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After becoming a mom, I felt like my home was running me way more than I was running it. I was in a haze of stacking up dirty dishes, forgotten wet laundry, and baby toys littered around every room.
Don’t get me wrong, having a new baby is an incredibly special time. The mess truly can wait if that is the stage you’re in! But, if you’re like me and a mess increases your anxiety, implementing this 15-minute routine in the morning and evening will be a game-changer!
I call these routines my “opening and closing shifts”. They are a series of quick tasks that set my day up for success right at the get-go and just before bed. Thinking of these tasks as “opening” and “closing” my home helps me envision my intention when beginning and ending the day and sets me up for a peaceful start.
Benefits of 15-minute Shifts
Before we dive in to what I actually do for my shifts, let’s touch on some of the benefits:
Simplicity. Shifts are all about paring down everything that you want to get done into just the basic things that need to get done. I know your to-do list is a mile long, but set that aside and focus on a few easy things that will make the biggest difference. Once these become second nature, you will have even more time for your other to-dos.
Sanity. Keeping up on these daily chores gives me a sense of accomplishment first thing in the morning and sets me up for a less chaotic day. I know that at the bare minimum, the laundry is cycling (even if it is just one load per day), I have an empty dishwasher that I can load dishes into throughout the day, and I have a made bed to fall into at night. It makes such a difference in my sanity and mood!
Time. When my husband and I were both working full-time, we would keep the house relatively tidy throughout the week and then do a little clean-a-thon on the weekends. All of the laundry, vacuuming, and other cleaning were saved for the weekend when we had more time. The problem? We spent our weekend days worrying about switching laundry and tidying up for guests instead of enjoying fun activities! This routine keeps our house functioning and gives us some precious weekend days back.
Here’s what I include in my shifts:
Opening Shift
- Make bed
- Start a load of laundry
- Unload the dishwasher
Closing Shift
- Quick pick-up
- Vacuum main walkways (I start my robot vacuum, but a cordless vacuum is amazing for this as well)
- Start the dishes
- Fold a load of laundry
Set Yourself Up for Success
Habit Stacking. In a nutshell, habit stacking is the practice of adding a new habit right after an existing habit that you already have in place. For example, let’s say you want to add making your bed daily into your routine. You can add this new habit to an existing habit that you have in the morning, such as brushing your teeth. You start making your bed each day after brushing your teeth and soon enough it becomes something you can do on autopilot.
Flexibility. Make your shifts your own! These are meant to be easy tasks that make your life smoother, so adapt to your home and life as needed. The key is starting the day with a small sense of accomplishment and choosing tasks that will make the biggest impact on keeping your home running.
Consistency. The real magic of using opening and closing shifts comes when you do it consistently day in and day out. Trust the process! After a couple of weeks of consistently practicing your shifts, it will become easier to do and you will start really seeing the benefits!
>> I use a printed cleaning schedule to keep track of my daily shifts and other cleaning tasks. Get my free customizable printable here!
Incorporate opening and closing shifts into your life, and watch as your home becomes a personal haven of joy and tranquility. Turn on your favorite playlist, make your shifts a habit, and relish in the joy of a well-managed home, one quick shift at a time!
