by Melinda Barr

Created on: August 10, 2009   Last Updated: December 14, 2009

If home truly is where the heart is, then it stands to reason we should keep the hearth is tip top shape. Everyday living consists of many chores we must do on a daily or weekly basis. One such chore is cleaning, organizing and maintaining our home and work environments. Long thought of as drudgery, house cleaning for maximum effect really can be reduced with a few simple changes.

~ Reduce clutter

Before starting on the path of simplifying your space, look at all that surrounds you. Most everyone will find clutter in the most obvious places closets, cabinets, the kid's toy box and so on. Stashing clutter out of sight is a great short -term solution, but does nothing to eliminate the problem. Spend some time going through your things, and donate or recycle anything you do not use, want, or need.

~ Organize

Purchase some inexpensive storage units or baskets to rein in necessary items required on a frequent basis. Resist the urge to fill these units with some of the things that should have been eliminated in step one. Tidying up clutter is not going to reduce the mess in the long term. However, for small things, like office supplies for example, storage units provide a neat, convenient way to reduce visual clutter but still maintain easy access to the items.

~ Clean as you go

Clean as you go for such chores as cooking, yard work, and generally tidying up. It takes less time to return something to its proper place in the first place. Hang your jacket and car keys in assigned places when you come in the door as opposed to tossing them haphazardly, only to have to pick them up later and put them away. Make your bed while the coffee is brewing and eliminate another chore.

~ Break old habits

The only difficult thing about breaking old habits is the necessity of determining a new habit to take its place. Having your child make their bed before breakfast, replacing toys after playtime, and so on, can easily become routine for even young children. If enforced consistently, this becomes routine for the child and should rarely require a follow-up.

~ Don't over schedule

A problem facing many of us today is simply not enough time. Prioritize your wants, needs, and have-to commitments to allow enough time for relaxation and fun. Do not over commit yourself or over-schedule your children. Everybody requires some down time.

~ Delegate responsibilities

Anyone living in the home should have a fair share of household duties. Like any other projects/chores, many hands make a lighter load.

~ Don't expect change to happen overnight, it will take time and patience. With a bit of planning and foresight, eliminate the need for a major overhaul of the entire environment as much as possible. In other words, ignoring chaos and clutter only makes the job more difficult and labor intense when you finally address it.

The more you possess, the more you need to take care of. Simplify every room by following the tips above. There are only two major obstacles to a peaceful environment. One is simply too many possessions and the second is lack of routine and organization.

Like any change, this process can be challenging at first. By simplifying every space in the home, you will reduce clutter, reduce cleaning time, and eliminate a great deal of stress for all.

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