Mom Routines

Routines to Keep a Tidy Home With Kids

While children are the ones who make the messes, they can also help clean them up! Here are some basic routines that help keep a tidy home with kids. Post contains affiliate links.

Trying to keep a tidy home with small children in it is like trying shovel snow while it’s still snowing.

It feels sorta pointless, but if you don’t at least shovel the snow while there’s a lull, then soon you’ll find yourself snowed in and unable to get out.

It’s the same with toys, kids stuff, laundry, and dealing with toddlers…

Now, I know may people embrace the whole “the house will look like a bomb for a few years thing” and if you are truly able to function better that way, then I’m not going to try to convince you otherwise.

However, if you hate the fact that your home looks like a football stadium after a ball game (Go Gators!), then I’m hoping these tips will help you.

Tidy Routines That Even Small Kids Can Do

Remember, if the house is in an overwhelming state of mess for YOU, imagine how it must feel to your child. So, keep things simple and easy for both you and the kids.

Here are 6 key things to keep a tidy home with kids:

1. Bed Making & Morning Tidy

I’ve only recently gotten the kids to straighten their beds because, well, they weren’t able to make their beds.

You can do a few things to make this easier like getting Zip Up Sheets, a Zip Up Comforter, or just teaching them (painstakingly if they’re small) how to tidy the bed.

I teach mine how and they don’t have the freedom to come to breakfast unless their bed is straight and their room is cleaned.

Now, straight is relative, but if I can tell they’ve tried I never go behind them.

I will get my 2 year old to help tidy his crib, my barely 4 year old to help tidy his bed, and my 5, 6, and 7 year olds tidy their beds on their own. I use a clock to help the older ones know what time they can come out of their rooms to start the day.

Mirami “OK” to Wake Clock

2. Cleanup After Playtime to Keep a Tidy Home

Each morning my kids have an Independent Play Time and I don’t restrict how many toys they can play with anymore.

When they are small and in the crib, they get a few choices, but when they move to playing in their room they can do what they want.

The rule is that they can’t come out of their room, however, until it’s picked back up.

I’ve done this from the get-go and now they don’t argue or fuss, so their room pretty much stays in good order all day.

The key is that kids get in the habit of tidying up at some point during the day. And you want this point to be BEFORE not AFTER something they enjoy. This is my getting-your-kids-to-cooperate-the-South-African-way and cuts back drastically on power battles.

Family Practices & Contribution

0-5, 13-18, 6-12

Family Tidy Routines

This workshop will help you build a simple 15-minute daily routine that fits into real life—so the house stays (mostly) clean and the kids finally learn to help. Because a clean home is a team effort, not a one-mom show.

Start Now

3. Get a Good Laundry System Down

It’s my goal this year to get a good laundry system down for our family of 7.

I had a great one when we had 4 people then 5 but it unraveled at 6 and at 7… I just go in when we’re out of clothes and that’s that.

However, in order to feel like the laundry is not out of control, I’m working to create a new system that is easier for us all to keep.

Basic Laundry Tips

Your Hamper System is probably the most important thing of all.
I’ve stopped folding our “house clothes” that get wrinkled anyway, and simply sort them by hamper and have the kids put them away. I recommend watching This Video which outlines that.
Put clothes in your washer each evening and set a timer (if you have one!) for the next morning. This way, when you are beginning your morning routines you are already ahead.
Get the kids involved. It’s a hard slog when you try to do all household chores while kids are in bed. Do some folding (and let kids fold towels, wash cloths, etc.) with the kids and things go faster.

4. Timed Clean-Up

I recently bought This Timer to help in our day to day. Here is All the Ways You Can Use a Timer during your day, but let’s say here that it’s a great way to get in a big spurt of cleaning without feeling overwhelmed.

Set your timer for a certain period of time, turn on some music even, and clean until the timer goes off. It’s easy enough to keep the kids motivated when they know there’s an end in sight.
You might even do this for 5 minutes every evening. This is a great tip to keep a tidy home.
The more you do little by little, the less that builds up.

Family Practices & Contribution

0-5, 13-18, 6-12

No Nag Chore Routines

Getting kids to do chores shouldn’t be a daily battle. Let me help you build a simple, age-appropriate system that teaches independence, teamwork, and responsibility—without constant micromanaging. Because a well-run home isn’t about doing it all yourself.

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5. Evening sweep

I wrote a whole post on The Evening Sweep Here. It’s a great routine to add into your evening.

This looks like, after the kids are in bed, making a sweep of the main living areas of the home and tidying everything up.

Putting things back in their baskets.

Taking things to the rooms where they go.

I might find things that go in the kids’ rooms who are sleeping so I’ll simply set it outside that child’s room until the next day. It’s still nearer where it’s supposed to be and out of the main rooms.rnrnDo not underestimate the great feeling you’ll get when you see the main living areas of the home super tidy.

6. End-Of-Dinner Tidy Up

We’ve recently started (and are still tweaking) a new post-dinner routine where no one really leaves the kitchen until it’s all clean.

We are adjusting this since our 2 and 3 year olds make this a tad more exhausting than necessary (#reallife).

But… the goal is that mama is not back in the kitchen at 9 p.m. on her own cleaning it all. You don’t want to suffer until late at night to keep a tidy home.

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Started a new routine (rule): No One Leaves The Kitchen After Dinner Until It’s Clean ??? . There is weeping and gnashing, fights over who gets to spray, kids running in circles, and constant direction to stay on task, but there is also…. . A CLEAN KITCHEN ????? BY 7PM . If your mental health is suffering (aka you are losing your mind) over having to clean everything up after littles go to bed I cannot recommend this enough! ✊?? . #chores #momlife #momhacks #sahmlife #homeschoolmom #sahm #bigfamily #momoffive #our_everyday_moments

A post shared by Rachel Norman (@momfarfromhome) on Aug 15, 2018 at 5:54pm PDT

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Why should I involve my kids in cleaning up?

Not only is it good practice for them to learn how to tidy up and maintain a home, but it also helps parents to have more peace in the home because they are not doing all the things when the kids are sleeping. Instead, they can use that time for self-care, hobbies, connecting, etc. Check out this post for more on this!

Why should I involve my kids in cleaning up if it takes longer than if I do it myself?

Kids need to learn the life skills of cleaning a home, doing laundry, etc. Just because you can do it faster, doesn’t mean that you should have to do everything. As the saying goes, many hands make light work. So, it benefits the kids because they learn important skills and it takes things off your plate. It gets easier as the kids get older and more efficient, but you have to start somewhere, mama!

The Evening Sweep… An Easy Way to a Tidy Home

Do you ever feel that you are running around in circles trying to tidy, but it still remains a mess? The evening sweep is one routine that’ll help keep your house clean with minimal effort.

It’s 8 p.m. and all the kids are in bed.

You just want to fall down on the couch comatose.

Then eat ice cream, binge watch Netflix, and recover from your hyper-vigilant day.

You’re the typical tired mom. And that’s okay. That’s your season of life.

But there’s something else that compounds the tired weary feeling, and that’s an untidy home. Not because you “should” have a spotless home with no clutter anywhere. No “should’s” allowed.

But because clutter and untidiness actually has a negative affect on your mind. The Princeton University Neuroscience Institute puts it this way:

Multiple stimuli present in the visual field at the same time compete for neural representation by mutually suppressing their evoked activity throughout visual cortex, providing a neural correlate for the limited processing capacity of the visual system.

Then they paraphrased that for us mortals by saying this: when your environment is cluttered, your mind becomes distracted and unable to process information as well as you do in an organized environment.

It’s not rocket science people… it’s apparently neuroscience.

What’s an “evening sweep?”

An evening sweep is when you take 5-15 minutes going from room to room in your home tidying up, returning things to their place, and straightening.

I started this years ago and it’s one of my favorite and most effective ways to keep a relatively clutter free home.

I go through phases (late pregnancy, a massive de-cluttering phase, or a busy time with work) where I don’t do it every single night, and I feel those effects immediately.

Family Practices & Contribution

0-5, 13-18, 6-12

Family Tidy Routines

Start Now

1. Do it before you sit down

This is key for me. If I crash before I do the sweep, it often doesn’t get done. I use the rest time as incentive to push through and do it.

When I walk from the last child’s room or away from the kitchen sink, I’ll quickly walk around and start putting things back where they go, in the laundry, etc.

Then, as soon as I’m finished, I’ll relax. Sometimes with a good book, nice drink, or whatever else I feel like that evening. If you don’t do it before you enter relax mode, it probably won’t get done.

2. Do it quickly with purpose

The key here is to have the goal be the sweep and to do it quickly. If you are the type to get distracted by many things along the way, try your best to focus.

Otherwise, you’ll end up not having swept anything and have created a few new piles of things to captivate your attention.

3. Have the kids help before bed

I’ll often have the kids help me do a sweep of their things around the house before bed. At various points throughout the day we’ll tidy up so that the mess doesn’t get so big it takes an hour in the evening.

The goal is to do small sweeps – and have your kids do them as well – throughout the day so that one final evening sweep leaves you with a tidy home.

Family Practices & Contribution

0-5, 13-18, 6-12

No Nag Chore Routines

Start Now

4. Use a timer if need be

If you tend to get distracted or are worried it’ll be an endless tidy up leaving no time for relaxing, set your handy timer.

I’m going to write a post soon on all the ways you can use a timer, but suffice it to say, set it for 10 minutes and go hard and fast.

Then you know it’ll end. If your home is a big mess then you don’t have to try and climb Everest in one night. Baby steps will build better habits than big jumps you can’t maintain. This is the timer I use

Pssst… grab a 2 pack of timers here.

5. You’ll thank yourself tomorrow

There is honestly a lot to be said for waking up to a tidy home. Of course your little love bombs will blow it all up within an hour or two of waking, but that’s okay.

They’re kids.

Waking up to a tidy home is such a nice way to reset and start your day right. You probably already have a good mom morning routine, and if you’ve done your evening sweep you won’t even need tidying in that morning routine.

I may be in the minority, but I let my kids make a monster mess if they want to because they’ll be the ones picking it up. So don’t be fooled into thinking the house is always clean and tidy.

It isn’t.

However, I do make an effort to end the day that way and it really really really (and a few more really’s) helps my mental health.

How can I teach my toddlers to help clean up?

Make it part of your daily routine so that they know it happens and teach them how to do it – where to put toys, what should be cleaned up, rules, etc. the more that you involve them in doing sweeps in your house, the more they will take ownership of the process and the easier it will get!

What are the most important areas or tasks to prioritize during my evening sweep?

I usually try to pick up the main level of my house in my evening sweep and the kids do an evening sweep of their rooms before they go to bed. The kitchen and living room tend to accumulate the most messes, so I focus my energy there during my evening sweep.

Are there any strategies for decluttering or organizing that can help reduce the amount of cleaning required on a nightly basis?

I am a big advocate for minimalism and rotating toys so that there are less things to make messes, which helps cut down on the amount of time needed to clean up. With less stuff around the house and a focus evening sweep routine, I am (mostly) able to stay on top of keeping the house tidy without spending too much time cleaning after the kids are in bed.

Evening Routines for Moms That Erase Stress and Give Peace

One of the most important times of day… night! These evening routines for moms will help you relax, unwind, and sleep well.

I used to have this horrible dread and doom that came when the sun started going down.

As soon as 5 pm rolled around during the winter, or 7 pm during the summer, I started to feel anxious.

Upset.

Worried.

I would pick anything ole random thing to worry about it seemed like. It was really awful, actually. My husband worked nights for a long time and I really struggled with unwinding, relaxing, and refreshing.

Mom reading as part of an evening routine for moms.

Eventually, I came to see that my own moods and feelings in the evenings were actually kind of controllable. If I organized my evenings well WITHOUT thinking about efficiency or productivity, but instead thinking about life-giving habits… it made a world of difference.

Remember, it’s the small, repeatable, inexpensive daily habits that keep our moods high. And when we feel good in the evenings, it’ll carry over into the mornings.

Things to consider when creating an evening routine…

First, there are obvious seasons of life.

If you have a newborn, you may need to go to bed earlier to account for night wakings.

If you are working from home temporarily and can’t focus during the day (because, duh, of course you can’t with little ones!) then, you may have to stay up later at night.

Your evening routine should always take into account your season of life. And it will change as the months go by and things are different.

➡️ The biggest key is not to force something because you think you *should* do it when, in reality, you know you won’t do it.

Evening Routine Ideas for Moms

So… there are a few things you can put into your evening routine. Pick and choose what works for you and, most importantly, what helps you feel relaxed, peaceful, and ready to drift off into a nice sleep.

Remember, the evening is a perfect time for your self-care routines.

Hygiene and Body Care

Maybe you like being pampered? Including a special hygiene or body care regimen in your evening routine can be a fun way to de-stress and re-vitalize after a long day.

The act of taking care of your body may have been something you let go. I know I did. I barely got the kids bathed, much less gave myself a sugar scrub. When I make time for it, somehow someway, I end up feeling better.

Epsom salt baths| These help prevent fluid retention – why oh why do I retain fluid – and are a good source of magnesium. I like to stock up on these and take a nice hot bath at the end of a long day.
Infused Showers| Did you know you could infuse your shower with some sleepy time lavender and chamomile?
Wash your face| Scrub, massage, or just get your makeup off. Wash slowly and thoroughly. A clean soft face will make you feel a little better about the bags under your eyes ?.
Lotion & more lotion| It feels nice to hydrate your skin at the end of a busy day. I love putting lotion on my feet and then throwing on some soft socks at the end of the day.
Toes & fingers | There are so many online options right now for doing pedicures and manicures. Remember when you used to paint your fingernails to match your outfit? Not saying that’s in the cards, but it’s nice to see pretty fingers throughout the day.
A massage| I’m not talking about making an appointment, I’m suggesting you get a back and neck massager. I’ve purchased 2 of these so far. The first time I actually forgot to put my hair up and the motor sucked all my hair inside it so… maybe avoid that.
Detox| If you enjoy detoxing, the Ionic Foot Detoxing System can help eliminate unhealthy toxins and renew your energy at the end of the day. I did this at a spa once and was both shocked and amazed at the result.

Read: My “Daily Escape” to a Quiet Place & Why It’s Necessary

Prep for the Next Day

If you are the type who likes to do a little now to get ahead later, then these will help you do that. The key is not to overly fill your evenings or you are just spreading out the stress.

Don’t think you need to do every single thing for the next day and then use up all that time. Use one or two of the things that cause you the most stress, and get those done instead.

Pack Kid’s Lunches| One sure way to have a stressed morning is to wait until morning on this one. Or better yet, have your kids pack their own lunches.
Set out breakfast| This feels good, especially for planners. If you’re like me, planning helps with feeding my kids healthy foods.
Make a to-do list for the next day| I have read how some mom’s totally de-clutter their brains before bed by jotting down a list for the next day. If you struggle to clear your mind at bedtime, try this.
Lay out clothes| Laying out clothes can be a fun way to prep for the next day. This is true especially if you have multiple children.
Set coffee/tea on a timer| Do you love waking up to the small of hot tea or yummy coffee? Most coffee makers now have timers, and this could be something nice to look forward to.
Pick up surfaces| I recommend doing an evening sweep as part of any evening routine for moms because it’s so so satisfying.
Check over plans| Today, many stay at home moms are also homeschooling. So, if you’re a planner, look over those plans.
Shop online| Need groceries? Go ahead and schedule your pick-up the night before to ease the stress of the next day.

Relaxation Routines

Be honest… doesn’t a relaxation routine sound nice? Maybe it’s because you’ve been having a hard time falling asleep. Or… maybe it’s because as humans we are built to need wind down and relaxation.

At its best, a relaxation routine is designed to prepare you for sleep and welcome you to a place of rest (mentally, emotionally, and physically).

Take time to connect with your spouse| Watch some TV together, play a card game, or just spend some quality time together.
Read| Reading has been a lifesaver to my tired mind over the years. It puts me right out…
Journal| Jotting down the events of each day are a proven way to vent or release built up emotions that can interrupt a peaceful sleep. New to journaling? Try Present, Not Perfect- A Journal for Slowing Down.
Playing some relaxing music| You’ll be surprised how much it helps to have calming sounds in the background. By the way, music therapy has been proven to put people in a peaceful mindset and help prepare them for a relaxed state.
Do a crossword| An age old tradition. My husband and I often pick up a crossword to do together.
Diffusing Essential Oils| Aromatherapy…. ahhhh! Pick some relaxing oils such as lavender or chamomile and put them in a diffuser. Many have relaxing light settings as well.

Pre-Sleep Routines

This likely bleeds over into the other areas, but I think it’s super important that bedtime feels welcoming. Bedtime should be something you WANT to do, not something you fight.

These simple things help with wind down and sleep because they make you feel a bit more special. Anything that makes normal life feel slightly more luxurious is a win!

Up your pajama game| It may seem silly at first, but ditching those old worn out rags for something classy & comfy can be the ticket to mentally staring your wind down.
Get good sheets| With so many options for soft, hypoallergenic, synthetic free, luscious silk, or satin sheets out there… it’s time for an upgrade.
An eye mask| I feel like I’m in a spa when I wear my eye masks. This is also helpful if your spouse likes to read in bed.
Get a cozy comforter| If you have sleep anxiety, I highly recommend trying the Quilted Weighted Blanket. It’s feels like your comforter now has the ability to give you a hug. A nice snuggly blanket will help you relax.
Stop with the devices| Yes, your phone has blue light. Yes, it does cause your eyes to wig out… especially before bedtime. I plug my phone in another room. I also set my alarm early and refuse to look at it during my “wind down” time.

And two more for the road.

If you really struggle to wind down or calm down in the evenings, then I suggest these two things.

Breathing exercises

Unless your a classical singer, you probably have no idea what I’m talking about. It’s not very hard… don’t worry. First, Breathe in your nose until you feel your belly button push up. Then, hold your breath for 8-9 seconds. Lastly, release your breath as slow as you can. REPEAT to completely relax. You’re welcome!

Pray

If I am feeling worried or anxious, I will pray through it all and more often than not, I fall asleep mid-prayer. Maybe that’s good or maybe it’s not, but it shows how relaxing it is.

Sources:

How can I make time for an evening routine when I am tired at the end of the day?

The idea is to be able to look forward to your evening routine so that you can relax, enjoy, and recharge. If your evening routine sounds too daunting, try tweaking it to include some activities you really enjoy or some self-care activities.

How do I handle disruptions to my nightly routine, such as late work hours or children waking up?

The more you do a nightly routine and are being refreshed regularly, these disruptions won’t seem as big of a deal because you can carry on after you’ve taken care of things or pick it up the next night. If this is happening a lot, it might be time to look at changing some boundaries or expectations.

Could I include hobbies into my nightly routine?

Yes! If a hobby is restful and relaxing to you, then by all means add it in! If you find that a certain hobby gets you excited and feeling more awake, you may want to save it for another time so you are able to sleep well.

Meal Planning Routines That Are Easy To Keep

Meal planning doesn’t have to be stressful and time consuming. In fact, establishing a simple routine can really take a load off your stress and allow more time for things you love.

I am of the opinion that any type of home or life change that feels TOO DRASTIC if often hard to keep.

Run 3 miles a day? YES, I’LL DO THAT.

Once.

Cook only paleo meals 5 nights a week? Easy peasy.

For a week or two.

Routines are my schtick so – believe me when I tell you – easy and simple is the way to go. Start by taking the things you already do, or tend to do naturally, and make them into more of a purposeful routine.

We’ve all been there

4:00 p.m. hits and it dawns on you. What’s for dinner? You think… I wish I would have planned something sooner.

Well, I want to give you some hope… meal planning doesn’t have to be complicated or overly time consuming.

In fact, it can simplify your life and help you have more time to spend doing the things that you love (like cleaning house and running after the kids…).

But seriously, let’s stop throwing our hands up and ordering take out. Start with a simple plan and then use the resources below to help.

You’ve got this!

I’ve talked at length about family routines, self-care routines, and evening routines. So now?

Meal Planning Routines For Moms

Whether you keep a master schedule of your week or just fly by it day-to-day, a simple meal planning routine is key to getting some food freedom and healthy meal options.

Establish a time (and maybe a place to write down your meal plan)

Maybe you like to sit down on Sunday evening and plan for the week ahead?
Or what about early Monday morning?
Maybe choose what day is most convenient to shop/pick up groceries and plan the evening before or morning of that day of the week
Maybe it’s as simple as keeping an ongoing memo on your phone
A dry erase magnet board on the refrigerator or command center may also work
A meal planning notepad or sheets near your cookbooks or common area where you can keep a running tally of things you need

Whatever routine works for you, having that same routine from week-to-week will keep you consistent. It will also get easier as time goes on if you keep your planning routine simple and regular.

Read These While You’re At It

5 Daily Habits For Kids That Makes Your Life Easier

Evening Routines for Moms That Erase Stress and Give Peace

Mom Morning Routines: Bring Order & Sanity To Your Day

Simple Self-Care Routines Moms Can Do Daily

The Stay At Home Mom Schedule That’ll Keep You Sane

Meal Planning Options

There is no right or wrong option here. The ticket is to find what works for your time and personality.

Fully scheduled

Assign a specific meal for each day of the week. (For example: Monday: breakfast- pancakes & fruit, Lunch- Cold cut sandwiches & chips, Dinner- Chicken fried rice). You will take a chart or a sheet of paper or digital planning tool and assign food for every meal.

And then put those ingredients onto your shopping list.

Loosely scheduled

Plan specific meals but don’t assign them to days. Have the ingredients ready to cook what your family feels like that day- or what your schedule allows.

For me, this looks like choosing 4 or 5 dinners I will cook. Another is pizza for movie night, leftovers one night, then a wild card where we can eat out.

Monthly Meal Plan

This plan cuts shopping time down and some people love that it’s all planned out in advance. Instead of planning for one week, you’ll plan out an entire month.

If you like shopping once a month for all the pantry and freezer items, this is a great plan.

Themed Day Food Plan

Assign a type of food to each day. (For example: Monday- beef, Tuesday- chicken, Wednesday- Vegetarian, etc.). This is a whole Taco Tuesday type of thing.

This will help you silo meals. Also, if you choose 3 or 4 meals for each category then essentially you’ll have the same 20 or so meals a month, but only repeated once a month.

Batch Cooking

Extra busy mom’s love this plan because there’s always meals prepared in the freezer and ready to go. With this plan, you can cook one night and put 5 or more meals away in the freezer for later.

Or you can double meals you cook. Cook a lot of meat at once, separate it out. etc. That type of thing.

Crockpot Rescue

It is entirely possible to make complete meals with simply a crockpot. If you are aiming to eliminate dishes and prep earlier in the day, this may be the way to go for you.

I like to have quite a few options available. If you choose a few crock pot meals always available in your pantry then you have some options if you don’t want to spend money on take out. Or if you live too far out to drive to town quickly.

Grocery Shopping Routine

A working grocery shopping routine is essential to any meal planning success. I mean… it’s hard to plan and cook without the food you need at home.

So let’s talk about how to get the food into the house.

Tips for a successful shopping trip:

Choose one day of the week that you always go shopping or pick up groceries. This will feel like a personal deadline.
Set a reminder on your phone so you remember to schedule your shopping if you do pickup or delivery.
If you don’t love in person grocery shopping (some people do!) then using an app will save you tons of time. Both in meal planning and shopping.
Keep a running list of things you don’t necessarily buy each trip but have run out of (Examples: spices, condiments, soups).
Make sure your meal plan accounts for what you still have in stock at home.
If you shop IN the store, create your grocery list that is separated by categories (produce, dairy, snacks/pantry, froze, meats, bread, household).

I have recently fallen in love with the curbside pickup at grocery stores.

Even though I still shop for produce at one store and pantry items at another, I save so much time by ordering online and picking up on my way home from some other commitment.

Meal Prep/Snack Prep To Freeze Or Store For Later

When it comes to meal prepping, I have found that the key is to “not bite off” too much at one time.

Let me explain, preparing four separate full meals (lasagna, spaghetti Bolognese, chicken tikka masala, and barbecue chicken) to store away will take hours… if not days.

Instead, I plan one fantastic meal (lasagna) and put away at least 5 full meals in the freezer for later.

If I do this once a week for a few weeks, I’ve got plenty put away for a few months.

Here are a few tips to consider:

Make sure you are using the right freezer safe containers.
Prepare your freezer for how much space you will need ahead of time.
Get your labeling system down.
Taste test a meal on your family before batch making 5 meals to eat later. Check out this website for a bunch of easy meal prep ideas: 40+ Best Meal Prep Recipes

Snack prepping

This is a different beast entirely. It really depends on your family size and age of kids.

I have found that for me, placing “anytime allowed” snacks in particular places help my kids understand their snack limits.

I always include a “snack” section on my grocery list. I’m sure to check what I have before buying/ordering extra and running out of space in my pantry.
Choose healthy snacks (nus, fruit, cheese, carrots, granola, pretzels, yogurt, etc.)
Choose out of reach “treats” as well, and separate when organizing them in the pantry
Organize snacks in baskets (and in the fridge)
Make rules regarding snacks your kids can have if you find them constantly snacking

Resources to Help

If you’re like me, having everything down right in front of you is priceless. That’s why I’ve created this perfect resource to help- the Meal Planning & Pantry Staple Pack. It includes:

Weekly grocery lists
Weekly meal planners
Monthly meal planners
Pantry staple
Top family meal lists

How can I involve my children in meal planning and cooking?

Depending on the age of your kids, they can help from choosing meals, going to the store and putting groceries away, to helping make the meals. Each child could choose one meal per month (or per week if you’re feeling ambitious) and help you plan and cook their meal of choice.

How can I incorporate more variety into our meals without overwhelming myself?

Aim to incorporate one new recipe a month, or some other sustainable way of trying new things without biting off more than you can chew. Getting a new cookbook to have easy, delicious recipes can help you add the ingredients to your shopping list easily and prep quickly.

How can I plan meals that are both kid-friendly and enjoyable for adults?

In our house, the kids eat what the adults eat because I cannot accommodate different meals for each child three times a day. With that said, ask your kids for dinner suggestions, involve them in preparing the meal, or get creative with your themed dinner nights to get them more excited about what is being served.

Sunday Morning Routines To Stop The Before Church Madness

Are Sunday mornings the craziest, unruliest, most unfortunate times in your household? You’re not alone. Here are some tried and true tips to help stop the before church madness:

I’ll never forget our most train wreck of a Sunday morning.

I was stressed out getting all 5 kids ready and myself. Makeup, hair, etc.

And then I see my husband still not ready, after I’d gotten 5 kids and myself ready, and rage came up. I didn’t want to be late.

I grabbed the keys, literally threw them, and said DRIVE YOURSELF TO CHURCH!

It went further downhill after that. But 15 minutes later we laughed and decided, well, that’s not a good way to spend our Sunday mornings.

So let’s dive into how to create a nice Sunday morning routine without the drama.

Plan Ahead for Sunday Mornings

The chaos happens when… it’s Sunday morning and you realize that nobody has clean dress clothes and there’s no food in the house.

Plan Outfits the Night Before

This is especially helpful if you have multiple kids and the mornings can get super chaotic.

Or, if you like to color coordinate the family.

Lay dress clothes over bedroom chair or in a place easily accessible.
Check to make sure clean socks & undies are there.
Set dress shoes out and ready to put on.

Shower the night before in effort to eliminate the extra time it takes for hair drying, etc.

Read: Your Family’s Schedule: 6 Crucial Considerations

Pre-plan and simplify breakfast

Unless it’s your family’s tradition, a full course breakfast spread is probably not the best bet (if you want to get to church on time.)

And, nobody likes coming home from church with a sink full of dishes.

And lunch to make.

Keep Sunday morning breakfast simple, yet nutritious.
Fruit, granola bars, cereal, oatmeal.
Teach that part of the routine is to clean up their breakfast materials before leaving.

I allow mine to eat their breakfast on their own (at the counter) or together with a sibling.

Depending on your kid’s age, you may want to feed them before getting them dressed so the meal doesn’t ruin their clothes. This will also stop them from fussing from hunger.

Avoiding Hyper Stimulation or Screens

One of the most difficult things on planet earth to do is to convince a child to put down a device to do something boring like getting dressed.

This is magnified on Sunday mornings. So, we avoid screens and “clear our heart & mind” for worship.

It’s a whole lot easier to get dressed when you’re intentional about doing it.

And, kids tend to be grumpy when they get screens and then have to put the down to get ready for church.

I say, just avoid screen time entirely and focus on what’s important today.

Hyper Stimulation on Sunday Mornings

One sure trick to smoother Sunday mornings is to avoid hyper stimulations.

I’m talking about the nerf gun wars, building forts in the living room, playing tag, running around outside, etc.

Nope… Sunday morning is not the time for it.

Not only will it almost always bring on arguing, but sweaty kids with busted lips isn’t what we’re going for today.

Start Earlier- Way Earlier than What You Think

If it’s going to break, burn, or get caught in the fan it’s going to happen first thing on Sunday mornings. Get ahead of it by rising earlier and planning to be one step up.

Plus, if all of your kids want to snuggle with you before getting out of bed… you want to have the time to do that.

Plan to Start Earlier

This is a tip for those of us who always end up with one-more-thing-to-do before going out the door.

It’s a mom thing… and it’s real.

So, to combat this conundrum, simply start earlier.

If you think you need to get up by 7:30, set your alarm for 7:00.
If you aim to leave the house by 9:30, plan on walking out the door at 9:00.

You may be early, but you won’t be later.

Actually, you’ll probably be right on time.

Read: Sunday Evening Routines That Make The Week Less Stressful

“If You Have Have Nothing Nice to Say”

We all know what comes next.. “then don’t say anything at all.”

But for some reason, Sunday morning is the time for “all the negativity to come out.” Some people think it’s this world and our enemy trying to stop us from going to church.

My husband has memories of his mother saying this on Sunday mornings in their house. So, it’s not just a “this generational” thing.

And, so especially on Sundays, watch that you say.

Teach kids to use positive affirmations and kind words to each other.
Be mindful of the things you speak over yourself while getting dressed, etc.
Have your kids do some calm down time if they aren’t saying kind things. Don’t take it…

It may take some time, but the overall moral of the Sunday mornings will increase with positivity.

Or, by just saying nothing at all.

How can I keep my older kids occupied while I get the younger kids ready for church?

Sunday mornings are a great time for independent play time or reading books quietly while the rest of the family gets ready. If appropriate, have your older kids help get the younger kids ready!

Any advice on avoiding the hangry and tired after-church rage with little kids?

Having a calm and not rushed morning helps with this but there are often lots of needs to take care of as soon as you walk in the door from church – lunch, naps, potty breaks, etc. Consider giving small snacks in the car on the way home and have a game plan that everyone plays a part in when you get home. Child 1 helps unload the diaper bag, child 2 helps prepare lunch, etc. That way everyone plays an active role and things get done faster.

Sunday Evening Routines That Make The Week Less Stressful

Let’s be honest, going into a new week can sometimes be very stressful. Here are some Sunday evening routines for busy moms that will help ease some of the pain:

If there’s one evening that can set the tone for the rest of the week… it’s Sunday evenings.

There’s a thing people like to call the Sunday Scaries.

It’s like… Monday is coming, I’m not interested, but it’s going to show up anyway, and I’m maybe not super prepared.

A great way to avoid the Sunday Scaries and the Monday Moodswings is to do a little bit of prep on Sunday evenings by way of Sunday evening routines.

Meal plan for the week & order groceries.

The week goes so much smoother when food has been planned out. Not only that, but it can be more cost effective as well.

Maybe you jot down the main dinners you’re gong to cook, or maybe you make detailed plans for every day.

Whatever your method is, adding food goals for the week to a Sunday night routine is a great idea.

Have you ever thought about pre-ordering your groceries to be picked up/delivered? I have found that when I do this, I do less impulse buying.

Not only that, but I also feel more organized when I sit down and plan exactly what I need to purchase.

Read: Best Planners for Moms Based On Personality

Look at the week’s schedule.

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I feel like I need a personal assistant to help me organize where I need to be… and when.

But, when I get organized on Sunday evening (for the week), it is a lot less stressful.

Go over schedules for the week ahead (sports, activities, church events, date night, etc.)
Make phone calls or reach out to people I need to communicate with.
Organize rides, food reservations, who is bringing what…
Communicate with family about daily plans or special events.

Plans for the wardrobe.

It’s not a crazy idea at all to have a week’s worth of your kids clothes ready to put on. In fact, this activity can be a great thing to add to a Sunday evening routine.

Actually, it can even be relaxing or enjoyable. I have been known to use this time to bond with my kids (discuss their likes/dislikes).

And, it can help with establishing your laundry routines as well. Imagine… always knowing that your kids have matching socks ready to put on.

Read These While You’re At It

10 Simple Organizing Projects for the New Year

Bookshelves can be functional and pretty and used for more than storing books. They are easy and effortless organization

6 Easy and Effortless Tips for Organization with Kids

5 Daily Habits For Kids That Makes Your Life Easier

7 Simple Things You Can Do To Prepare Your Family For The Whole Year

Brain dump onto your master to-do list.

This activity alone can help reduce stress.

Taking the time on a Sunday evening to brain dump anything/everything for the upcoming week onto a master list is a great idea.

You can set back and organize it later, but this gives you the freedom to step into the week knowing you have a “list” written and it’s off your brain.

Discuss with your spouse upcoming events.

Sunday evenings are a very manageable time to sync your calendars. It’s easy to remember to sync schedules when you do it every Sunday evening at the same time.

For some, busy schedules and special activities can be overwhelming. You know what’s even more overwhelming?

When you forgot to tell your spouse about an important event that you need help with and he already has concrete commitments of his own.

Read: Your Family’s Schedule: 6 Crucial Considerations

Do a room-to-room sweep.

You may already do a daily sweep. But, on Sunday evening you can spend 15 minutes or so bringing things back into their correct rooms.

It never fails that baskets, toys, or linens end up in the incorrect rooms throughout the week. Sunday can be the prefect time just to make sure everything is back in its place.

It feels going into the week knowing that things are in their right locations.

Read These While You’re At It

A Doable Weekly Cleaning Schedule For Busy Moms Daily Chores for Kids that Help Prepare Them for Life

How To Keep A Tidy House With Little Kids – It’s Possible!

routines to help keep a tidy home with kids

Routines to Keep a Tidy Home With Kids

Set some personal goals.

I’m not talking about unrealistic goals… because those just cause more stress. Set some goals to help eliminate some stress for yourself.

How much time are you going to spend daily doing something fun for you, reading, or simply resting?
What activities are you going to do with your kids to get that cherished one-on-one time?
How are you going to achieve your nutrition/ work out plan?

Set some goals, put them in the calendar, and pray for the best.

Read: Sunday Morning Routines To Stop The Before Church Madness

Make it electronic free.

Moms everywhere are finding that electronics seem to agitate certain situations. One of these conditions is the winding down, end of the day, plan for tomorrow situation.

Let’s be honest.. it can be stressful.

Why? There are some times where electronics don’t help.

It’s very difficult to get kids to cooperate with planning, organizing, or prepping when all they can think about is their game, etc. It’s like their brains just wont let them work.

So, establishing a Sunday evening electronic free routine can be a peaceful way to handle getting what you want done.

Declutter surfaces.

If your house is anything like mine, some surfaces seem to collect things throughout the week. It’s just part of life.

Mail, toys, art supplies, books, random things from the van…etc. They all seem to clutter surfaces around the house.

Here’s a tip:

Designate a basket and “sweep” all surface left items into it.
Family members must retrieve their items (and put them in their proper location) or you do away with them.

In my opinion, there’s no reason to leave surfaces cluttered to start the new week. Plus, everything feels cleaner when you can see.

It’s a great reset to start the week.

Examine the entrances to your home.

Nothing will make your Monday morning feel hectic like a messy front porch or entrance way. Do you accumulate stacks of things by your door during the week?

Packages, things that need go away (donations, return items, etc.), even pizza boxes.

What about the porch?

Don’t leave the weekend’s activities sitting out where they are gong to be tripped over out the door on Monday morning.

Eliminate stress by taking the time of Sunday evening to attack those piles. Make the entrance way to your house the segue to a stress-free Monday.

How can I get on the same page as my spouse on Sundays?

Have a Sunday “business meeting” where you only talk about the business for the week, like the logistics, calendar, meals, etc. When you have a focus, this can be done efficiently in about 20 minutes and can make sure you’re on the same page for the week ahead.

How can I get my kids excited for our Sunday evening routines?

Make it fun! Play music, make games out of cleaning up, or do something fun together as a family after the logistics are taken care of, like a family walk or play a game.

How can I organize my Sunday evening routine so nothing is forgotten?

I love my Homemaking Binder for this! All of the things your household needs to keep track of in one, easy to find place, including your Sunday night routines.

Mom Routines

Tidy Routines That Even Small Kids Can Do

1. Bed Making & Morning Tidy

2. Cleanup After Playtime to Keep a Tidy Home

3. Get a Good Laundry System Down

Basic Laundry Tips

Tidy Routines CHECKLIST

4. Timed Clean-Up

5. Evening sweep

6. End-Of-Dinner Tidy Up

Tidy Routines CHECKLIST

What’s an “evening sweep?”

1. Do it before you sit down

2. Do it quickly with purpose

Tidy Routines CHECKLIST

3. Have the kids help before bed

4. Use a timer if need be

Tidy Routines CHECKLIST

5. You’ll thank yourself tomorrow

Bedtime Brain Release Sheet

Things to consider when creating an evening routine…

Evening Routine Ideas for Moms

Hygiene and Body Care

Bedtime Brain Release Sheet

Prep for the Next Day

Bedtime Brain Release Sheet

Relaxation Routines

Pre-Sleep Routines

Mom Problem Solving Worksheet

And two more for the road.

Breathing exercises

Pray

Daily Mom Routines Checklist

We’ve all been there

Meal Planning Routines For Moms

Establish a time (and maybe a place to write down your meal plan)

Meal Planning Options

Fully scheduled

Daily Mom Routines Checklist

Loosely scheduled

Monthly Meal Plan

Themed Day Food Plan

Batch Cooking

Daily Mom Routines Checklist

Crockpot Rescue

Grocery Shopping Routine

Tips for a successful shopping trip:

Daily Mom Routines Checklist

Meal Prep/Snack Prep To Freeze Or Store For Later

Here are a few tips to consider:

Snack prepping

Daily Mom Routines Checklist

Resources to Help

Routines To Cut Through The Crazy

Plan Ahead for Sunday Mornings

Plan Outfits the Night Before

Pre-plan and simplify breakfast

Avoiding Hyper Stimulation or Screens

Routines To Cut Through The Crazy

Hyper Stimulation on Sunday Mornings

Start Earlier- Way Earlier than What You Think

Plan to Start Earlier

Routines To Cut Through The Crazy

“If You Have Have Nothing Nice to Say”

Daily Mom Routines Checklist

Meal plan for the week & order groceries.

Look at the week’s schedule.

Daily Mom Routines Checklist

Plans for the wardrobe.

Brain dump onto your master to-do list.

Discuss with your spouse upcoming events.

Daily Mom Routines Checklist

Do a room-to-room sweep.

Set some personal goals.

Make it electronic free.

Declutter surfaces.

Here’s a tip:

Daily Mom Routines Checklist

Examine the entrances to your home.