We all know the immense stress and anxiety that 2020 brought. So much unknown, grocery shortages, virtual school, and trying to juggle all our work responsibilities without childcare. As my entire family suddenly spent every hour of every day at home, I learned what I had pretty much known all along: We are a filthy bunch!

I could spend all day cleaning, and my tiny humans (and full-size husband) would follow along behind me with stacks of dishes, goldfish crumbs, and oh my gosh the LAUNDRY.

I was trying to do it all, and losing my mind in the process.

Then I had an epiphany. What if I DIDN’T clean my house?

What if I didn’t put constant pressure on myself to be a full-time housecleaner while being a full time mom, wife, and business owner?

My husband and my kids didn’t care if things were a bit messy… so why did I place such a burden on myself during the hardest season of my lifetime?

I compartmentalized and started cleaning just one day a week. YES! Seriously. On Sundays, I start at one end of the house and work my way all the way to the other end. By grouping like-tasks together (all decluttering, all vacuuming, all surface cleaning), I figured out that cleaning could be done way faster than if I tried to clean one room a day. I even do all my laundry back to back, relieving the mental energy of remembering to transfer towels into the dryer on a Tuesday night.

I’m not going to lie and say I never clean during the week, but it’s a lot easier to aim for maintenance, not perfection - so I spend 15 minutes a day vacuuming the living room rug and picking up clutter from the main living areas. I try to spend a few minutes on dishes, but I also don’t beat myself up if I have to do a few loads on Sunday while I’m doing the rest of my cleaning.

On Sundays, the kids get screen time, I listen to music or shows on my phone, and I get to work cleaning up our mess.

This mama has never been happier… even if our floors are a little dirty.