Time-saving tips to take care of your home while working overtime

There are many reasons why you might find yourself working overtime. Maybe you’re trying to earn some extra money, or maybe you’ve been asked to take on a larger workload at your job. Whatever the reason, if you find yourself working more hours than usual, it can be tough to keep up with everything else in your life – including taking care of your home. Here are some time-saving tips that may help you get your life back in order.

Clean Every Day

It may sound counter-intuitive, but taking a few minutes to tidy up each day can actually save you time in the long run. If you let things go for too long, they’ll only get worse and take more time to clean. So set aside a few minutes each day – even if it’s just 10 or 15 minutes – to tidy up your home. You’ll be glad you did when you don’t have to spend hours cleaning everything at once. For instance, it’s much easier and more pleasant to quickly wipe down the sink every day than it is to hardcare scrub it once a month. Staying on top of the cleaning will help you feel much less overwhelmed.

Make a Schedule

If you know you’re going to be working overtime for an extended period of time, sit down and make a schedule. Plan out when you’re going to do things like laundry, grocery shopping, and cooking. If you can stick to a schedule, you’ll find that you have more time for other things – like relaxing!

Enlist the Help of Others

If you’re finding it tough to keep up with everything, don’t be afraid to ask for help from others. If you have a spouse or partner, see if they can pitch in around the house. Delegating tasks to other family members who are capable – and likely contributing to the mess – is fair and reasonable. In some cases, it might be easier to hire out some help. With options like grocery delivery, cleaning, and laundry services, you can take some of the burdens off of your own shoulders.

Put Items Away After Use

Observe people with uber clean homes and you’ll likely discover that their houses are always clean because they are never allowed to get dirty or disorganized in the first place. There is a clean as you go rule in their lives, that has everything in its place unless it’s being used. Try putting things away as soon as you’re done with them. If there are things in your home that do not have their own designated spot, find one for them. Not only will you save time on cleaning, but you also won’t find yourself madly searching for something that you need and can’t find.

Don’t Forget Self Care

Part of self-care involves being a good planner. Planning the night before what you’ll need in the morning contributes to a peaceful night of sleep and allows you to get a few more minutes of it. Have water, healthy fruits and veggies, and some granola handy for rushed mornings or afternoon pick-me-ups. Designate a non-cooking dinner night where leftovers or only fresh foods are eaten and use that time to take a relaxing bath rather than a shower. When you’re working lots of hours, you’ll save time by keeping your body healthy and your mind relaxed.

Times are stressful, and working overtime is becoming a norm for many. Implementing these tips will help you stay organized at home, so you can focus on your job and still have a comfortable home to return to at the end of the day.