busy week ahead and freeze the extras.

Meal planning is simple once you get into the habit of doing it once a week. I have a free meal planning printable you can get here.

Home Routines

The big part of this one is decluttering.

No matter how much you've cleared out the clutter in the past—or how little—it always manages to come back. You can stay organized if decluttering is a regular part of your routine.

Setting up a decluttering basket in each room of your house is the simplest way to get into the pattern of decluttering. You can put everything you come across that you don't need anymore right away in the handy declutter basket.

Simply said, a "decluttering basket" is a container used to store the items you no longer require. Having a designated container nearby to deposit any stuff you no longer need right away is incredibly beneficial, whether you use a cardboard box, an old laundry basket, a plastic bag, or a decorative basket.

I also keep a basket on the stairs. I have found the stairs is one of the main places where stuff just collects. Having a place to put it and then emptying the basket at the end of every day really helps.

Budget Reviews

It's simple to drop the ball and neglect to pay your expenses if your budget is out of control. Additionally, you're more prone to overpay. You may stay organized by developing a routine that includes reviewing your budget and future costs.

Once more, this doesn't need to take much time; it may easily be incorporated into a weekly planning session.

Start by making it a habit to record each bill payment's due date in your calendar. This will enable you to pay your monthly expenses on schedule. By paying on time, you can avoid wasting money on interest and late penalties.

Having the due dates written down in your planner not only helps you make your payments on time, but it also helps you schedule your enjoyable activities. You may simply determine how much additional money you have for saving up for those enjoyable family vacations when you can easily identify which payments are due.

You can instantly simplify your life and feel lighter by keeping your finances in order, I can assure you of that!

Batching Tasks

You'll benefit if you get into the habit of doing related things together. This is referred to as batch tasking, and it basically entails gathering related work to be completed in a predetermined period of time.

As a result, you would read and reply to emails simultaneously. You would complete all office or paper work at once, or you would run all errands on the same day. Because you are less likely to forget something related to the task you are working on, these routines aid in keeping you organized.

Have designated days set aside for comparable chores to make this simple. For instance, you plan all of your appointments and errands for Wednesday. You have a desk day on Thursdays, when you would concentrate on paying bills, filing paperwork, and reconciling your checking account.

This not only makes it easier for you to know what you're doing every day, but it also saves time and sharpens the mind.

So start grouping related things together when considering routines to keep you organized!

Maximize Waiting Time

Everybody has waiting periods occasionally. Do something productive while you're waiting for your kids to finish school, at a practice, or in the doctor's office. You can read a bit more or check your email during this time.

It will be easier for you to keep organized with the chores you need to complete if you use this time to do something useful. To make the most of your time, make it a habit to have a book or some papers with you at all times.

Schedule Self Care

One of the main things I tell other moms and especially new homeschooling moms is self care is important. I feel like I am constantly saying, better yet yelling "you can't pour from an empty cup!"

Even if it seems like wasted time, it's crucial for maintaining organization and lowering stress. It's nearly impossible to stay organized if you don't take time for yourself.

It is not necessary for this to be lavish. a peaceful moment with your preferred beverage. 10 minutes of peaceful listening to your preferred music. a phone call to the one who makes you feel better every time. Whatever it is that makes you feel energized.

Get into the habit of setting out a regular time to do something for yourself.

Sleep Schedule

We are a sleep-deprived nation as a whole. But it's not a habit you want to develop. You won't be able to do anything if you spend the entire day exhausted and under stress. In actuality, all it will do is make it harder for you to maintain your routines. You'll be much more likely to drop all the balls you've been juggling when this occurs.

Every night, set your bedtime so that you can get a solid 8 hours of sleep. Make it a habit to go to bed at the same hour every night. Remind yourself that getting enough sleep will help you feel refreshed and reenergized and will help you continue to follow the routines that will keep you organized.

"Let today be the day you give up who you've been for who you can become." -Hal Elrod

There is so much more I could add to each of these categories. Take these steps, put them into place and start creating your own routines.