Housework automations make the household run smoothly. Yes our housework is largely automated because we use machines that basically do the work for us, like a washing machine. Our job though is to gather up the laundry and load the washing machine. When the washing machine is done, we need to unload the clean clothes and put them in another machine, the dryer. When the clothes are dried, we fold and put away what has been washed and dried. Consider this idea. What if the automations were humans! The automations I’m talking about is us, we need to be more automated. We need a routine to get these things done that doesn’t take a lot of brain effort.
Since the beginning of 2020, this has been a long season of needing to be flexible in our very broken world. It may be broken out there in the world but I want my home to be a refuge for myself and my family. Having my family home full time now for both work and school has its benefits, but with everyone home, it’s making more housework and cooking for me and for wives and moms all across this nation. I have noticed that the stress of this year has worn down my mental ability to “keep all the plates spinning” so to speak. I need housework automations to keep me on track and provide order in my home while making sure our basic needs are met.
This whole thing started because of mental exhaustion. I wanted some sense of normalcy back in our home. A written plan that has all the tasks laid out, then if I’m having a bad day but still do the basics, then I know I’m still contributing to making my household run smoothly. If I’m having a good day, I still need to do the basics as well as working on projects and goals.
I mess myself up in both ways. When I don’t have energy, I’m depressed or I get distracted by the day’s crisis or activities, then I don’t do the basics. Likewise, when I’m feeling on top of the world, I dive into a project and leave the basics aside. Let’s talk about these basics.
Housework Basics
Laundry – Start the day by throwing in a load. Designate what day you do each load. For me, it’s whites on Monday. It’s darks on Tuesday. Wednesday I don’t do a load but I make sure my daughter does hers. Thursday is towels and Friday is bedding and miscellaneous.
House Cleaning – These are things that go beyond just picking up the house, like cleaning floors, dusting, bathrooms and a weekly deep clean of the kitchen. Pick a day for each task. When I do these regularly each week, it doesn’t get too bad. Right now with everyone home, cleaning the whole house at one time just doesn’t happen. And it’s not about appearances, having the perfect home like when you would have company over. It’s about keeping the house generally clean and functional.
Deep clean one room – Take a room each week and focus on it all week long. Sit down in that room and make a list of tasks you need to do to take care of this room. Include the details that get left out when you do general cleaning. I think in terms of these categories: declutter, deep clean, simplify and secure.
Declutter: go through drawers, cabinets, shelves, closets and piles of stuff just laying there that need your attention.
Deep Clean: blinds, windows, rugs, light fixtures
Simplify: What is this room supposed to be used for? Make those things able to run smoothly in that room. Take everything out of that room that doesn’t belong or doesn’t support the function of that particular room.
Secure: Is it safe for my family to be in that room? Is there anything broken or not working that needs to be dealt with? Are there valuables that need to be put away? Are there any tripping hazards from throw rugs? Do all the doors and windows lock properly?
I struggle with doing what I set out to do. There are so many distraction these days. Do you ever wonder how God got the important things done? If I could work like God, everything would flow smoothly or at least it would be better than it is now. So let’s look into how God worked. Follow the example of Genesis chapter 1.
Then God said, “Let lights appear in the sky to separate the day from the night.
Let them be signs to mark the seasons, days, and years.
Let these lights in the sky shine down on the earth.”
Declare what you are going to do: I often find it difficult to stay on task. How about you? There are so many distractions and I usually want to do more than what I originally set out to do. To keep from getting sidetracked, before deep cleaning that room or doing your daily chores, stand there and declare (say out loud) what it is you would like to accomplish. God did it. Why can’t we? Let’s enjoy the benefits from His wisdom.
“And that is what happened. God made two great lights—
the larger one to govern the day, and the smaller one to govern the night.
He also made the stars. God set these lights in the sky to light the earth,
to govern the day and night, and to separate the light from the darkness.“
Do the work: Keep to the tasks you just declared. If you see more, then consider if this is what should be done today or another day. Keep really focused.
“And God saw that it was good.“
Now look around. Does everything look good? Did you do everything you said you would do in that room that day? If so, then say something like: Yay, now it really looks good in here!
“Then God blessed them.”
Bless the room: Talk to Jesus about what goes on in that room. If it’s the bedroom, then pray about getting enough sleep, quality sleep, waking up positive, getting ready in the morning and even intimacy. Ask God to bless the areas of your life that happen in that room. Ask Him to fill that room with His presence, His peace.
My heart goes out to each of you as you try to hold your households together during such a difficult and challenging time. Let’s do our best to make our home the refuge it needs to be. Remove the clutter and what is not necessary. Simplify. Take time to do these housework automations. Based on my experience, I do believe it will make a big difference in your own personal daily stress level.
Blessings,
Kim
Genesis 1:14-18 and 22