Melissa Stecher is the owner and creator of Hopeful Simplicity. In 2017 she reached her snapping point. As a mom, full-time employee, co-parent, blending families, some personal health issues, and still being asked all those 'at-home' questions like 'what's for dinner?' she broke. She was angry and tired all the time and knew that wasn't the person she wanted to be. This is when her family started swapping. They swapped bad habits for better ones.
Melissa started making her bed each morning just to feel like she was accomplishing something each day. They swapped harsh chemical products for natural options and the whole Home Team started cleaning. They even swapped unsuccessful organizing systems for compromised successes. In 2018 Melissa took a leap of faith in herself and got certified as a professional organizer. Now, not only do they get to save time, they save money and live less stressed lives while helping others find hope in their chaos and clutter.
Listen to this helpful Whinypaluza episode with Melissa Stecher for tips and tricks for staying organized in the summer when the kids are home from school.
Here is what to expect on this week’s show:
What you can do to get your kids to contribute to keeping the home tidy.
Ask “why” when something isn’t being done, and come up with a solution that works for each person.
What do we do with all the things that come home from school? What to keep? What to toss? Realistically, we can’t keep every single piece of art they make.
Designate a single location for archived items: one per category (art, grades, etch) one per kid, then organize them by date/grade.
Organization should be done seasonally. Winter things don’t need to be out during summer, and vice-versa. Individual bins that can be swapped from storage into your home when the season changes.
Organizing entertainment! Set goals for different activities: outside time, reading time, family time, etc. Build activities into the daily routine.
For younger kids, consider a system to spark activities. Write activities down and put them in a container so they can randomly pick something to do.
For family activities, consider finding things that will spark a conversation with your kids, even if it isn’t something YOU are interested in.
Mothers often contribute to their own stress by putting all the “to dos” on their own shoulders. Try shifting from “I have to, I need to” to “we have to, we need to.” Are certain things really “your job?”
Learning to cede control to others is a game changer. Things don’t have to be done your way all the time. Things are being done for the family, and each person has a different way to do things.
Visual reminders can be the best support system or Home Teams: Calendars, Schedule Page, White Board- whatever works for you.
What other organizational leaders inspire Melissa?
Organization can create a sense of control over your world and home.
What can we do to prepare for back to school?
Start with school supply checklists, clean out old schedules and plug in new ones.
Back to school is a good time to update your “habit page,” or assigned tasks for each member of the household.
Connect with Melissa:
Website https://hopefulsimplicity.com/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hopefulsimplicity/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hopefulsimplicity/
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCViPW4Zsp5zGmgkiwEpG3gA
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