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I have been using weekly checklists for housekeeping tasks for as long as I can remember.
Back when the kids were babies, I was so sleep deprived, that I needed a place to remember to do tasks. So I wrote down everything on a piece of paper just as a reminder that they had to be done.
Fast forward to today, and I have created a system that works really well for myself and my family.
I am breaking down how you can start using a checklist system to keep your home organized. I also included ideas you could add to your weekly checklist!
Monitoring The Tasks
For most people, checklists can help us stay focused. For ADHD brains, it can be the difference of getting a task completed or completely forgetting about it.
Not realizing that this strategy was incredibly helpful to me, I started by just writing out a list of weekly household tasks I needed to do.
Over time that list has evolved into tasks I do, tasks the kids do, and tasks my husband does.
So to start your own household task list, put a piece of paper and pen on your fridge. Every weekly task you do, write it down. I would start on the weekends as most of the weekly tasks typically happen then.
Now, I know our brains don’t always remember things, so if you miss something, it’s not a big deal. This is just to get an idea of tasks. This list will change, so it doesn’t have to be perfect. I repeat, it doesn’t have to be perfect. Think of it more as a brainstorm.
*If waiting a whole week is too much or you are concerned about forgetting, try this strategy instead. Go through every day in your head. Think of everything you do on a typical Monday. Are there things you find you do every Monday? Write that down. Repeat for every day.
After you have those every daily tasks written, you can assess what are things you want to add to your checklist and what doesn’t need to be written down on a checklist.
Creating The Checklist
After the week, look at your list of tasks. Decide what things should be included on a checklist and what don’t need to be added.
To determine which things should and shouldn’t be added, think of it like this: if you got sick and someone came over to help with your weekly tasks, what would you include?
Back when I was sleep deprived with babies, I needed that list because I couldn’t remember things I wasn’t doing daily. I would forget to go grocery shopping because it wasn’t something I had to do every day. Those are the things that should go on the list. No matter how obvious they are to you right now.
Make It Pretty
For me, I need it to be pretty. Which means I hop into Canva and create a fun checklist with all the tasks I included on my list.
I print it off and laminate it. That way I can use a dry erase marker to check off tasks every week and clean it on Sundays when I reset my list.
I do make it a point not to overdo how many things I put on my list. One page of tasks is enough. Making it more can be super overwhelming, which means I won’t do anything.
So start small. Basic tasks. Then build up to more weekly tasks.
Adding To The List
Every now and then, I realize that I forgot a task or want to add another task. So I will assess what I currently have to see if that needs to be added.
Since I laminate my checklist, I just write on it with a Sharpie. After a few weeks, if that task is something that happens consistently, I will redo my checklist with the new task on the list.
If not, I use nail polish remover to take the Sharpie off the laminated list. (See why laminating is so useful?!?!)
Weekly Tasks You May Do
Here’s a long list of weekly tasks that I have either done in the past or currently do now:
- Collect garbage around house
- Take our garbage cans
- Collect recycling around the house
- Take out recycling cans
- Take out compost can
- Take out yard waste can
- Grocery shopping
- Clean out fridge
- Restock pantry
- Restock toilet paper in bathrooms
- Wash hand towels
- Wash bath towels
- Wash clothing
- Wash bedding
- Change sheets
- Laundry
- Put away laundry
- Water plants
- Clean bathroom
- Clean kitchen
- Vacuum
- Give dog a bath
- Pay kids allowance
- Disinfect phone
- Clean desk
- Wash make-up brushes
Adding Family Tasks
One thing that has taken the burden off of me doing all the tasks is adding family tasks.
I break down how to do that in the Family Tidying Guidebook.
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