The Power of a Reset

I talk a lot in my posts about cleaning as I go and doing things right away so that clutter doesn’t pile up. However, like you, life doesn’t always go as planned. Sleeping in a little late can turn my morning routine upside down, and the mess from breakfast sits around. My girls can decide to play with every toy in the house and then leave piles of chaos while they move on to the next thing. A beautiful day can convince me to let a pile of laundry sit in the basket. Times like these are when the power of a reset is needed. 

There is no such thing as perfection.

It is wonderful to have routines and systems in place to keep your home clean and running smoothly. It is even better to understand that there is no such thing as perfection. Your house won’t consistently look like a home in a magazine because people live in your home. If you waste all your time keeping your home absolutely perfect, you will not have time to do anything else. Luckily, by owning less, you can limit how much time you spend cleaning and organizing regularly. Also, cleaning up multiple messes at a later time is a lot faster. 

Don’t give up; reset!

When life interferes and messes up your routines and systems, all you need is a simple reset to get back on track if you have decluttered your home. I like to use a transitional time and work using the natural flow of my home. 

My Reset Flow

• I start in my living room since that is typically the easiest space for me to reset. I’ll put away books and straighten the furniture. 
• Next, I work on the bedrooms. Making beds, putting clothes away, and straightening up my girls’ desks. 
• The bathroom is my next stop. This space may need brushes and hair accessories put away and the counter wiped down.
• On to the kitchen, where I typically find my biggest pile-up. Chores in the kitchen are my least favorite so when I’m in the mood for skimping on responsibilities, this is the place. In this space, I unload and reload the dishwasher, clean out the sink, and wipe down the counters and table.
• Any toys that I have accumulated up until this point I have collected at the top of my steps, so I’ll grab those and head down to the toy room for my next stop. My girls are largely responsible for this space but I help sort as needed periodically.
• Lastly, I end up at my desk and take care of any outstanding to-do items that have accumulated. I’ll also tidy my personal and business email accounts and take care of what is necessary, file what I can, and get my inboxes down to zero. 

Don’t reset alone.

Despite describing my flow as if I complete it myself, that is rarely the case. When it is time for a reset, I involve my whole family, assigning tasks if needed. If you don’t live in your home alone, you need to make sure everyone plays a role in the reset. 

This will encourage the other members of your home to take care of messes when they see them. 

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