6 Simple Tips to Create Effective Daily Family Routines

How to stay organized? Here are six tips for creating routines to keep you and your family on track to accomplish your daily goals.

Moms Crushing It with CanCan Quick Steps

When people learn that I have eight kids, most ask how I manage to keep it together and stay somewhat semi-organized. They seem surprised when I say it all boils down to my established daily routines, but the next question is—can you please help me get started and give tips on how to keep the routine going?

I remember when I first put my family routines into place; it was a bit overwhelming, but I’ve learned how to lay a solid foundation for an organized and less stressful day over the years.

Here are six simple tips on how to create effective daily routines that will work for your family:

1. Be Realistic
2. List It
3. Ask Yourself Questions
4. Choose Easy to Start
5. Work off a Daily Checklist
6. Don’t Forget Personal Routines

Discover Routines That Work for You

Tip 1:  Be Realistic

Developing a new habit does not happen overnight (In fact, according to psychological research, it can take an average of two–three months.)

Focus on establishing just one simple routine in your life, and give yourself over a month to do it.

Tip 2:  List It

Spend some time thinking about the goals and routines you want to establish.

I remember feeling overwhelmed with every aspect of my morning when I had four kids under three. I woke up with dirty laundry everywhere, dishes piled in the sink, no rhyme or reason to my daily meals, and no idea how I would catch five minutes of alone time to recharge my batteries. Sigh!

In order to place some much-needed order into my chaotic day, I realized I needed to prioritize my needs in order to get my house in order.

I made a daily detailed list of what I needed to accomplish so my day would run smoothly. By listing out what I wanted to accomplish, I was able to begin formulating effective daily family routines.

Taking the time to create a list of your daily goals will help establish a solid routine.

Tip 3:  Ask Yourself Questions as You Create a Routine

If you’re not sure what should be included on your list, here are some great questions to ask yourself that I found in a helpful article written by personal organizing expert Elizabeth Larkin.

If you already have a routine, you can divide these into the following:

•Tasks you already do that work well for you, and

•Tasks you need to add to your routine.

If you’re starting from scratch, begin by answering these questions:

•What tasks do you need to complete each day in order to get to work?

• What daily tasks do you need to do to get your kids to school?

•Which tasks do you need to do each day to eat?

•Which errands do you need to get done daily?

•Which tasks need to get done each in order for you to get some exercise?

•Which tasks do I need to get done to maintain an organized home?

Tip 4: Choose Easy to Start

Without biting off more than you can chew, take a look at the list you just made and pick one thing, just one, that will be easy to implement.

My original list all those years ago had about 20 items on it.

Although I was eager to get all my family’s needs worked into a new routine ASAP, I started with the laundry. It was most necessary for the laundry to be taken care of the night before, so I focused on getting outfits picked out right after baths and showers for the following day.

That was the first step in creating one component of our new routine. 

When my kids were much younger, right after they had baths and got into their pajamas, I would pick out their outfits for the following day so they would be ready to go for the next early morning rush out the door. 

As they got older, my kids became involved in picking out their own outfits, and to this day, all these years later, we are all still in the habit (myself included) of getting our clothing ready the night before.

Picking outfits the night before school is a smart timesaver during an evening routine.

Tip 5: Work off a Daily Checklist

Once you’ve managed to establish one new routine, add another one.

Work off your “Get To Do” List and devise a timetable of when these items can best be incorporated into your day. 

For instance, you are going to have morning tasks related to getting the kids ready for school that may take priority over when you empty the dishwasher and prep for dinner. 

If you can slowly add in a few items at a time, your new routine won’t seem as daunting and overwhelming.

Although I’ve had a routine for many years, I still work off of a checklist, review it, and tweak it as my family’s needs change. 

For example, a Sample Morning “Get To Do” Checklist:

-Rise and shine at 5:30 am

-Check the day’s calendar and checklist

-Exercise

-Shower

-Make bed

-Read e-mail

-Wake children and make breakfast

-Feed Pets

-Feed kids

-Run one load of wash

-Have kids take folded laundry from the day before to bedrooms

-Place breakfast dishes in the dishwasher

-Clear kitchen counters

-Brush teeth, make-up/hair

Sample Evening (After Dinner) “Get To Do” Checklist:

-Empty dishwasher and preset kitchen island with breakfast items

-Make lunches for the next day

-Feed pets, walk the dog

-Oversee kids’ individual chores

-Oversee kids’ homework

-Select the next day’s clothing and get backpacks ready

-Kids’ baths, brush teeth, and bedtime stories

-Review mail, Pay bills

-Review E-mails

-Skin care regimen, brush teeth

-Gratitude Journal entries, reading, and writing time

-Review the next day’s calendar and checklists

Tip 6:  Don’t Forget Personal Routines

Don’t forget about yourself when it comes to establishing routines. Parents need to build in time for their needs as well.

If I don’t schedule my own personal time each day, guess what—I won’t have any!

How do you manage routines in your home?  Share your thoughts in the Comments section below or email me at thecancanmom@gmail.com.