Wow! We’re almost in the 7th (or is it the 6th or 8th – can’t track this anymore) week of lockdown and is this really our NEW normal? Who knows what normal is any more. It’s not easy working from home, I have been hearing most of the people around me saying that they are all putting in longer hours, I sure am. I hope these articles from our expert panel are helping you get a handle on some aspects, tell us in the comments section how things are for you.
Today on the blog we have the lovely Helena, now Helena is a KonMari certified consultant and lifestyle coach and I am an admirer of the way she makes the hardest thing (keeping your house in order) seem simple on her insta-feed. I asked her if she could share some of her top tips and she was kind enough to do this article for My Swiss Story.
Our new normal is anything but normal, but also different depending on who you talk to. Is it possible for a family to keep a home tidy and organized during a lockdown? Yes! With a positive mindset and a ‘we can do this together’ attitude anything is possible.
Even though I am a KonMari Consultant and Lifestyle Coach myself, I would always suggest that everyone should start their simplifying journey with reducing the number of their belongings, but today I’m not asking you to do that. If that’s indeed something you do want to embark on, get started with joy checking your clothes and keep going, I will cheer you on and support you in any way I can! But if you feel that even thinking about a decluttering project is too overwhelming right now, let’s just focus on realistic, small and manageable steps to do as a family.
To reduce stress levels the first step for you to do is decide what kind of stay-at-home life you really want and need right now. Sit with the thought and let the answers come to you. Your intuition will help you find the most important things for you. Invite your kids to do the same during a quiet moment. The next step is to take out everything that isn’t what you want right now. And I don’t mean physical items only. We’re talking about social media, TV, the flow of (bad) news, junk food, negative people…you name it.
Here’s what you can do:
#1 Hold a family meeting about your ideal organised home life and commit
Let each family member visualize their ideal home and make a list of the most important organizing goals for everyone. One goal per family member is enough. Keep the final list visible at all times and respect each other’s wishes at all times.
An example list could look something like this:
- Make your own bed every morning
- Hang jackets and put away shoes to keep the entrance tidy and clutter-free
- Put all dirty dishes in the dishwasher straight after use
- Tidy away school books/work items straight after having finished
- Tidy all toys back to their homes before dinner
#2 Lead by example
Kids naturally love order, but they need help with learning HOW to be orderly. Show them how to be tidy and organized. Start by tidying yourself. Maybe fold your clothes the KonMari way and save tons of storage space would help your daily routine? If your kids are anything like mine they will ask what you’re doing and want to have a tidy closet, toy basket or room themselves. It’s so much fun to tidy together – make it into a game and you will find that you’re actually starting to enjoy tidying together!
#3 Make sure that all things are returned to their home after being used
This is the Ultimate Tidy Tip. As soon as people start leaving things around it will get messy and untidy. Help the family by identifying a home for all items. Store likes with likes and label your shelves, boxes, and baskets if you’re into that kind of thing. For small kids, a picture on a box will help them recognize the right home for their different toys and makes it a fun task instead of a boring chore.
#4 Responsibility
Make every family member responsible for a task/room/a small area to keep tidy on a daily basis, depending on age. This makes children feel responsible and they will feel so proud of being able to manage their own tasks. If needed and age-appropriate you can add a daily reward chart to follow how well the tasks are going and maybe pay a small salary for a job well done at the end of the week. At the same time, you teach your kids how to work smart and earn money. Win-win.
#5 Personal space & power spot
Make sure all family members have their own working space during the day, even if you all sit around the kitchen table, as well as their own power spot. A power spot is a space where everyone can go to find peace and get some important me-time, surrounded by a few of their most cherished belongings that bring them joy. When the favourite items are always kept at the personal power spot they will a) always be easily found and they will b) not be floating around the house either and needing to be tidied away.
My final tip is my personal favorite. Simple yet so enjoyable. Bring in fresh flowers if you are able to find any! They will brighten up any space and make it look lighter, happy and bright.
Stay tuned for more resources, we have some great content lined up with experts in various fields – marketing gurus, coaches, wellness experts, chefs, and teachers to get you through this tough time. Stay safe and healthy! Make the most of your quarantine with My Swiss Story.
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