Being underwater, feeling like you’re rowing, drowning, or submerged… There’s no shortage of aquatic metaphors to describe family organization issues! How can you relearn how to swim in calm waters or catch a wave to surf like a pro? Here are 5 tips to help you manage everyday family life.
Delegate and distribute family organization tasks
The first thing to consider within the family is the number of tasks taken on by a single person. For various reasons specific to each family, some members may have to take on a (too) long list of tasks. It’s therefore normal for them to feel overwhelmed. There’s been a lot of talk in recent years about the effects of mental load—on women in particular, since they are the ones who take on the vast majority of household chores.
Evaluate the relevance of household chores and eliminate the superfluous
Are you concerned about the mental load? Thinking about stocking the fridge, paying the bills, making appointments with the pediatrician for vaccinations, organizing vacations, looking after the cat… All this, in addition to paid work hours. Single-parent or divorced families are familiar with these issues, but so are those who live as a couple, since balancing domestic tasks is rare.
So, what can we do to overcome these endless to-do lists ? We can first ask ourselves whether these tasks are relevant: is it worth ironing dishcloths? Preparing elaborate meals every day? Making our own costumes for the next birthday party? First, we can think about ways to lighten the schedule: a few frozen meals, a TV dinner, shopping with the Drive-Thru to save time, watching cartoons during a short restorative nap… It’s up to each person to define the areas where they are ready to cut back! To do less to reduce stress and regain a good mood.
Sharing household chores within the family
Furthermore, from a very young age, children can be given household chores . They will find it a useful occupation for the whole family, the satisfaction of participating like a grown-up and a way to develop their autonomy . Dusting, sorting socks and folding sheets as a sibling will promote better management of family organization. Not forgetting that the older children will undoubtedly be able to take care of the younger ones at key moments of the day: homework and meal preparation, school meetings, etc.
Otherwise, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and sometimes neighbors and friends prove to be invaluable helpers in tense moments. The eldest has to go to class, but you’re stuck at home with the youngest who’s suffering from gastroenteritis? You yourself are starting to feel nauseous, and the fridge is empty… A little help seems essential to get through this swell! Mutual aid is a valuable tool for keeping your ship afloat.
Tools to help manage daily family life
Once you have eliminated unnecessary tasks and mobilized all the forces at hand, you can think about day-to-day organization.
In this regard, lists, tables, and schedules are essential tools. In fact, historians trace the origins of writing back to the need to count and organize inventory and sales. Even in ancient times, the need for management led people to consider better organization. Like accountants in your daily life, you too can use tools to visualize, classify, and prioritize various household tasks and daily activities. Six main areas stand out:
