Although I believe in dealing with things as they come, sometimes I procrastinate. I am human, after all. 😉 I also have a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), so my thoughts are all over the place most of the time. I understand how chores, laundry, kid’s rooms, and other areas in your home can quickly become overwhelming. So, for example, if your whole house is in shambles, it can result in unnecessary stress, anxiety, loss of time, and annoyance to everyone around. Unfortunately, a home in chaos usually has a “Domino Effect.” The good news is there are steps to minimize the impact and hopefully avoid the madness in the first place. If you want to make changes, everyone in your household should be involved, supportive, held accountable, and open to new ideas to achieve the best results for keeping a functional and beautiful home.
Let’s talk about the Domino Effect and its potential impact on your daily routines with a few real-life examples. First, you may not realize how everyday tasks like laundry, groceries, spilled messes, and routine maintenance can add up quickly if you ignore them. Pretend it’s Sunday morning, and your kids are running around, which happens to be the perfect time to get all the laundry done. However, you procrastinate because, after all, your entire day is free and clear. Then, a few hours later, you get a text from your sister asking, “what time are you showing up to the BBQ?” You had forgotten, and now you are running around frantically trying to gather your children, get them in the car, and rush to the store. Finally, you arrive at your sister’s house, have some food, laugh, and enjoy the time with your family. You get home around 8 pm and need to get the kids ready for bed, lunches made, dogs fed, and yes, those laundry piles are still staring at you. You are tired, so you disregard the laundry again, and now it is Monday morning with no clean clothes. See how quickly one thing leads to the next and becomes a Domino Effect?
I like using different tools to help keep me stay focused because I need all the help I can get. One example I incorporate into my routine is using a timer when I do laundry. You can also use your phone, microwave, iPad, alarm clock, or stopwatch. Put the laundry load in the washer and set your device. When the alarm goes off, rotate the laundry and continue the process until it is complete. And don’t forget to take advantage of the in-between time and relax, play a game with your kids, spend time with your significant other, clean, complete an item on your “to-do” list, etc. Finally, be careful when using your watch or phone because you may want to dismiss your alarm and not rotate your laundry. If this sounds like a temptation, try setting the timer in the laundry room, forcing you to get up so you won’t have an excuse not to rotate the laundry because you are already there. No one wants to hear an alarm, including you.
I admit there have been times I turned the timer off and ignored the laundry, which never ends well. Next thing you know, I get a text from a friend and head to sushi. The following morning, yes, that’s right, those laundry piles are still sitting there, and it’s no surprise I am in a hurry to get out the door, desperate to find clean clothes. See how quickly things can get out of control? One small change using my timer helps prevent the caos of dirty laundry.
Another tool to alleviate the potential downfalls of the Domino Effect is to iron your clothes before putting them in the closet. That way, everything is ready to go when you are in a hurry and need to grab clothing on the go. I used to hate ironing, but I have learned ways to make ironing more enjoyable. For example, I take my ironing board to my bedroom, turn on the television, get my hangers out, and next thing you know, I am done. Being distracted works wonders sometimes, making it easier to fold laundry or iron your clothes, and it’s the perfect time to start the T.V. series you have been eyeing.
You can probably also relate to when you notice a dirty shelf in the fridge while putting groceries away but ignore it for the time being. A few days later, the refrigerator starts to smell, and you see moldy items and a few other dirty areas, but you look the other way and close the door anyways. Then, your five-year-old gets a drink while you’re doing dishes, and you see the juice instantly spilled from the side of your eye. So, you tell yourself, “I’ll deal with it later.” Eventually, the fridge will become so bad that it needs a deep cleaning. Finding two hours of free time in your schedule will be more challenging than squeezing in a few extra minutes here and there. So next time you notice a dirty shelf, take two minutes to grab a sponge because you never know what may happen next.
One of my all-time favorite weapons to fight the Domino Effect is a “Pick-Up Session.” Most evenings, I set a timer for 15 minutes to do a quick clean-up so I will have a fresh start the following morning since we know things can get out of control with the snap of a finger. My Pick-Up Sessions usually include:
- Wiping down counters.
- Putting donations in the car.
- Carrying items upstairs or downstairs where they belong.
- Taking out the trash/recycling.
I can’t tell you how much I enjoy coming downstairs in the morning to a clean and picked-up area. If 15 minutes is not enough time to complete everything you wanted to, it’s okay because it’s a good start! And, if you only have five minutes for a Pick-Up Session, your home will still be in a better place than before. You can adjust the time and tasks based on your family’s needs. Remember, any little bit helps. So, if your child suddenly screams at the top of their lungs because they cut themselves, grabbing your keys, wallet, shoes, and phone will allow you to get out the door quickly since time is of the essence. Eventually, the Pick-Up Sessions will become a natural part of your routine, and I bet your mornings will be a little more pleasant!
I encourage you to incorporate one of the above ideas or tips into your routine because it will make a difference for you and your family. Don’t forget, do what you can, and don’t be too hard on yourself. Complete the form below to share how this helped you and your family, PDO would love to hear your stories! Thank you for being so supportive!
