It's been a while since I've written an actual blog post. Life with 3 kids, work, and most recently, aging parents. With any extra time, I'm trying to review my kid's homework, talk to one of their coaches, or actually keep up my friendships. All this is to say, I truly have no room in my life for complicated organizational systems. The whole point of organizing is to make my life simpler – to give me back time.

I currently sit in a hospital room with my dad as we await more tests. I'm in a phase of life where I'm parenting down and up. It's not bad, it's not good... it just is. Life. And when I drive back home today the last thing I want to do is spend a lot of time cleaning or tidying up.

These are the 3 systems that truly make my life easier, my house tidier, and my nervous system more calm.

1. "F-It" Basket

This is my favorite system - it’s quick, simple and effective.

After our kids go to bed, there’s always more to do, as you all know. But spending a bunch of time tidying shouldn’t be one of them. We all need rest and adult time too. But I also realllllly like waking up to a (mostly) tidy home. It just starts my day better - and that’s a form of self-care for me.

So - this was a system I implemented when I only had 2 kids and now that I have 3, I’m even more grateful for it…

Here’s how I do it:

• Once the kids are in bed, spend only 1-3 minutes cruising the common areas picking up their toys. If you want more time, that’s great. 3 minutes is my limit.

• Keep a basket by their room(s), or if you live in a home with 2 floors, keep a basket at the bottom of the stairs.

• Toss it all in there! (and you can even say “f-it” in your head for maximum effect 😂).

• Go turn on Netflix 🙌

• Once the basket is full, your kids have a wonderful CHOICE: put their items back in their rooms or kindly allow other kids to enjoy them once they’re donated 😉

• KEY: You need to be very clear with your kids about how this basket works - that they get to participate in it. My kids are way more responsible with their toys now. That does NOT mean they always pick everything up every night, but they absolutely intervene and pitch in before I do my donation run 😂

🤍 These 1-3 minutes each night keep the cumulative clutter down, give me more downtime at night, and help me wake up to a tidy house 🤍

My favorite basket (in video) linked HERE.

2. Tidy Toss

I don’t neatly organize my hats, sandals or swimsuits (among other things). My closet stays tidy because I don’t spend the time doing unnecessary organizing. If any system in your home is too complicated, you won't do it... and that's when things start to get out of hand.

I use open baskets in my closet to "toss" items into. I know everything that's in those bins, so I’m happy not to see them (especially some of my sandals that have seen better days!)

With everything - each home and closet is different. Each person is different. Find what works for you 🤍

Closet baskets linked HERE.

3. After School "Loop"

For us (3 kids under 10), it’s not about fancy organization systems with products - it’s a simple routine with simple places to put their items, that are accessible to my them.

That means everything is in a low drawer, in spots that are intuitive - art drawer above backpack drawer (my kids aren’t tall enough to hang their backpacks on the hooks and we don’t have a mudroom so I didn’t want to see all the clutter in our entrance), lunch tins and lunch bags near food storage drawer and fridge.

Once this “loop” was established, and it became part of their after school routine - it became so much simpler for them. And so much less messy for me. TIP: let them play their favorite song while they do their routine (“Hey Google! Play Africa by Toto”)

I’ve set up after school systems for many families and they all look different based on each family’s needs. Most importantly - create a system that is simple for your kids and makes your life easier. That’s the whole point 🤍

And yes, we absolutely look through the art before it goes in the drawer, I just didn’t need to add it here for the purposes of this video. And yes, we hang art in the house - they have it on their doors, in their rooms… and on my bathroom mirrors

Shoe baskets linked HERE.

All of my other favorite organizational and home products can be found HERE.