This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you purchase one I'll receive a small profit with no additional cost to you whatsoever. Thanks for supporting our site. Click here to learn more.

​Struggling to get your kids to actually do their chores? Welcome to parenthood. If chore-charts and stickers aren’t working for you, you’ll want to read this.

Recently, our oldest daughter participated in Boosterthon to earn money for her school. I’ve never seen her get so excited to support a cause she didn’t immediately benefit from, but she was all-in! So I asked myself, “Why?” Why would this five year old want so desperately to earn pledges that paid based on the number of laps she’d run around a track?

3 Things

1. The goal was well-defined.
2. The rewards were motivating to her.
3. Both the goal and the rewards were attainable.

In other words, she wanted to succeed because success made sense.
​
Now, what if I told you that someone took those same principles and turned them into an app to help children and teens achieve their goals at home? It’s true. FamilyTech.com has created a simple, fun app to help your children, teens, and even your spouse complete all those boring, but necessary, tasks.
​ 

Creating your account, adding the kids, and assigning chores couldn’t be easier. The system asks for a birthdate and will suggest age appropriate chores to help you get started. You can also enter your own chores as well as attach a photo to each chore for children who can’t yet read.

A well-defined goal will help your child understand what is expected of them. Keep it simple like “put napkins on the table” or “make your bed.” Each chore is given a completion date, so that your children know how soon they’ll need to do the task. You can choose to “auto approve” the chore, which means that as soon as the chore is completed, the reward is issued. Or you can select to manually approve the each chore. In the case of the latter, you’ll receive a notification from Mother Shp (no “i”) that the chore has been finished, but you’ll need to click “approve” on your end before the reward is released on the child or teen interface. Although I like saving time anywhere I can, checking up on a child’s performance demonstrates support, concern, and love. Our kids better understand our expectations when we have the time to create a healthy dialogue about how a chore should be done and how it actually completed. Talking with and encouraging kids is well worth the added minutes of manual approval.

The final feature (and probably the most exciting for your little ones) is the reward assignment. Each chore you create will reward your child with the amount of points determined by you. The points contribute toward a larger prize that will be “unlocked” once they have enough points. One of our clients is rewarding her son with a date to the frozen yogurt shop! Teens might earn a bump in allowance or extra privileges.
​
Your children can monitor their progress on the kid-side of the app. Login is ridiculously simple (for little people in particular), and ages 3-12 will be able to play games, watch videos, and reveal different monsters as they earn points. The app has the feel of FunBrain.com, but the power of Boosterthon in your living room! 
​

You won’t find videos, games, or fun monsters on teen version Landra, but you will find a clean interface that teaches your teen the economy of housekeeping in a simple “Do vs Get” mode. Landra is FREE and gives your teen the opportunity to view the chores you’ve assigned from Mother Shp as well as add their own. Under the “Get” tab, your teen can request specific rewards like coffee, movie night out, screen time, or suggest their own. The visual support is just as strong in Landra as in Chore Monster, so it’s great for teens with low reading levels too. 

And when you didn’t think it could get any better….Family Tech created Honey Do. Keeping up a home is often a shared task. This app allows you to communicate in a no-nag fashion about those home projects. While I’m not super motivated by points or the idea of forcing my better half to work around the house, the concept is novel. Create rewards for your significant other based on their love language or bucket-lists.
​
In conclusion, I’ve been all-around impressed by these FREE apps and our girls (ages 5 and 3) are LOVING it. If you’re struggling to get your child or teen to do their chores, it’s worth checking out. Leave a comment below about your experience.

This post may contain affiliate links. Click here to learn more.

Kids are messy, aren’t they?! Like, shockingly messy. Old candy wrappers, empty gift bags, random rock collections are found tucked away in the most interesting places. And then there’s the toys. Even if you try to keep them to a minimum (and rotate them throughout the year) the action figures, craft supplies, and Legos eventually drive you a bit bonkers. It’s okay to cry out in frustration --- you’re among friends. This idea of a clean, organized bedroom lasting more than half an hour really is the seemingly unattainable parent goal of the year.

But today is different. Starting today, that goal of yours is within reach. Why? Simple. We’re going to teach your kids how to keep their rooms clean. Kids (and a large number of adults) struggle to keep their areas clutter-free due to numerous reasons. The most common reason, however, is lack of instruction. Those who struggle to keep a tidy bedroom, home, or office simply need to be taught. These quick lessons will empower your kids for decades to come; they will equip your kids to become successful adults! And who doesn’t want that!?

Now that your child knows where everything is supposed to go, they’re physically able to put all the items away. But your child won’t do this out of the goodness of his heart and maintain it over time until it becomes a sweet habit. Nope. Your child will continue to be a kid. A creative member of the family. And creatives make messes. You don’t want to squash their creative spirit, but you do want to establish some healthy guidelines. Enter the Ten Minute Tidy. (Side note, this name isn’t original with me --- I’m sure it’s been used hundreds of times in different settings. I thought about calling it the Clean Sweep….but I know that was the name of a show. The point is, you can call this step WHATEVER you want. The name isn’t important. The action is.)

• Pick a time each day to perform your 10 (or 20) minute tidy. Morning, afternoon, evening, it’s up to you. I prefer before bed so that our family can start the next day with a clean slate.
• Set a timer. Working under a deadline helps to increase productivity.
• Have your kids perform these 3 tasks:
  • Pick up all dirty laundry.
  • Put away clean clothing.
  • Put away all toys/crafts.
• Download this sticker chart for your younger kiddos.

Daily tidying will go a long way to helping your children create cleaner, more organized spaces beyond their bedrooms. Limit the tidy time to basic tasks until they’re crushing those tasks within minutes. I like to begin with the 3 basic tasks listed above because they are the most common items I find as I organize children’s bedrooms. This should clear up 95% of the room. Additional tasks to add might include: throwing away trash, finding items to donate, vacuuming/dusting, making beds, taking laundry to the washer, running their own laundry, and picking out outfits for the next day. But again, don’t rush things. Habits take a long time to form, and you don’t want to overwhelm your child by requiring too much too soon. (Yes, I know, it shouldn’t be a hardship to tell them to clean up their trash, but these are kids we’re talking about. Just trust me on this. Low expectations are great in the beginning.)
​
Give us a call if you need help with any of these steps. We’d love to hear about your progress too. Comment below to share your story. ​

Whether or not you want to admit it, that spare room in your home IS your unofficial dumping ground. I’m talking about the guest room that only receives guests a few times a year and the home office that holds a lot of paper but doesn’t do much work. I had a friend once tell me that she referred to spare rooms as prayer rooms --- simply praying for someone to clean them up.

Don’t be embarrassed. We’ve all been there. We’ve all had our “prayer rooms” and dumping spaces because LIFE HAPPENS.

So how do we alter reality? How do we transform our spare spaces into meaningful places?

1. Open the door. We often keep that door closed to avoid the onslaught of mental and physical clutter, so take a deep breath and prepare for a bit of overwhelm. Then take another breath.
2. Pick up the first object nearest you. What is it? Are there other items in the house that are similar? Where are those other items stored? Take this item and place it with others like it --- don’t worry about trying to organize where you’re putting it, we’re not working on that yet. We’re simply trying to get into the spare room.
3. Pick up the second object nearest you. Repeat step 2. Continue to repeat this great sort until the room is completely empty. Your house might get a bit messy as you stack, but that’s okay. If you want to conquer clutter, then you MUST give every item a home in your house. The chaos is temporary. It’s like ripping off a bandaid. You’ll get over it and the space will heal.
4. Discard trash and corral donations. As you sort through the spare space, you’ll likely come upon a lot of items you no longer need to keep. Let them go. These are the EASIEST choices, so don’t delay in making them. Be decisive. If those items still have some life left in them, donate them. Place donations in a box or bag, and once the container is full immediately load it into your car. (If your car fills up before the spare room is cleared, that’s FABULOUS! You’re doing it right!)
5. Now that the space is empty, determine the function of the space. Although it may technically still be a spare room, don’t let it be a dumping ground. If you know you need the room for storage, then invest in storage shelves and clear bins. If you want it to be guest room, starting looking for a bed and a nightstand. If you want it to be a play room, then bring in ALL the toys and their corresponding containers. Every space in your home should have a purpose. Purposeless souls roam aimlessly, much like purposeless rooms. Don’t let your space get lost in the shuffle.
6. Follow through. Stick to your decisions. When things end up dumped into that space, return them to their proper homes ASAP. Clutter doesn't have to win. Alter your spare room reality today.

So which spare space will you attack first? The cabinets? The den? The guest room that has never been able to be a guest room? Share your stories below and don’t forget to join our #5ADayEdit challenge on Instagram.

Happy New Year!!! As is true every January, the desire to live with less turns into a resolution. We’ve been overloaded by the holidays --- the gifts, the food, the company. In an effort to break free of the weight of so many commitments and cookies, we poise ourselves to do the incredible: to let go.

But more often than not, our excitement grows stale because we don’t know how to get started. In fact, it’s the start that stops us dead in our tracks and our resolution dies more quickly than we could have imagined.

But not this year.

Nope.

You got this, because I’m going to give you the secret to getting started in just one short word:

Manageable.

Every person is different. Every person will have a different threshold for change. Decluttering is a BIG change with a LOT of stuff.

So start small. Start with what’s manageable for you. While I can jump into a room with great fervor, you might want to start with the skinny desk drawer.

Consider your limitations too. Although Pinterest is a gorgeous thing, it often encourages us to bite off and expect more than we can chew. If you’re a young mom with kids under 5, don’t set your sights on beautiful glass containers that hold the crayons and markers in your quaint craft corner. Embrace the season of life that you’re in and remember that these limitations won’t be the same forever. If you only have 20 minutes a day, then use your 20 minutes a day to conquer small areas (drawers, baskets, countertops). If you’re an empty nester who works full time, block off a Saturday. Mark it on your calendar and shoot for one room at a time.

You can do this! I know you can because I help folks just like you every single day. The work is hard. Sometimes tears are shed and voices raised, but at the end of the process, joy is found and worry is gone.

Letting go is a process. Sometimes it’s hard and you’ll want to give up because it seems like too big a task. But don’t give up.

Make your target areas manageable. Ask for help and accountability. Brag on yourself! That’s the entire purpose of our Facebook organizing group in Greenville: to be reminded you aren’t alone.

Be empowered to live free of the stuff! I’m right here cheering you on.

Welcome back DIY organizers! Before we dive into how to pick the perfect container, here's a quick review of the organizing process. Pay special attention to where containers come into the picture.

     1. Get Messy. When you’re ready to get organized, you first have to make a fantastic mess. When working in kitchens, you’ve got to pull everything out. EVERYTHING. It’s impossible to see ALL that you actually have unless you pull it out. The same in your bedroom, office, or garage.

     2. Sort Like With Like. As you’re emptying cabinets and drawers, begin sorting into piles of similar items. Pots got with pots. Hammers go with hammers. Scissors with other “cutting tools” and tape with other “adhesives.” Following me so far?

     3. Edit Out The Things You No Longer Need, Use, or Love. I hope you’ve got a few extra boxes, trash bags, and recycle bins ready for this step. All the broken and stained items go in the trash. Anything still usable (but not personally useful to you on a regular basis of at least once a year) goes toward donations or resale. Go ahead and list each item that you’re tossing into the donate pile so that you’re ready for your tax-deductible receipt when you drop your donations off. If you’re feeling really ambitious, price the items that you’re tossing into the resale bin so you only have to think about it once.

     4. Contain The Rest. This is the step you’re most excited about. It’s the step we often try to skip to without putting in any of the HARD WORK required in steps one through three. Trust me, skipping to this step won’t help you get organized. Seriously. You’ll just end up with lots of extra storage bins around your house that never get used. You know EXACTLY which ones I’m talking about. But that’s in the past! We’re going to put those bins to use AFTER steps 1-3.

     5. Enjoy Your Organized Space. This is my favorite step. It should be the step that happens continuously, because good systems and easy to access containers create a system that is easy to maintain.

Now let’s go back to step 4.

​Containers might be the most fun and creative part of getting organized. They enable you to make the space what you truly want it to be! Your kitchen, office, outdoor living space, fill in the blank can be just like your inspiration pics from Pinterest…..assuming budget and space restraints don’t interfere ;)

But how do you know WHICH containers to pick?

Always measure the piles that you’re KEEPING. The kept items will determine how much space you’ll need inside cabinets, drawers, bins, and closets to stay organized. Add an extra 25% to your “needed” space so that you’ll have room to grow (by 5% at most, because you should be subtracting each time you add) and space to be messy in the interim.

WHAT?! Messy in the interim?! Yes, it’s true.

We aren’t living in a magazine; we’re living in real life. Some spaces are BOUND to get messy in the interim. Pantries are a prime example of this. While we should keep them organized all the time, there will be a day when you’ve gone to the grocery store but you didn’t have time to put all the pantry items away. They will sit in bags in your extra 25% for a day maybe two while your crazy schedule calms down. But in the interim of that crazy time, the extra 25% space allows you to have a functional pantry. Laundry rooms also require this. As much as I wish everyone could run their clothes through the wash, dry them, fold them, and return them back to their closets on the same day, that’s just not real life. Real life requires that you’ve got a space open to catch that basket of clothes that you just couldn’t finish today. Get my drift? Cabinets that hold mugs should NEVER require any extra space because your mug stash will remain fairly unchanged; however, if you like your cabinets to appear balanced and airy, you’ll need a good amount of negative/unused space (like 25%) to achieve that feeling.

So trust me on that 25% thing, ok?

Now that you know what SIZE containers you need, assess what you’ve already got. In kitchens, you most likely have built-in cabinets and drawers. Use these to your advantage. But remember that zone (or point of use) always trumps size of space available.

Buy what you need based on the size of what you need to contain. For offices, bedrooms, closets, or pantries, you may need to add a few containers like a set of filing cabinets (or a crate that holds hanging files), bins for kids’ toys, baskets for cupcake and brownie mixes, etc. I know all the matching nesting containers at TJMaxx are gorgeous, but only buy that three-pack if you know EXACTLY what going inside the baskets when you get home.

Pay attention to style and functionality. Keep your containers similar in shape and color based on the room so that you can easily swap them if one set of items grows and another shrinks. A great example of a needed swap might be the bin that holds the toys (which will shrink over time) and the bin that contains school-work supplies (which will grow over time). One sure-fire way to help you stay organized is to use containers that you love to look at. An ugly space never helped anyone. Decide what your “beautiful” is and aim for that pattern and texture. My garage has a lot of white bins. My pantry has a lot of tan bins. My girls’ room has pink bins that match the playful patterns on the walls. Don’t settle for a container just because it fits your dimensions. If the dresser you found is the wrong color and one drawer short, pass on the purchase and keep looking.  
​
Getting organized is about living simply. Living simply means eliminating distractions and creating easier solutions to the clutter attacks. Your life should function better and your space feel more welcoming when you’ve finished containing the items that you need, use, and love.

Being a professional organizer is a blast, but using fun tools to corral and cut the clutter is what motivates me to tackle the mess EVERY SINGLE DAY for my clients. Because I love my readers, I’m sharing some of my favorite tools of the trade! I want you to get as pumped up and prepared as I am to tackle your next pile. And guess what?! All my favs are under $16!

Number 6: Cast-Off Containers

Starting an organizing project usually requires at least one trash bag and possibly one box. As I work with clients, more boxes and bags become available as we begin sifting through the clutter. These cast-off containers may be plastic bins, old laundry baskets, small gift bags/boxes, even reusable shopping bags. Since they are no longer holding the stuff that was sitting in the garage, closet, or guest bedroom, these containers can be repurposed for organizing, donating, shredding, or discarding. Most clients have more than enough reusable shopping bags. The extra bags become the “bins” for future donations that can be stored in closets and laundry rooms, ready to catch the next cast-off item. Boxes, broken plastic containers, and bags are great for collecting trash, recycling, or shred items during a clean-up. As I help my clients, we create piles of empty containers ready for repurposing. It’s a FREE way to help you get the job done!

Number 5: Measuring Tape

This might seem like a no-brainer, but too many folks forget to measure while they organize. Measuring ensures the perfect fit for exactly what you need to store. It also helps you pick the perfect drawer, shelf, or container for your items. A 25’ tape is perfect for small organizing jobs.

Number 4: Straight Tab Files

There is nothing more beautiful than an easy-to-maintain filing system, unless you add straight tabs to the mix. In that case, the system just went from beautiful to DROP DEAD GORGEOUS! Straight (or single) tab folders have the tab for labeling only on one side instead of the left, middle, and right. Straight tabs allow you to add and delete without having to reset all the other tabs so that they appear “in order.” Hanging files that allow for different tab positions are great too. These can easily be converted into straight tab to line up neatly in the cabinet. “But isn’t it hard to see what the labels say since they’re all stacked one in front of the other?” you ask. Not in the least. Labels should be written in thick black ink with a Sharpie marker or label maker that allow for ease of reading. Additionally, files always hold more than ten documents, enabling the files to spread out a bit. (If a file has less than ten documents, you probably don’t need a separate file for those papers. Quality, not quantity, should be the determining factor when creating a filing system. Additionally, you should only keep the documents that you’ll need to retrieve, thus eliminating a big portion of file folders you may have in your current system.)

Number 3: Multitool

Remember your dad’s Swiss Army Knife? The one with 16 different features? Yep, that’s the one. I keep my multitool in my apron, ready to cut, screw, slice, and nail whenever I need it. The one I love isn’t fancy or big, but it gets the job done. It also keeps me from having to run back and forth to the garage or utility room for the tools I need.

Number 2: Wire Shelves

Almost everyone has at least one in their home, or they are guilty of recently giving one away because they just couldn’t see a good use for it. The truth is that these buddies rock! I recommend them for EVERY kitchen project because they double your cabinet space. These shelves are perfect for stacking plates, mugs, and glasses. I also like to use them where the breads are stored since breads are impossible to stack without squishing. The key for a wire shelf is to make sure you have a purpose for the shelf before you buy. They come in standard sizes, so check your cabinet dimensions too. When it comes to color, I prefer white because it seems to create the cleanest look. Bed, Bath, & Beyond is my go-to store for picking these up in a pinch! Amazon, Walmart, Old Time Pottery, and TJ Maxx also carry these.

Number 1: Painter’s Tape

You weren’t expecting that were you? Does it seem anticlimactic?  Well it shouldn’t. You see, painter’s tape (or any colored masking tape for that matter) is PERFECT for tackling EVERY job. In the beginning stages of organizing a space, I use the tape to identify locations of items that need to be contained. It’s always best to plan first and act second. The tape allows me to see EVERYTHING that requires a home in the space and allows for easy swapping BEFORE any of the items get involved. Kitchens and bedrooms are notorious for being covered in my lime green tape! The painter’s tape also prevents any damage to finishes as it moves around.

I also use my tape to create temporary labels before printing them on my label maker (which is a bit more than $16). “Why not just skip the temporary and print the final?” Simple. Everything deserves a rough draft. Sometimes, while categorizing, the names of the categories might change and it takes less time to cross out a word on tape than to set up the label maker. At other times, the temporary labels are affixed to temporary storage containers. I always recommend shopping for containers LAST so that clients know exactly what size and how many containers they’ll need. In the meantime, it helps to have the mismatched bins and recycled shoe boxes clearly labeled.

A bright roll of painter’s tape also makes for a fabulous bangle. It never hurts to look good while getting organized!
​

We'd love to hear about your tools and answer any questions you might have in the comments below!

Isn’t it obvious? You clicked on this link just to confirm what you already know.

​The problem with too much stuff is that it DOESN’T FIT.

But sometimes, we try to force it.

Like when we pack for vacation, we erroneously pack too much. If one of our bags has some extra room, we pack even more. A recent survey found that 55% of us don’t even wear everything we’ve packed. So why do we do it?

We like options. We like being in control. We like the freedom of determining what we want, when we want it, and how we want it. We like to look like we’ve got it altogether, even when we’re going through hard times. Stuff, oodles of stuff, gives us that opportunity.

But how is that freedom affecting us?

For starters, we are burdened with heavier bags. We take solace in Sky Cap and dish out the extra bucks for overweight luggage. As long as we have access to everything we could possibly need, we’re happy to accommodate.
When we need something out of the bags, we comfort ourselves that the extra time spent digging through the excess isn’t that big of a loss. But the loss adds up.

And so does the stress.

When we can’t locate what we need, when we need it because of ALL the options we insist we have, something has to give. Usually it’s our attitudes. It’s easy to go from carefree to ticked-off in a matter of minutes when something we need can’t be found.

My heart starts racing just thinking about the lost shoe in the sea of too many.

Suitcases aren’t the only over-stuffed containers in our lives.

Cars, homes, purses, cubicles, offices, drawers, closets --- they’re all bursting because we’ve tried to force too much into them.

It’s difficult to know HOW to get your home organized when you don’t know WHAT to organize. Today we’re talking about bare minimums.

Sure, I want you to go full out and organize EVERYTHING, but let’s be realistic.
​
We know that an organized space can save us time and bring happiness. I’ve got the solution for the greatest impact on your time and sanity when your schedule is insane: bare minimum weekly organizing schedule.

Summer is just around the corner – are you ready for it? For beach towels and sunscreens? For doubled laundry piles because of heat-activated sweat? For cookouts and late nights? For laughter, joy, and carefree moments?

Is your home running as efficiently as possible so that you’re able to enjoy all the laughter, Frisbee, and hotdogs coming your way without fretting over the clutter?

Not as much as you’d like? No problem!

We’ve got just what you need to motivate your spirit and prepare your space.

Introducing our Instagram challenge of #5ADayEdit!

As we approach the official first day of summer, June 21st, join us as we edit just 5 things a day. We’ll be posting themes, but feel free to capture your edit not matter what it is. Share your successes and spread the excitement!

Why just 5? Simple. When you start small, the process snowballs. When you start big, the process sits at a standstill. We promise that as you edit (return, discard, donate, or recycle) just 5 things a day, that you’ll actually end up with 7 or 8. Maybe even 50. Don’t think it’s possible?
​