Less Chores more Fun!
After completing our first year as parents, my husband and I were ready to restore equanimity in our lives. We were running on little sleep, working full time, and managing the household with a rambunctious little boy, and a deeply jealous fluffy dog who was also causing trouble! We knew we needed to implement thoughtful changes to improve our home life, and in 2023 our motto became “Less Chores more Fun”. Here are 5 ways we made our lives just a little bit easier with small design interventions and better choices of our home products.
MUSCLE MEMORY - Predictable drop off zone
Have you ever driven home from work or school pick up and don’t remember a single thing about the drive? The daily routine of driving home is so intrinsically engraved in your brain that you can do it without active decision making! That is how powerful routines and rituals are and why implementing them in an intelligent way can help improve how you run your household.
I am notorious for losing my keys and forgetting to unload the dirty lunch box from my son’s backpack. My husband and I set up a designated drop off zone where we ritualistically “unload” all of our baggage and now there is never hesitation in knowing where your wallet or keys are. My recommendation is to carve an area along the path of your most used entry and make sure to provide storage solutions for hanging, displaying, and organizing your on the go things and this way you will save so much time and effort in getting in and out the door!
TAKE YOUR SHOES OFF - Have boundaries
Ever since our toddler started to crawl we have implemented a staunch NO SHOES boundary. Refer back up to drop off zone ritual. We realized that even though this began as a protective measure for our little one it actually created a much better environment for all of us and reduced the amount of daily sweeping we had to do. (Yes, we daily sweep, the price you pay for having dark wood floors). Again, this small dedicated design change accompanied by a habit forming ritual gives us back quality time with our family and prevents harmful bacteria and contaminants from entering our home with our shoes. Removing your shoes can dramatically improve the air quality and overall hygiene of your home. E-coli and C-diff spores can be resistant to household cleaning products and are typically found on the soles of your shoes. Avoid tracking these nasty germs into your home by creating this simple boundary
SIMPLIFY SIMPLIFY SIMPLIFY - Less is more
Media and marketing has convinced us that we need about 10 different plastic spray bottles to clean every single surface type! If you were to look under anyone’s sink you would find at least that many. Not only does this accumulation practice limit your storage space and contribute to the overall stress of CLUTTER, they can also compromise your indoor air quality and cause irritation to your skin and lungs. Stick to a multi purpose cleaner like Branch Basics with no harsh chemicals that can do it all, from wood floors to laundry. Keep it simple, reduce toxic exposures, and save some valuable real estate space in your cabinets!
DECANTING - It’s not only for wine
Decanting is the process of storing food and pantry staples in clear containers. It allows for practical navigation of your pantry, saves space by stacking, and keeps things organized and neat! Who doesn’t love an Instagram worthy pantry and fridge! The uniform and uncluttered look of decanting has psychological benefits as well (beyond generating likes). The myriad of colors, labels, and shapes of products can add to the stress and anxiety of cooking that might prevent you from embarking on a freshly crafted meal. I know I am always more efficient and encouraged to cook when everything is in order. Another great benefit for us has been the reduction of waste because decanting preserves food fresh and pest free. Another advantage is visibly seeing when you are running low on inventory. My husband loves to bake and we have every flour known to man. There have been times that we open a bag of flour and realize it has gone bad because moisture and air was not kept out. I do not normally advocate for plastic and prefer to use the glass Weck jars, but having a toddler that can open the pantry has made me opt for phthalates and BPA free plastic options.
INVEST IN COMFORT - Quality sleep
We recently switched to a king size bed and it has been the most luxurious experience! Every day I feel like I just walked into a 5 star hotel suite! How we treat ourselves is important and investing in pieces we come into close contact with daily and for long periods of time is definitely worth the expense. Your bed is one of those special places that needs to be considered thoughtfully. Sleep is essential to every process in the body. Not getting adequate rest increases the risk for disease, depression, obesity, and chronic stress. Even though we did spend a pretty penny on our actual bed and mattress we found an incredible linen brand at target called Casa Luna that offers natural textiles that are durable, breathable, and have beautiful colors at an accessible price. I recommend investing in bed and bedding that is free of synthetic dyes, toxic chemicals (like formaldehyde, phthalates, and flame retardants) and is cozy and soft to the touch.
