Managing a busy household can be a full-time job. If you also work, go to school, or take care of children, you may not have time to manage your home. As a result, some important things may begin to slip. You might go to bed with dirty sheets because you didn’t have time to change the linens this week. Or you may decide to settle for fast food because you didn’t have time to plan your family’s dinner menu.
If you feel like your household is getting out of control, it’s time for a change. As technology continues to advance, there are many ways it can help you manage your daily responsibilities. From installing a smart thermostat to using grocery store apps, here are five ways to put your household on autopilot.
1. Install a Smart Thermostat
As a homeowner, it can be painful to receive your monthly energy bills — especially in the heat of summer or the chill of winter. If you and your family members are gone during the day, why make your HVAC system work overtime during that period? You can give your HVAC system and utility bills a break during your absence. The problem with adjusting the temperature when you leave, though, is that it’s hard to remember. Plus, your home will be hotter or colder than you prefer for a while after you return home.
To solve each of these problems, install a smart thermostat. This type of thermostat allows you to pre-schedule your preferred temperature settings throughout the day. You can also control a smart thermostat at any time using your phone or any other smart device. Both capabilities will help you save money on energy bills while keeping your house comfortable when you’re there. You can find smart thermostats that will work with a standard HVAC system or a mini split air conditioner.
2. Use a Robotic Vacuum
Vacuuming is a relatively simple household task, but it takes up a lot of time. That’s why it’s one of the first responsibilities to slide when homeowners get too busy to keep up with everything. If you can’t clean your floors on a day-to-day basis, it may be time to jump on the robotic vacuum cleaner trend. Once you do, you’ll probably wonder why you didn’t do it earlier!
Robotic vacuum cleaners use sensors and pre-programmable controllers to keep your floors looking spotless. They require little attention beyond being emptied regularly. Plus, they are refreshingly quiet when compared to traditional vacuum cleaners. For minimal disruptions, set your robotic vacuum cleaner to clean the floor each night after you’ve gone to bed.
3. Create a Rotating Dinner Menu
If you dread the question, “What’s for dinner?” you’re probably a last-minute meal planner. Some people thrive in a minimal-planning environment, while others don’t. If your family frequently eats fast food or orders takeout because you procrastinated on dinner planning again, implement a rotating dinner menu. Such a menu can simplify your life and ensure your family always has nutritious meals to eat.
A rotating meal plan is a list of family-favorite meals you cycle through continuously. This might sound boring to you at first. But the idea is to have enough menus in your rotation so you don’t have to repeat a meal for several weeks. Creating a rotating meal plan takes the hassle out of deciding what to eat. It also makes grocery shopping easier because you can already see what meals you’ll eat in the coming days.
4. Schedule Professional House Cleanings
Many people can manage to keep their homes fairly tidy by doing regular surface cleaning. But you can only do surface cleaning for so long before dirt and grime start to build up. Every two weeks to a month, you should be giving your home a deep cleaning. But what if you don’t have time? That’s where the pros come in handy.
Once each month, have house cleaners come in and take care of your deep-cleaning needs. You can put this process on autopilot by setting a standing appointment on the same day each month. It may take some time to find a cleaning company that meets your expectations. But once you do, scheduling them to clean your home regularly can take a huge burden off your shoulders.
5. Use Grocery Store Apps
Are you still making grocery lists and shopping the old-fashioned way? If so, you’re making your life more difficult than you need to. How many times have you forgotten to add something to your list or lost your list altogether? To keep these types of inconveniences from happening, use grocery store apps instead. Most grocery stores have them now, and they make it easy to create comprehensive in-app shopping lists.
Once you create your shopping list (guided by your rotating dinner menu, of course), you can order everything online. Grocery store pick-up services are now available at most major stores. Once you place your grocery order, an employee will gather everything up for you. All you have to do is go pick it up when it’s ready. Or if you don’t have time to make the trip, simply schedule it for delivery!
Life can get busy, but that doesn’t mean you have to become overwhelmed. There are so many ways to streamline your household tasks and make your life easier. You can start by using the convenient tactics outlined above.
