How To Get Started Using Dockets and Organizing Tools + GIVEAWAY

If you've read my blog for longer than a week, you know that I love to use a weekly docket to keep life "together".  This is a tool that has worked for me for years.  I love having a documented place to keep track of what we're doing at home.  It helps me to have a sense of accomplishment and it eliminates the, "I have 5 minutes of free time, what needs to be done?" moments.  If you are just getting started with keeping track of your homekeeping tasks or want to start, here are my suggestions for how to get started.

• use folders and/or clipboard(s) or a refrigerator magnet - make a few copies of your docket or list - that way you'll have the next weeks ready to go and you won't remember to do it on Wednesday and then decide it's too late
• set aside time every day that you clean or tidy up for 5-15 minutes and do your daily tasks then - do it at the same approximate time of every day so that it becomes a routine
• pick up as you go and teach your family to do the same - it seems obvious, but it's so easy, especially with little kids, to just clean up when they go to bed.  But then you're exhausted and would probably rather leave the mess until the next day - that's when it starts to get out of hand
• get in the habit of doing the daily activities (I talk about mine here - these are my basics) - if you have to start one a week - cleaning the bathrooms on Monday - for a week and slowly add  another task the next week - bathrooms on Monday, dusting on Tuesday - try it that way so you are slowly getting into the scheme of things
• I rotate through dockets with how busy our schedule is - sometimes I need to get a lot done in the week and amp up my docket, other weeks it's just business as usual
• cut yourself some slack - it's just dirt - most importantly, your family needs you.  If it's 6pm and you're trying to clean bathrooms but no one's had dinner, skip cleaning the bathrooms 

Want to try the docket thing?  You can go to my shop and purchase a custom docket.  I also have  a new Cleaning Kit that's pretty great - it's currently my bestseller -  and I'm giving away one today.  Want to win one for yourself?   Just leave a comment for your first entry.  For 2 + entries, choose from the following options and let me know what you did with a separate comment: become a Follower, Vote for Me on the Top Mommy Blogs, follow me on Twitter, and/or Like Clean Mama on Facebook.  For everything that you do, it's an extra entry.  (If you've already purchased  or can't wait to see if you are a winner of a Cleaning Kit - enter anyway, I'll let you pick out something else from the shop for a prize.)  Easy peasy.  I'll announce the winner on next Wednesday's Homekeeping post. 

*contest is closed*