The Simplicity Sessions: Laundry & Dishes

Can I share with you the ONE thing that has had the absolute greatest impact on my motherhood?  Simplifying.  It changed everything.  Less stuff.  Less clutter.  Less activities.  Streamlined routines that resulted in less decision fatigue.  More freedom.  More time to breathe.  More family adventure.  This concept of “less for the sake of more” has been pivotal for me. 

You see, I am a recovering “cute organizing bins” addict.  I had a serious problem.  I can still remember the anticipation of a trip to HomeGoods or Target just to find the *perfect* container for all of my things.  It was going to be *the* answer.. and it was definitely going to be pretty! 

I finally realized that my thought was that if I just had the right container, my “stuff” problem would work itself out.  Turns out, that’s not the case.  Letting go of most of my “stuff” rocked my world.  It truly I am not big on rules around “minimalism”, in terms of counting how many pairs of shoes you have and how many coffee mugs.  Instead, I like to focus on how the items that I have are affecting my time.  I truly believe this can look different for every family. 

Common problem areas I have seen… and have run into myself… are laundry and dishes.  Those feel like they never end, well, because they never really do.  Ha!  😊 

Do you have a giant mountain of laundry that feels really overwhelming and you dread it?  Own less clothes.  Teach older children how to do laundry and have them be responsible for their own clothes.  Set a laundry routine that fits into your family’s schedule, rather than being ruled by the laundry pile.  Do one load of laundry per day—start to finish, including putting it away.

Do you have a sink full of dishes Every. Single. Night. that takes time away from your family?  Own fewer dishes.  Fix more one-skillet meals.  Sheet pan dinners.  Only allow each family member a set number of items and it is their responsibility to wash them if they are dirty and it is meal time. 

Once I pared down on laundry and dishes, I could feel a huge weight lifted off of my shoulders.  I no longer felt the almost oppressive feelings wash over me as soon as I stepped in the door of my house.  Instead of walking into my home with an instant visual reminder of my to-do list, I walked in with freedom.  I could go outside and play with my kids, without the mental burden of the looming laundry mound inside.  I could sit down and read a book.  In the middle of the day. 

I have decluttered most of my home, and it has been life-changing.  It has truly allowed me to enjoy my motherhood on an entirely new level.  One that I thought never even existed…

Have you tried de-cluttering or simplifying?  How has it affected your motherhood? 

Stay tuned for the next few posts in the Simplicity Sessions series!