In my professional and realistic opinion, YES! As a mom of three, my home often can look like I haven't tidied it for days, when in reality I tidy it daily (with the basket approach)! It also looks like I haven't cleaned it for weeks, even though I may have just cleaned yesterday (there is no way to avoid this really unless you attach a vacuum to your hip).
A fellow mom once said that cleaning up while you have kids is like trying to brush your teeth while eating Oreos. I felt that!
So the fact is, you either clean up/tidy while you are around the kids OR do it when an activity is over. The BEST, and I mean the BEST way that I manage a tidy home, is to use what I call the basket approach. It's the best way cause it's so easy and it's the least overwhelming approach I have tried!
What is the basket approach?
I'll have baskets around my home, one for things going upstairs and one for things going downstairs. One basket will also do. And if you don't have a basket, don't worry! You can do fine with just a multipurpose bag that you probably have too many of since you probably often forget to bring them with you to the store!
Anyway, you place anything and everything that has gotten misplaced in the basket. And then when you have time, you walk around your home with your basket and put things away.
NOW, if you have neglected this basket system in a room (like I did the other day with my basement / play area), I highly recommend you also have a trash/giveaway bag where you put away trash or things you are ready to give away in that bag. In the basket, you put EVERYTHING else that needs to be put away. This way, your room will look tidy since you will only have to put away things from one area (your basket area or, in my case, sometimes a whole pile!). Once you have your basket/pile, you sort it and put things away where they belong. Now, if you do not have an organized area or a home for things, then that will be your next step: to find a system that works for you. Everything should have somewhat of a home, and the only thing that matters when organizing and finding a home is that it makes sense to you and is accessible!
Have you tried this approach before? If so, let me know in the comments. If not, try it and then let me know! This has saved me tons and tons of mental load and overstimulation of clutter. When you are ready, try the 5-minute decluttering approach I posted the other day.
Let me know in the comments if you found this post helpful! And please share it with others so it can serve a greater purpose.
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