The 3 Household Routines I Swear By

Running a household takes a lot of time and hard work. It can feel overwhelming and sometimes even pointless. But, establishing some basic household routines will make your life a whole lot simpler.

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What is a Household Routine?

Let’s take a moment to define household routine.

Routines are your usual order or way of doing things. When we apply that to our homes, it would look like establishing a sequence of actions or steps we regularly follow in order to run our household smoothly.

Importance of Having Household Routines

As an early childhood specialist I can tell you household routines and systems make children feel nurtured, cared for, and safe. Providing a sense of safety for your children is a cornerstone in creating the foundation for their lives; not just as children but into adulthood, too.

This is why I believe that what happens inside the walls of your home matters a lot. In fact, I go so far as to say its holy ground. That is so easy to forget when we get lost in the mundane activity of clutter, clean, repeat. But, as ordinary and sometimes thankless as managing your household feels, it is important, extraordinary even.

Keeping a home routine sets the stage for intentional living and simplifying your home life so that you’re focused on what matters most to you. When you start tending your space and the people in it, you’ll notice a shift. Instead of being overwhelmed or feeling like you’re always scrambling to catch up, you’ll feel like your managing your home on purpose.

3 Must-Have Household Routines

I love routine. There’s just something about having a usual way of doing things and doing them regularly that makes life feel simpler.

Over the years, I’ve created many household routines, but these days, the three routines I find to be the most beneficial are:

• a weekly home management routine
• a morning routine
• an evening routine

You may have more or less depending on your goals and priorities, but these are the three routines that have proven to be incredibly beneficial for my household. My house just runs to much more smoothly for it, which puts me and my family at ease.

Weekly Home Management Routine

I like to divide certain home keeping responsibilities out over the week by assigning each day a theme. Doing it this way has proven to be very effective for me, especially since I really look forward to what each day brings.

Sunday – I set aside Sundays for rest and renewal. It’s a day I have permission to relax and enjoy time with my family. We do, however, switch gears a little bit in the evening with what I call the Sunday Reset. That’s where I spend about fifteen minutes restocking all of our household supplies, toiletries, and cleaning products.

Monday – I take Mondays to plan for the week ahead. It’s a whole ritual where I spread out with my bullet journal and phone (for the calendar) and write down everything I need and hope to get done that week.

This is also when I do maintenance type chores around the house, including calling to schedule appointments.

I also take the time to menu plan, and then order groceries for pick up or delivery.

I call it Maintenance Monday.

Tuesday – Tuesdays are for errands. If at all possible, I schedule appointments and make dates for Tuesday.

Wednesday – By Wednesday I slip into more of work rhythm, setting aside this day to write.

Thursday – I’ve designated Thursday as a day to create. That usually means decorating or organizing. But, I could also play with hairstyles or try new makeup looks.

Friday – Fridays are for catching up on missed chores or errands and easing into the weekend. I try to have any work related business finished by noon. I like to think of it as ‘Fun Friday.’

My home management routine is by far my favorite routine. I find the methodical rhythm to be very grounding.

Daily Cleaning Routine

Of all my household routines, my daily cleaning routine makes me feel the most productive. I’ve spent some time honing in on my morning essentials, the things I consider non negotiable, to determine what household chores I want done daily.

My daily cleaning routine includes:

• making the bed
• emptying and loading the dishwasher
• one load of laundry
• evening tidy up

If this is all you do in a day, then at least you’ve contained the clutter, creating a more relaxed home environment. Of course, your list will include what you prioritize.

Weekly Cleaning Routine

I plan weekly tasks so that they flow in a logical order which makes for an easy house cleaning schedule. For example, dust one day, vacuum the next, and mop the following day.

Sample Household Chore Schedule

• Master bedroom on Monday
• Tubs and Toilets on Tuesday
• Dust Wednesday
• Vacuum Thursday
• Mop Floors on Friday

Tip: Use alliteration to remember tasks such as Whites on Wednesdays, or Tub and Toilet on Tuesday.

While I’ve created a weekly cleaning routine it’s really just a guideline, meaning I’m not strict about it. That’s the beauty of routines. They are based on your priorities and what is important to you. As I mention in my book, priorities change seasonally and with each stage of life.

Remember, the ultimate goal is consistency not perfection. 

Once you settle into your daily and weekly household routines, you’ll notice your days have a nice rhythm which makes it easier to relax and enjoy what matters most.

How to Establish Routines at Home

Household routines are designed to serve us, not the other way around. So, be sure to create your routines around your natural habits and rhythms. It’s also helpful to build in margin time to allow for schedule changes and unexpected circumstances.

Flexibility is key when creating household routines.

Before you start implementing your own household routines, it’s important to know your why.

• Why do you want a household routine?
• What is the end goal or what do you hope to accomplish?
• How will this routine serve you?

Once you have those answers, create routines that suit your household.

For more help establishing household routines read:

• How to Create A Weekly Planning Routine
• Weekly Routines: The Sunday Reset
• How to Start a Self-Care Routine You Can Stick to

Wishing you all the benefits of household routines.