10 Habits That Make Household Chores Easier to Manage

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Keeping a household running smoothly involves what might feel like endless tasks, from daily chores to occasional maintenance and repairs. While the thought of managing these responsibilities on top of the chaos of everyday life might seem daunting, with the right habits and strategies in place, keeping a tidy and functional home can become much more manageable. Here are 10 habits that can significantly ease the burden of household chores. 

1. Create a Schedule for Consistency

You can prevent chores from piling up by establishing a routine for cleaning and maintenance tasks. Assign specific days for different tasks, such as laundry on Mondays, vacuuming on Wednesdays, and window cleaning on Fridays. Consistency in scheduling prevents an overwhelming accumulation of work.

You can also implement “Sunday resets,” where you change your bedding, do laundry, wipe down surfaces, and tidy up any items lying around. Doing this can help you set your intentions for the week ahead and ensure you start the new week fresh without feeling swamped.

This consistency mentally prepares you for completing specific tasks on certain days, making it easier to manage your time and maintain a clean environment. However, it’s important to be flexible, too – adjust your schedule as needed to accommodate any unexpected events or changes in your routine.

2. Implement the Two-Minute Rule

The two-minute rule is a powerful habit that prevents procrastination and tasks from building up. Tackle tasks immediately if they take less than two minutes to complete. Whether it’s putting away shoes or washing a few dishes, addressing small chores promptly prevents them from becoming bigger, more time-consuming tasks.

3. Set Realistic Goals

Breaking down chores into smaller, more bearable tasks helps avoid feeling swamped by the enormity of the job. Tackling one room or one aspect of a room at a time, like organizing a closet or cleaning a particular area, makes the workload more achievable and less intimidating. 

Creating a checklist can help you prioritize tasks and ensure you’re making progress. Making a list can also provide satisfaction as you cross each item off and move on to the next. Adjusting goals to match your available time and energy levels is essential, allowing you to achieve a sense of accomplishment without feeling pressured. 

4. Use Cleaning Supplies Wisely

Having a well-organized cleaning stash saves time and frustration. Keeping a well-stocked supply of cleaning products ensures you’re ready to sort out any mess efficiently. Consider creating designated cleaning caddies for different areas of the house to have everything you need at your fingertips. 

You can even create your own cleaning solutions as a convenient and budget-friendly hack. For example, you can mix one part liquid soap or detergent with four parts water to treat tough stains. Be sure to treat stains as soon as they happen for the best results. 

5. Clean as You Go

Create a habit of cleaning as you move through your day. Whether it’s wiping down kitchen counters after cooking or folding and packing away laundry as soon as it’s done, tidying up as you go prevents messes from accumulating. Make your bed as soon as you get up in the morning, wash the dishes after dinner, and sweep up messes as they occur.

These small habits can help you keep your space clean and tidy and you’ll avoid running into a mess at the end of the week. 

6. Organize and Declutter Regularly

Regular decluttering and organization are key to a tidy home. Set aside time each week or month to sort through items, deciding what to keep, donate or discard. Organizing belongings with labeled storage solutions further streamlines the cleaning process, making it easier to find and put away items. 

Make time to clear out the following areas:

• Garage and shed
• Fridge and freezer
• Closets
• Kitchen cabinets
• Bathroom cupboards
• Kids’ toy boxes

7. Delegate Tasks

Rather than trying to take everything on alone, ask for some help. Whether you live with a roommate, partner, kids, or family members, sharing chores is essential. Assign tasks to different members based on their capabilities and availability.

Sharing responsibilities creates a sense of teamwork and reduces the workload for everyone. For example, if you cook, someone else can clean, and vice versa. If you prefer washing dishes and someone else likes hanging up washing, take advantage and play to your strengths. 

8. Use Timers

For tasks that seem overwhelming, use a timer to work in short, focused bursts. The Pomodoro Technique, for instance, encourages working for 25 minutes and then taking a short break, usually for around five minutes. You then take a longer break of roughly 30 minutes after four consecutive work intervals. This method can help maintain productivity and prevent burnout. 

Breaking chores into smaller, manageable time blocks helps you avoid overwhelming tasks and allows for a sense of accomplishment as you complete each segment. Timers also serve as a visual cue, providing a clear endpoint and encouraging you to work efficiently within that time frame. Additionally, this method helps you maintain productivity and a balance between work and rest.

9. Make It Fun

When you make chores fun, you can significantly change your perspective on the tasks at hand. An effective way to do this is by turning them into a game or incorporating entertainment. Set a time and challenge yourself or your family to complete tasks within a certain timeframe. 

Create a chore playlist with upbeat music to make the atmosphere more enjoyable while cleaning. Alternatively, consider assigning points or rewards for completing chores. If you have little ones, turn laundry folding into a competition or establish a reward system for the most efficiently cleaned room. Gamifying duties can transform mundane tasks into more enjoyable activities. 

10. Reward Yourself

Recognizing and celebrating your accomplishments, no matter how small, is vital for maintaining motivation. Treating yourself after completing tasks or achieving cleaning milestones reinforces the positive habit of keeping your living space tidy and organized, making chores feel less burdensome and more rewarding. Sit down with a good book, your favorite TV show, or a refreshing drink as a treat for your efforts. 

Manage Your Tasks With Ease

Adopting just a few of these habits can transform the way you manage your household chores. When you add these strategies to your daily routine, maintaining a clean and tidy space becomes less stressful and more of a satisfying, even rewarding, part of your life.