Introduction
How overwhelmed Moms Can Get Organized without doing more… if you are like me; there is most likely a pile of dirty laundry somewhere, a few dirty dishes in the sink, some strange unrelated toys on the floor, and at least one bed in the house that is completely unmade. Can you relate or is it just me? Don’t get me started on the backpacks, shoes, and jackets!
Overwhelmed mom, I see you, I am you too. Wouldn’t it be great if AI could come clean our homes like everything else? Ha!
Most moms including me, aren’t disorganized as much as we are completely overloaded. If you are like me, I get an area “decluttered,” only to find it in disarray a few weeks later. I wonder if there are gremlins who mess my organized areas up at night (ha! I am aware it was my little children often making a mess as they try to find their prized possessions, sigh).
When kids are young, the messes are normally toys, half eaten food, and dirty bibs. As they get older, it’s more sports equipment and uniforms strewn about. And even as kids age, it has been legos, craft supplies, and water bottles that litter my organized way of life. Anyone else? Anyone?
This article is about reminding ourselves (me included) that organization is not about perfection, but on reducing the mental load. When everything has a place, I feel lighter. Knowing where things go, and the confidence that it is being kept there, doesn’t just help me when I need to find things, it gives me so much more peace and joy.
“If your house feels messy and your brain feels full, this isn’t a motivation problem — it’s a systems problem.”
Overwhelmed Moms, Getting Organized:
Step #1: Start With ONE “Landing Zone”
(This is the highest-impact action)
Overwhelmed moms, getting organized starts with landing zones. Whether it’s the junk drawer for all the mysterious finds in the kitchen, hooks for hanging in the garage (on the way inside), or a nice basket with a lid by the front door, these are all known as the wonderful “landing zone.” I also love a good sized ottoman with storage to land the family room clutter.
What I love about landing zones, is that when the cleaning fairy bites, motivating organization, we can put what is in the landing zones away. This limits overwhelm immensely. It also makes cleaning up fast!
My favorite purchase when all of my children (The Fantastic Four) were under ten years old was the stair basket. Even with a crying baby in hand, I could put the items that needed to go upstairs in the “stair basket,” hidden away. Before I went to bed at night, I put what was inside the basket in its proper place (most nights to be honest – ha!).
Why it works:
- Reduces visual clutter
- Reduces decision fatigue
- Prevents piles from spreading
“Don’t organize the whole house. Just give clutter a home.”
Overwhelmed Moms get organized — Organize Your Time Before Your Stuff
Step #2: Organized Moms organize their time before their Stuff
(This is where you sound different from Pinterest moms)…
When chaos is rushing by, clutter follow. So I tried to keep clutter at bay by cleaning up twice a day.
After making breakfast, I would clean the kitchen. Then, after I fed the kids lunch, I’d put them down for nap and tidy up the house. Finally, at night after dinner, before baths, we would clean up again. It was not rare to need to vacuum at this point too. The kids would make crumb piles like nobody’s business. (Face palm).
Simple actions:
- Pick 2 daily anchors: these are two time a day that you straighten your home, keeping chaos at bay.
- If you have neuro diverse kids like me, keeping their toys separated in clear containers with labels helped so much. This method assisted them in seeing what was inside. It kept their overwhelm at bay, when they wanted to explore.
Examples:
- 5-minute mid-day tidy
- 10-minute evening reset
“Your home doesn’t need hours of cleaning. It needs rhythms.”
Overwhelmed Moms Get Organized – Create a “Not Today” List
Step #3 Create a “Not Today,” List
(Mental organization = physical relief)
Moms often carry way too many invisible tasks. Does this sound familiar? “Timmy needs a haircut. The dog needs his flea treatment. Did I miss the deadline for gymnastics next month? Did I pay the classroom fees yet? When does Nora need her medicine next? Do we have enough mayo for BLT’s tonight?”
See all these thoughts fly through our heads like a hurricane constantly. No wonder we fight overwhelm!
I find keeping questions like these off my mind & in my phone or planner so liberating! It helps not carry the weight around.
Next, I have times of the day that I deal with these things. Normally, before the kids wake up, I start making appointment calls. Then, I order groceries.
Some might be giving me a look of judgment. Ordering groceries does cost extra. But, when I take my kids to the grocery store, it takes a couple hours of valuable time and we spend way more money. For me, it is such a HUGE when to oder the groceries; both financially and with time management.
How to do it:
- Write down everything stressing you
- Move non-urgent items to a “later” list
Why this helps:
- Clears mental clutter
- Reduces anxiety
- Creates focus
“Just because it matters doesn’t mean it has to be done today.”
Overwhelmed Moms Get Organized — Simplify Daily Decisions
Step #4: Simplify Daily Decisions
(This lowers overwhelm fast)
When overwhelm is plaguing us, decision fatigue is all too real. Sometimes, not choosing is best! What I mean by this is give ourselves grace. Every now and then, a jammy day is ok. A night with no bath isn’t going to shatter anyone.
Sometimes, it is ok to have an extra half hour of screen time to keep peace and sanity. Often, choosing the path of least resistance simplifies decision making.
Has anyone else noticed when there are too many choices, tiredness tends to be around the corner. Limiting choices can bring relief, not to mention another layer of organization.
Examples:
- repeat meals
- simple outfits
- set routines for errands, laundry, groceries
Real life story: My youngest melted down every single morning when it was time to get dressed. She would cry. Laying on the floor, she refused to get her clothes on.
We were always late to preschool. I was so embarrassed! She looked disheveled. During preschool, her dad and I unfortunately split up. Our pediatrician referred my youngest for counseling.
Once in counseling, they told me to limit her clothes to four outfits. I cried. Dressing my kids was one of my favorite tasks. So I went through, putting most of clothes away in trash bags (it still hurts thinking about it). At the counselor’s advice, all her clothes we kept could be interchanged.
I was skeptical, but no longer did we battle. She could go and get clothes out and they looked ok no matter what. This was one of those simplifying life made a giant impact. Try it, you might like it too.
Reframe:
“Repeating decisions isn’t boring — it’s freeing.”
Overwhelmed Moms, Organize for the Season We are In
Step #5 Organize for the season
(Compassion-based organization)
What worked last year may not work now. Times change. Getting ready for school in the family room, soon needs to be a private situation as kids age.
Let our organization practice be fluid with time. The diaper organizer only lasts a short time. Prune what is no longer needed, making room for the new.
We have to ask ourselves:
- “What do I realistically have capacity for right now?”
- “What system fits this season?”
Key message:
“Organization should serve your life — not shame it.”
CONCLUSION: Systems Over Hustle
Overwhelmed Moms Organizing Choose Systems Over Hustle
Organizing isn’t about being a better mom, it’s about giving ourselves breathing room. I find getting organized cuts down on the overwhelm, giving a sense of preparedness for anything.
Small systems bring great relief. Try living by the principle that everything has a place and is in its place. See how much better we feel!
“You don’t need to do everything. You just need a few systems that work.”
Don’t get more overwhelmed with organizing (ha! – the irony). Choose one small space and one small action each day. First: make landing zones. Second: organize your time. Third: Decide what you are not doing. Fourth: Simplify Daily Decisions. Fifth: Organize for the season.
If you want help building simple systems that fit your real life, I share more of what’s helped me inside my community.
If you would like my simple guide to organizing, click the form below this post.
For more on this subject, check out this post.
Thanks for stopping by. Talk soon =)
-Jenn
