How To Stay Organized in a Chaotic Life

Let’s face it…life can be nutty! Kids, no kids, younger, older, single or with a partner… life is ever changing, and I know for me I had to get a handle on it. By taking the time to get and stay organized we also cut back on the stress levels.

I have 2 littles ages 8 and 3, then also have 2 older ones 25 and 21- ALL BOYS! Totally outnumbered and when we are all under the same roof, although not not too often, I need to keep it all together.

For most of the time it is just me and the littles in the house as my hubby travels weekly for work. So to keep up with the kids, meals, domestic duties, my business, clients, team and well LIFE I need to keep it organized and keep my sanity. Have I mastered it? No. I am definitely a work in progress. When I stay on top of it … WOW what a difference.

Lets Jump in~

Clean up the kitchen

So with this one…I am always in the kitchen, which means I make a mess daily. I find it so helpful to make sure each night to clean it up. Waking up to a clean organized kitchen eases my mind and well who doesn’t love a sink free of dishes!

Make Your Bed

It makes the whole room look clean and organized. Let me be completely honest… I didn’t start making my bed religiously until hmmm maybe one year ago. I never saw the value in it. Now, as soon as I get up, I make it. Nothing fancy needed. It doesn’t need to look like a hotel either.

Straighten up the house

With kids, things can escalate quickly with toys being all over. Whether you have bins or a section for toys, have them help putting things away at the end of the day. Being Gabe who is 8 and Lino that is 3, I prompt them and then it’s all good. While they do that I go around to the other rooms and tidy up. Doing this daily, it takes less time and you aren’t dealing with a giant headache once a week.

Lists things out

Yep, I said it, make a list! For me, when I was really in the thick of my healing journey, my mind was not functioning properly- the brain fog was awful, and I would probably forget my head if it wasn’t attached- so lists were my BFF. However now, I find them so helpful to keep organized and make sure I get done what needs to get done, or what to shop for. I do not write down every single thing because that can cause one to feel overwhelmed.

Simplify

Buy what you need… groceries or clothing. Often when we see sales, we want to grab it up. Try to fight that temptation and think first, “ok, do I really need this?” Yes, of course splurge once in a while! Maybe it sounds silly, but things pile up quick, clutter up space and then that affects you, the home and how you stay organized.

Declutter

Don’t become a pack rat! It is so easy to do! Even if you have space for it, if you aren’t using it, ditch it, sell it or donate it. It is almost as if a weight is lifted off your shoulders when you “clean out.”

Plan meals

This is a big one, especially if you have children. Even if you don’t, making a menu and then shopping for only that, you not only save time, but also money. Also you can then prep over the weekend, so when the week hits you have less to do! You can literally google menu plans for whatever type diet you have and it takes the guess work out. Also keeping a list on the fridge of what you have in freezer and left overs helps a ton! No waste and you know what you have right there….. no searching the fridge needed.

Errands

If you are heading food shopping, stop and fill up on gas too. Try and plan your errands in the same day to get them over with. Saves time and gas.

Schedule Bills

It is so easy to miss payments when we have a lot going on. Now a days, you can have everything on auto-pay which is a great option in this tech savvy world. However, if you can’t, set a reminder or put down in your planner.

Have a home for your keys

Yes! Designate a specific place for your keys and always put them back when you come home. We use a kitchen drawer, but I love the wall hanging option too!

Put the clean laundry away

It is so easy to just leave the clean clothes in the bin but bite the bullet by folding and putting away that day. Leaving them in the bin you end up with a wrinkled hot mess and that isn’t fun when you are trying to get ready and you have to dig to find your outfit.

For ones dealing with an autoimmune disease(s)/chronic illness don’t be shy on asking your family members to help with keeping the house organized. Before I got myself into remission, I needed extra help and it is OK if you do too! Go at your pace and rest when your body is talking to you and don’t be hard on yourself. Feel free to reach out directly to talk on this more.

There are many things you can do to help your life to run smooth, but these I found to really help and I hope they help you too! Playing your favorite tunes can help too with getting things done. Make it fun and dance around while getting organized! Don’t try and be perfect, do what you can! Not everything works for everyone. A little bit of work, pays off for sure!

What are some ways you stay organized? Please share them below!

Sending love, light and good vibes always,

Nicole