Streamlining Routines and Chores to Help Prevent Parent Burnout

In addition to the physical and visual clutter that can add to overwhelm, disorganized and inefficient systems at home when it comes to chores and routines can take up a lot of precious time. 

So I started to think about how I could simplify and streamline those annoying but essential tasks of daily living like laundry and meal prep, so that I could focus more on having fun with my toddler during the day.   

Simplifying Food Storage, Grocery Shopping and Meal Prep

So starting with our pantry, I realized that it was very hard to find food in it. And toddlers are constantly eating (as am I), so it is just annoying to have to comb through the options and decide what to eat.

Everything was thrown on the shelves in disorganized heaps. And we were constantly throwing out and wasting food because we didn’t even know it was in there. Or alternatively, buying more boxes of pasta when we already had 5. 

So to prevent these issues, I decided to make food items clearly visible and accessible in the fridge and pantry. I invested in some glass storage jars and put foods we eat on a regular basis in them.

I also got some vegetable storage containers for the fridge. It is so much easier to see what veggies we have when they are not hidden and stuffed away in bags. 

This also makes it easier to see when we are running low on certain items. And that means making a grocery list becomes a quick and easy task. And grocery lists are important because long gone are the days of popping into the grocery store every other day and buying an item or two on the go. When a grouchy toddler accompanies you to the grocery store, you want those trips to be few and far between! 

Another minimalist tip I have come across is to never stray from your grocery shopping list. I used to peruse the grocery aisles in search of exciting new packaged goods and dips and fancy cheeses, but I’ve stopped doing that for the most part. For one, I don’t have the energy to dawdle in the store. Secondly, those random cookies and spreads usually just end up going to waste because I find out that I don’t like them or I forget about them in the depths of our fridge. 

So sticking to a list makes grocery shopping more efficient and helps keep our pantry and fridge organized. Plus, sticking to a list tends to save a bit of money that might otherwise be spent on random items that only look good in the moment.  

I am also trying to prepare more meals in bulk. For example, this past week we made a big batch of veggie mix and diced potatoes, and it has been great to be able to quickly throw these ingredients into a burrito for a 1 minute meal during the week.  

Another way to streamline meal and snack times with toddlers, is to get them to help out. They are really capable of quite a lot when we let them be. For example, you can set up your kitchen in a way that allows them to get cups and plates out for themselves. It may seem like a small thing, but it’s one less thing for you to do.

You can also consider setting up other areas of your home to be toddler friendly and encourage independence. I offer some ideas on this topic in my post on How to Create a Toddler Friendly Home.

Simplifying Getting Dressed and Doing Laundry

The next area I worked on streamlining was getting dressed and doing laundry in terms of my clothing and my toddler’s clothing (somehow my husband already has his wardrobe pared-down). Paring down my closet is something I have done many times before, but it seems to be an ongoing process.

When it comes to clothing and getting dressed in the morning, I just want to be able to throw something on that is comfortable and simple. And when your toddler hardly gives you 30 seconds to get dressed, simplifying the process is helpful. 

Plus, every choice we have to make throughout the day takes energy. So I want to make getting dressed relatively thoughtless and simple for both myself and my toddler. This way I can reserve more energy for the bigger tasks and adventures of the day.

So I like having shirts and pants and sweaters that I can easily mix and match without having to worry if they go together or not. So simple neutral colors and basic designs make up my wardrobe. Below is a picture of all the clothes I have hanging and folded in my closet (aside from pajamas and socks and underwear). And I’m happy to say I wear almost all of them on a regular basis. 

And I put clothes that I’m not wearing in the current season (it gets down to 0 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter and up to over a 100 in the summer, hence the need for seasonal clothing) along with special occasion clothes in a couple boxes on the top shelf of my closet. Since those things won’t be worn for at least a few months, I don’t want to have to look at them or sort through them as I’m getting dressed in the morning. 

I wish I had a picture of my closet from a few years back to show, because it looks nothing like it does now. Just imagine giant heaps of clothes stuffed into drawers though, and that’s what it looked like. One of the reasons It has taken me so long to get to a manageable place with my closet, is because I have accumulated and kept clothes that don’t really fit my lifestyle. There was always a disparity between the reality of my daily life and what my closet looked like. 

So it has been helpful to honestly assess how I spend my days and the clothes I like to wear those days, and just stick to those. Getting dressed becomes very simple this way. And I don’t need to waste time or money buying clothes that don’t fit my needs and reality based preferences. 

And in regards to doing laundry, when there aren’t as many clothes, the piles are smaller. They are more manageable, and I don’t feel like I’m drowning in clothes.