“The first hour is the rudder of the day.” – Henry Ward Beecher
Let’s face it. Mornings can be tough. In many homes, they are famous for containing too much to do and too little time.
But mornings set the mood for the rest of our day. They have the potential to energize us or drain us. They have the opportunity to lift our spirits or drag us down. They can start us on the right foot or the wrong foot.
Given the fact that mornings are so important, it’s wise to spend a few minutes each night preparing your house for tomorrow’s sunrise. After all, a clutter-free house in the morning means less stress, less anxiety, and less time getting prepared for the day. And that benefits everyone in the home!
Contrary to popular misconception, you don’t need to spend hours each night cleaning the house to accomplish a clutter-free morning. Instead, simply stay ahead of the clutter by tackling these ten 60-second decluttering projects before you go to bed each night.
1. Return shoes/coats to closets. In the winter, add gloves, hats, and scarves to the routine.
2. Recycle junk mail and newspapers. A new day brings new mail and new news. Keep your table or counter space clutter-free in the morning by removing today’s.
3. Put away articles of clothing. Some go in the laundry. Some go back in the closet. But none should be left on the floor. It helps to have a minimalist wardrobe.
4. Store media out of sight. Put back all dvd’s, cd’s, video games, and remote controls that were used during the day. The first time you walk into that room tomorrow, you’ll be glad you did.
5. Process coins and receipts. I’m sure it was your husband who left the contents of his pockets on your dresser, but either way, it’ll take you only 60 seconds to put those items where they actually belong.
6. Clear all bathroom surfaces. The first place you’ll go in the morning is the bathroom. It’s also a surprisingly easy room to keep clutter free. Invest the 60 seconds every night to make it happen.
7. Clean-up homework. Get your kids into the habit of putting away their schoolwork each night before bed rather than scrambling around each morning to find it.
8. Put kitchen items away. Granted, I’m assuming you’ve done some cleaning up already after dinner. And if you have, it’ll only take you another 60 seconds to tidy up anything that got left out.
9. Put back toys. Realistically, life doesn’t allow a clean toy room every evening. But if you have a toy room apart from your living room, spend 60 seconds returning toys to the room where they belong. Or better yet, get your kids into the practice of doing it themselves.
10. File paperwork. Stay on top of paper and office clutter by handling it the day it arrives.
If you are not in the habit of doing these things, it’ll definitely take longer than 10 minutes the first time. But once you get a handle on each area, the entire project will take you less than 10 minutes… and your morning you will thank you!
Image: BeatPlusMelody
Tip from a long time first grade teacher and former nanny- my students can completely clean a trashed classroom at the end of the day in under five minutes! There are tons of clean-up songs on YouTube- I just start one playing and well before the end, everything is put away!
Putting on a “ clean up” is the best hint here. Thanks!
My Prekindergarten class also was responsible for cleaning up the classroom, and they loved it. Each year we had 3 songs (music that I loved to dance to instead of clean up songs) and as soon as they came on we all got busy to see if we could clean up before they ended. We were psyched if we could do them before the end of the first or second song and always had a huge high five! We also had a clean up inspector (child) who would make sure that the job was done well and not just fast. Sometimes I would leave something I had “put away” in the wrong place and they loved being able to find it and show me how to put it in the right place.
Add on prep for breakfasts, kids clothes, getting hair and teeth brushed, clothes laid out, car pools, leaving 90 minutes fighting traffic to get to your job, multiple packed lunches, and about 30 field trip/school papers to pack and you’re getting into the vicinity of real life here. This list is really about just not being a slob. If that’s your only responsibility and you need a movement to help you just move back in with your parents already.
That’s pretty mean, I’d say!
Well she’s talking about want to do the night before not the morning of. So that you have more time in the morning for what you list. And you can do your other many responsibilities.
I must seriously be like an OCD neat-freak, because I’ve been doing all of these things and more, every night. However. I don’t wait until nighttime. I just put things away, right away, as soon as I get home or the other people at my shared residence put something down. No, I don’t wait for them to do it, or else it would NOT get done. That’s the problem when one of us is a neat freak and the other, well, the opposite. I don’t really mind though. I actually enjoy washing dishes and I like that there is a place for everything. Of course, after three children and the fact that we do “live” in the home, some of my organized places have somehow gotten away from me and it’s just a matter of time until I tackle, declutter, and reorganize (i,e. my office and his utility room). Thanks for sharing, I’m glad to know that I’m doing SOME things right.
Wow, sexist much?
“5. Process coins and receipts. I’m sure it was your husband who left the contents of his pockets on your dresser, but either way, it’ll take you only 60 seconds to put those items where they actually belong.”
He can’t be responsible for his own mess? The significant other must tidy in pursuit of a clutter free home? What about respecting your spouses boundaries and possessions, or perhaps communicating about achieving a minimalist ideal and what that means in regards to the coins and receipts left on the dresser?
And with that tone being set it colors numbers 7, 8, and 9. I’d expect this coming from a “mommy blog,” (women addressing women) but I find it unacceptable being written by a male presumably addressing a largely female audience (becuase why else would that sexism creep in, surely not if it was aimed at a male audience?)
Please keep in mind that in the 21st century homemaking is often a shared endeavor and to watch for unintentionally (I hope) sexist phrasing. I do enjoy your blog, and think that you have a good message to be shared. Let’s try to be all inclusive and not perpetuate 50s gender roles.
Well, I sure don’t think I’m sexist. But in my house, if there is change or keys left on the countertop, there’s a 100% chance it came from me. And it’s tidied up by whoever takes the initiative on that given day.
Yes, it’s a sexist remark. You may have been able to circumvent irritating educated females by saying if it’s not yours don’t do it, or ask your husband to process it…
Joshua, you are right and you aren’t sexist. You were trying to bring some humor to the list which some can’t handle anymore , they get twisted up instead of letting it go. Part of minimalism is letting it go. The stress that is. We have enough stress in our lives without making more for ourselves. In my house, the change and keys are always left on the kitchen counter by my husband so you made me laugh. Thank you for making my day and ignore the negative remarks. You are helping so many people 😊 God bless you ❤️
Most women I know don’t carry change in their pockets and empty their pockets out. We have purse for that. ;) I chuckled reading this because my husband leaves his clothes on the floor by the bed because he has a minimal wardrobe. So he expect he will put on the same comfy shorts in the morning, then put them in the wash after showering. However that is not actually what happens. The pile builds up. I left it there out of respect for him. He doesn’t want them washed until needed. I tried offering a basket or other place to put these, but nothing lasted because wherever they were placed, it was out of sight, out of mind. Today I noticed the same shirt and shorts on the floor (worn once) that have been there for almost a week. The floor will be vacuumed today. I picked up the clothes and put them in the hamper without being angry (it’s taken a couple decades to get it). He didn’t notice or mind. I mind that the clothes are left there. The hamper is a few steps away. I will do it-because I am the one that wants the floor clean. He doesn’t leave his clothes on the bathroom floor, he does so many other wonderful helpful things for our family! I can do this thing for him without resentment.
Wow I love your comment! I struggle with this too. My husband does SO many practical and organisational things for our home and family (including cooking amazing meals for us regularly) but doesn’t seem to ‘see’ the mess where he leaves his clothes, keys, etc. I have to take time to remember how tiring it is coming home after a whole day working outside the home (I now run a business from home and am a full time mum). Yes I wish everything was put away but I refuse to nag or follow up on chores that haven’t been done (unless urgent) as I don’t think it is good for a relationship. I tend to think we have different gifts and abilities which are all used for the betterment of our family and one of mind is noticing clutter :) a great gift I can give my family by creating a (mostly) clutter free home.
If you really love your husband why does it matter who “should”put something away? I am a widow. I became one at 46 believe me if he was still here I wouldn’t sweat the small stuff.
Me either! I would love to have anything of his to pickup. We shared the day to day life / work . Until the night he died I cut the grass and he cleaned up my mess while I cooked dinner and we cleaned up the kitchen before getting in the hot tub. Then with in a couple hours he was gone . Life is short. Enjoy what you have while you can ♥️
Same here. I put out a basket for hubbie’s socks and slippers. Now when he takes them off, he leaves them in the vicinity of the basket, never in it.?
Same here. Nice basket, but slippers land next to, not in it. But I’m sure I do things that annoy him too. Like putting out a basket for his slippers and socks!! Lol.
What an insightful comment, Jessie back in 2016 made, showing us all how ingrained sexist thinking can be – I didn’t even notice that, but you are right.
My struggle is to have the dishes done and benches clear. I am trying to teach me two teens and a 22 yr old still at home to help with dishes, and we have a roster which they have worked out. we try to stick to this as it gets out of hand otherwise. However, since they often work and are tired, and perhaps didn’t even eat at home, we let them leave it until the next day. This is against the grain for me, but at the moment I don’t feel I should do this as well as most other things around the house. Getting up early is not a teenager’s choice, though, so it often sits around for half the day. This is always a frustration for me, and I see I need to address this issue somehow!
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Thanks for the laugh!
My problem is one of the family member is not conscious about decluttering or being organized. Where he changed clothes, there went his clothes, his shoes, his undies. ????
Mine too, hubby drops things once he’s finished with them, wherever & whatever it is!
Joshua** Thank you for simple routine..Now to practice and implement..Wish I had help..2-3 years behind in taxes,sold my office house of 38 years and now have to make space in 2500 sq ft clutter house from my mom (six years since she’s gone) ;still have clothes in walk in closets ,broken and costume jewelry and my Dad’s stuff from their last house(1997 he passed away).. I sold and had one month to empty there 1100 + sq ft Home in Oct to Nov 2014,,still stored in my shed I sold with office house and here**Oh did I mention I cluttered stuff in house for 2- 3 years before it got too crowded and stopped bringing stuff in,, Now go thru all. Have a safe holiday and wish me luck. A G.
I do wish you luck (having been there and done that). The best advice I can give you from my own experience is to pick a starting place and then begin dealing with that “stuff” step by step. Otherwise, it’ll bury you. ;-)
Putting toys away at night has always been a habit, but some things on the list could be eliminated if you hang your coat up when you take it off, open mail over the trash can, etc.