Winning Organizing Your Home Advice
With the help of family members, identify time wasters at home. Here’s some examples:
miscommunication
misplaced objects and personal effects
documents and papers not filed
too many CDs and magazines left lying about
mistakes
indecision
inefficient use of family vehicles
too much watching TV
different meal times
non-adherence to curfew rules
friends who hang around indefinitely
Divide and delegate house chores
Obviously you can’t do it all. So it’s time for a strategy: organize a nice dinner for all the on one long weekend, and tell them in advance that you have something to announce. Cook them a special dish or two and whip up a dessert that everyone will love.
At the end of the meal, tell them that you want to make some changes at home. Say that you’ve been procrastinating in doing some important jobs around the house because you lack their support.
Bring up your divide and delegate plan, ask them for ideas, and get everyone’s commitment. Your concrete, well laid-out plan will get you the results you want.
Set up a chore chart after division of labor is decided.
As the initiator of the plan, you must be the first to set the example. If you committed to re-organize the cupboards and clean out the fridge once a week, do it. When everyone sees you’re doing your part, they’ll do theirs.
Pin up a chart in the kitchen or in the TV room where everyone can cross out the task once it’s completed. Check the chart once a week; tell them how pleased you are with their progress. If some members have been delinquent, ask them for an explanation. Don’t scold, give them another chance. This chart is an effective way for you to identify who the biggest procrastinators are, and you may have to supervise them more closely.
Begin with small chores to start with to get everyone’s cooperation.
If a huge task is assigned the first time, that person is likely to procrastinate. Consider dividing up the job in small parts.
Let’s take re-painting the entire garage as an example. If your husband works the usual 8 hours a day, don’t expect him to paint the whole garage on one weekend. Don’t forget the old paint needs to come off, some sanding has to be done, and primer needs to be applied. If you have a closed, double-car garage, divide the job by walls, or by a quarter of a wall at a time. You don’t want your husband to feel overwhelmed, forcing him to think of excuses to put it off. Far better to break it down into tasks or into areas.
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These articles are packed with home organisation ideas.