Because we touched yesterday on the subject of freshening our home, I wanted to introduce you to my “chore organization” system. My Mom introduced it to me last year and I have found it extremely helpful in making me not want to rip my hair out with frustration.
Because, let's be honest with each other here, chores can make you want to do that.
They can be so overwhelming, repetitive and…boring.
Fold the laundry, sweep the floors, scrub the toilet, wash the dishes…
All to do it again in four hours.
While this organization system will not help the fact that your child just smeared their diaper on the wall, it at least helps make it more manageable. Everyone has their own system they find works for them, and if any of you are anything like me, this system may just help you!
You may have heard of it. It's called the S.H.E. system. I can't remember what the acronym stands for, and frankly it doesn't matter. I'm just going to tell you the basics and show you how I implement it.
1. Go through your home and make a list of EVERY SINGLE THING that needs to be done. Whether this be daily (like sweeping the floor), weekly (like washing sheets), monthly (like cleaning out the refrigerator), seasonally (like dusting/cleaning out light fixtures), or annually (like cleaning out closets). Don't skimp on this step. Remember tasks like scrubbing baseboards, washing the shower curtain, cleaning out dressers, vacuuming under furniture, etc. Write. It. All. Just walk around with a notepad (and a glass of wine), from room to room.
The wine is a mandatory part of this exercise. Thank you for your cooperation.
2. After your list is made, go through each task and write down whether it needs to be done daily, weekly, monthly, seasonally, or annually. Then, write down next to that roughly how long it will take to do this. 10 minutes? 20 minutes? 79 hours?
3. Then, take each task and write it on a notecard. I use a different color for how often the task needs to be accomplished (ie: pink for weekly, yellow for monthly, etc…). On the note card, also write how long you estimate the task to take you and how often it needs to be done. Like this:
I also write “skipped” in the bottom of the card, if I want to skip the task. Once I “skip” it twice, I have to do it. No more free skips for me.
4. Designate your days. Here are the options I have created for our home – heavy cleaning day, light cleaning day, paperwork/bills day, family day, grocery shopping/errands day, free day, and “make-up” day. Assign one of these to each of your week days in whatever order works well for you. The benefit of assignment is that I will have set tasks I will complete each day. I will not have to worry about scrubbing the dirty bathroom sink while I am paying bills. Because that's for another day. When you have it scheduled out, it will help keep you from getting overwhelmed at the mass amount of tasks hanging over your head. For example, when I run errands on Saturday, I don't have to stress about cleaning the house, because I know that tomorrow is my light cleaning day and thus, it will get taken care of.
Note that I take two nights a week off. No cleaning (other than just general straightening up). No bill paying. No major overhauls. Just time to spend relaxing with my wee little family. It's easier to put my mind at ease when I know that tomorrow, or the next day, or the day after that, will see to it that all my chores are completed.
And you gotta be flexible. There are some “free” days that still require I run the vacuum through. Or if Stuart just shaved his beard, sometimes I have to clean the sink a day early. But then, I just know to skip over it the next time. Move things around. Shake 'em up. Just get the system to work for you.
5. Get a nice little box and organize the tasks by month and/or day. So for example, I have tabs for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Behind each day, I have put some of my cards that must be done daily or weekly. So for example, behind Monday's tab: prayer & devotion time, water plants, scrub kitchen sink, dust kitchen table, load of laundry. Voila.
THEN, I have monthly tabs as well. So for another example, behind April's tab: clean out shed, clean out cellar, organize desk, vacuum under furniture, clean windows, wash baseboards in bedroom, wash curtains.
After I have completed an April card/task, if it is a monthly task, I just pick it up and move it to behind May's tab. If it's a seasonal task, I move it to behind October's tab. If it's an annual task, I just leave it behind April's tab.
If you have kiddos that are of chore-completing age, maybe it would work best for you to have a tab for each little one. Then, they could just go to the box and see what cards are behind their name. Another voila!
The point of this system is to help keep doo-doo heads, like me, focused as they accomplish their tasks. It's so easy for me to get distracted. I can be vacuuming a room, and then next thing you know, I have the furniture ripped apart in a fit of organizational rage. “No, no, no, dear child” this system says to me. “Focus on your task. Complete the card. Quit being an easily distracted doo-doo head.”
The point of this long, elaborate, and quite possibly boring post, is to encourage you in the keeping of your home. Woman (and men!) alike put a lot of effort into a keeping a home that is welcoming and glorifying to the Lord. Maybe if we are more organized in the way we go about it, it won't have to feel like such an insurmountable task. Think of it like drawing out a road map for your vacation. You got to know where you've been (what you've already cleaned!), where you are (what you are cleaning!), and were you're headed (what you will need to clean!) in order to stay on course.
Phew. That was a lot of words.
My mind is now too tired to engage in any sort of domestic activity for the rest of the day.
I need a card for days like this.
The end.
Not being a natural organizer or house cleaner and a distracted doo doo head myself, it is great to have an in-depth look at how other people make it so effortless. I might just resist my rogue urges and try this! Thanks!
Not being a natural organizer or house cleaner and a distracted doo doo head myself, it is great to have an in-depth look at how other people make it so effortless. I might just resist my rogue urges and try this! Thanks!
The challenge is in being master of the chores and not allowing the chores to master you. Rather like playing the piano.
Thanks for sharing this, Shaye. I don’t think I could count the number of methods we’ve experimented with in our house. This one looks like something I personally could utilize quite well. Maybe I can convince the flambly to try it if I put all the cards together. Hmmm…
The challenge is in being master of the chores and not allowing the chores to master you. Rather like playing the piano.
Thanks for sharing this, Shaye. I don’t think I could count the number of methods we’ve experimented with in our house. This one looks like something I personally could utilize quite well. Maybe I can convince the flambly to try it if I put all the cards together. Hmmm…
Quick question: when you write down how often something needs to be done, do you write down how often you’d like it to be done, how often you currently do it, or how often you feel like it should be done? If that makes any sense…
Quick question: when you write down how often something needs to be done, do you write down how often you’d like it to be done, how often you currently do it, or how often you feel like it should be done? If that makes any sense…
You write down how often you’d WANT it done. You can adjust if it becomes too much, so you can cut it down to less frequently.
S.H.E. = Side-tracked Home Executives.
Been there, done that. Maybe enough years have passed for me to give it another whirl.
S.H.E. = Side-tracked Home Executives.
Been there, done that. Maybe enough years have passed for me to give it another whirl.
Becca, I write down how often it needs to be done. Some weeks, it needs to be done more (ie: sweeping), but the cards at least provide a minimum amount of times it should be done. By the way, have you had that dang baby yet!?!
Becca, I write down how often it needs to be done. Some weeks, it needs to be done more (ie: sweeping), but the cards at least provide a minimum amount of times it should be done. By the way, have you had that dang baby yet!?!
Did you do this when Georgia was first born? If so, did you find it difficult or unrealistic to get everything done?
Did you do this when Georgia was first born? If so, did you find it difficult or unrealistic to get everything done?
Absolutely unrealistic. But that’s okay. It took some time for me to get back into the swing of things, and that’s okay! I like to think of the system more as a guideline vs. a dictatorship. When I can, I follow it and it really helps with efficiency and focus. When I can’t, I just clean to get by – and that’s okay too! I think it’s just a matter of having a balance and having a good system to utilize when life allows! 🙂
Omg. Shaye, I think I love you. Hahaha! This is SO me! Our first baby is almost a year now and I’m still trying to figure out a good system. (btw do you do devotions daily? Do you do family devotions too?) Someone else mentioned to me to write everything down and I def. think I need to do that. I usually start with one thing, get distracted with another, then another and next thing I know I have a circle of stuff around me. lol Do you check your cards daily (&where do you put them to remember?)?
Thanks! You are an inspiration!
Absolutely unrealistic. But that’s okay. It took some time for me to get back into the swing of things, and that’s okay! I like to think of the system more as a guideline vs. a dictatorship. When I can, I follow it and it really helps with efficiency and focus. When I can’t, I just clean to get by – and that’s okay too! I think it’s just a matter of having a balance and having a good system to utilize when life allows! 🙂
Omg. Shaye, I think I love you. Hahaha! This is SO me! Our first baby is almost a year now and I’m still trying to figure out a good system. (btw do you do devotions daily? Do you do family devotions too?) Someone else mentioned to me to write everything down and I def. think I need to do that. I usually start with one thing, get distracted with another, then another and next thing I know I have a circle of stuff around me. lol Do you check your cards daily (&where do you put them to remember?)?
Thanks! You are an inspiration!
OMG! You are such a cutie…and boring? My dear girl, you have a knack for being anything BUT boring 🙂
Another question, I work full time…I am thinking that this is something I could put into place as a working mother of two as well, yes? What sort of (if any) modifications would you make so it didn’t make me crazy?
Finally…I notice that this is HOUSE chores…we don’t “homestead” (ah…maybe someday that dream can come true!) but…we do have 27 chickens and 3 ducks and they, to demand daily, weekly, and monthly attention. Do you write down THESE chores in this fashion too?
I’m not sure how old this post is but I have been using this system since 2004 it is currently December 31, 2021. So a really long time. I put every single thing in my house on a card by itself. I used to get extremely distracted with my kids. I have 4. My bathroom for instance would have each act on its own card. 1 for mirrors, one for toilet, 1 for tub etc… this way if I had to stop mid job I would see what was already done and pick up where I left off, later when the kids stated chores I could hand them a few cards so the could do the jobs for me. An 8 year old may not know what is involved in clean the living room but a stack of cards card that say pick up dog toys, then another that says straighten pillows, vacuum, etc… is great and you don’t have to give them every single card for a room, split between kids or just age appropriate jobs. We have a separate card for water chicken vs. one for feed chickens or gather eggs. They can then work as a team. Hope this helps.
OMG! You are such a cutie…and boring? My dear girl, you have a knack for being anything BUT boring 🙂
Another question, I work full time…I am thinking that this is something I could put into place as a working mother of two as well, yes? What sort of (if any) modifications would you make so it didn’t make me crazy?
Finally…I notice that this is HOUSE chores…we don’t “homestead” (ah…maybe someday that dream can come true!) but…we do have 27 chickens and 3 ducks and they, to demand daily, weekly, and monthly attention. Do you write down THESE chores in this fashion too?
I think it’d be beneficial to have a separate box for ‘outside’ or ‘homesteading’ chores.
Great article! I just jumped into the SHE system after years of stepping away from it. We have nine children at home, and I am giving boxes to the ones old enough for them as well. Praying this takes some of the burden of organizing my mega family 🙂
Great article! I just jumped into the SHE system after years of stepping away from it. We have nine children at home, and I am giving boxes to the ones old enough for them as well. Praying this takes some of the burden of organizing my mega family 🙂
I read the books: Sidetracked Home Executives, and The Sidetracked Sisters Catch Up On the Kitchen. I know there’s another one, I probably have that one as well. They changed how I set up my house cleaning for a long time. It’s now more habit and less card sorting. Now, when I’m stressed and feeling disorganized, it’s. comforting to pull out the card box and organize my day’s housecleaning and GT back on track again. ‘Glad to hear others found it useful too.
Joyce
I’ve used Pam and Peggy’s system successfully, but then FlyLady updated it, with Pam and Peggy’s permission. That’s what I use now. Her website is FlyLady.net
I am 65 years old and this is the system that finally got me organized and my house clean. I love it! I transferred mine to a Trello board, but the cards are still awesome too.
Interesting but I have one question: why can’t Stuart clean the sink after he shaves?
Love this system! I have begun using it and it works great for me! It stands for Sidetracked Home Executive. There is a book by the same title.
I’ll just throw it out there for anyone with a personality like mine that the only way I can make this system work for me is to have punishments and rewards 😅. So currently if I don’t get all my dailies done I have to go to bed early. It’s the onLy thing that keeps me on track. Hopefully that won’t always be the case ☺️
I’ve done this way most of my married life, ever since I learned of it. It is SO helpful. It just amazes me to see how simple it can be. Right now I’m a bit behind b/c
1. surgery
2. covid
3. two more surgeries
4. tripping over a rock and racking up my shoulder
HOWEVER!!! — I have the perfect system to get my right back on track! 🙂