By 3:15 p.m., the kitchen was looking like a mini tornado had gone through it. At least two children were calling out for snacks, and at least one couldn’t locate her school books. And, to add insult to injury, the washer had just begun its loud spin cycle right at that time when you needed to think!
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The planner was full of appointments; all of your reminders were scheduled; and, technically speaking, dinner was “under control.” But the entire house felt off.
Rather than blaming an overwhelming or hectic schedule (which is probably caused by a lot of other factors), you could begin thinking about what might be causing this overwhelming feeling in relation to your workplace/office/home. In fact, your work area may contribute significantly to your feeling overwhelmed just as much as does your “to-do” list. Even if you develop the perfect schedule/habits/routine, it cannot function optimally until the surrounding environment has been optimized.
A Good Routine Cannot Fight A Bad Room
When the temperature in the room rises, everyone becomes short-tempered. When there isn’t sufficient lighting, even doing simple tasks will exhaust you. When clutter exists, an otherwise simple task will become several.
At this point, the home environment begins to matter quietly. For example, having a good air conditioning unit in the correct room can completely alter how you feel about the remainder of your afternoon. Not because it will make everything perfect, but because it will eliminate another layer of friction. If the baby naps better, homework is completed with less complaining, and preparing dinner doesn’t take place in a sweltering kitchen…that’s not a luxury. That’s simply practical.
Small Discomforts Add Up Fast
Many forms of home-based stress originate from seemingly minor issues. An uncomfortable chair. Shoes and bags are collecting in the hallway. Heat is building up in the bedroom after sunset. All of which don’t appear to be particularly dramatic individually; however, collectively, they drain people.
This is most evident within families. Kids begin to act fidgety. Parents lose patience faster. Quiet tasks such as bill-paying or sorting laundry will become significantly more difficult than they should be.
Make The House Help You
Useful houses aren’t always aesthetically pleasing. Rather, they are houses that help simplify daily routines. School shoes have designated places. Kitchen counters provide sufficient area to make toast and prepare lunches. Bedrooms feel relaxing rather than stifling.
Therefore, your home environment is equally important as your schedule. Even with a well-planned day, the physical space also needs to be able to accommodate it. Alternatively, each activity will ask for more energy than it should. And for families with multiple young children at home, that additional energy is typically something that people cannot afford to give.