blog simply gillian Page 7 simply gillian simply gillian

Tips to Simplify a Chaotic Life

Establish a morning and nighttime routine

Morning

Having a morning routine allows you to accomplish tasks first thing to set your day off in positive motion. Here is an example high-level routine that I currently use.

5:00am: Wake up, make bed
5:30am: Work out
6:15am: Shower and get ready for the day
6:45am: Coffee and get the kids up and dressed for the day
7:15am: Load kids into car and drop off at daycare
8:00am: Begin workday

Evening

An evening routine sets you up for a productive morning the following day. Here is one I attempt to follow in the evenings.

6:30pm: Dinner
7:00pm: Kid’s bedtime routine (bath, pajamas, bottle, brush teeth, read a book)
7:40pm: Set out kid’s clothes and backpacks for daycare
7:45pm: Kids go to bed
8:00pm: Shower and Skincare Routine
8:15pm: Read
8:45pm: Outline next days tasks
9:00pm: Bed time

Plan out (high level) what your week looks like on a specific day every week. I like to do this on Sundays

Appointments
Meals
Activities

Order groceries or other items for pickup or delivery

Save time with your weekly errands and order your groceries and household items ahead of time with curbside pickup or delivery.

Delegate what is feasible

Cooking
Cleaning
Lawn Care
Child Care

If you have the monetary flexibility to source out a task, or several, I highly recommend making the investment. I personally delegate childcare because my job requires me to be available during a traditional work schedule.

I have sourced a housekeeper but discovered that cleaning my house is a task that I actually enjoy and I have a particular way I like to do things. Therefore, I decided that the satisfaction I gain from cleaning my home was worth the time every week. Choose to source out tasks that make your life more stressful and keep the ones that you find joy in.

Separate work and home life as much as possible

Separate phones
Dedicated work space
Separate task lists

Separate task lists is crucial. You want to know what is being accomplished personally versus professional to ensure you are achieving work-life balance.

Please note that separate planners is not advised. You will want to keep all appointments in one space so you don’t double book yourself. If you have a calendar for work and personal appointments on your phone, make sure everything is synced or written down in one place that you can always reference.

Simple Tips for a Fresh-Smelling Home

home

Simple Tips for a Fresh-Smelling Home

Take out the trash regularly

Keeping your home smelling fresh and clean can be difficult with kids and pets (and messy ones at that). With constant cooking, activities, and running to and from events, odors can build up and cleaning may not be the easiest source of a refreshing smell. Here are some quick tips to keep your home smelling fresh and clean throughout the weeks.

You may have a great trash can, but emptying your trash regularly will greatly eliminate even the slightest of odors. Having a smaller trash can with bags that you take out more often will help a lot without wasting space in the trash bag. This will vary depending on your waste production, the size of your family, and the convenience of bringing your trash to the trash bin.

I love that this one is pet proof! Big problem in our house!

$129

You can’t beat those ratings!

$149

Love an under-the-cabinet pull out trash. I bought something similar from The Container Store (needed a shallow depth) and bought a second as a dog food holder!

$79

Fresh Air

Allow fresh air in whenever you have the opportunity. Some crisp cool air can eliminate any lingering odors in your home and help you feel refreshed as well. In the fall and spring, it helps set the tone for a beautiful candle.

Candles

Clean, fresh scented candles set a mood any time of day. Finding scents that you love can make a huge impact on a space. Check out my seasonal favorites in this post. Manly Indulgence candles are a year-long favorite of mine. Fresh Shave and Oak Barrel are my current go-to’s.

This jar is beyond stunning, and the scent is a beautiful floral springtime experience.

You can sometimes find these at HomeGoods for cheaper too! I always check when I’m in there.

Threshold Candles are great. I love the wood wick. It creates such an amazing experience with the crackling sounds.

Stovetop Potpourri

There are so many beautiful stovetop potpourri recipes on Pinterest. A personal favorite is the Williams Sonoma scent, however changing them out for the seasons is a great way to get into holiday spirits.

Fabric Spray

Spritzing a little odor eliminator or scent spray on some of your furniture can help lift pet odors and leave behind a fresh scent. Focusing on the main pieces in your house that have the most traffic will help maintain a fresh smell. Freshening up your bed in between sheet changes can also leave your bedroom feeling refreshed and clean.

Air Fresheners

Air fresheners are an easy way to keep a scent lingering throughout your space all day and night. With the ability to adjust the power of the device to distribute the smell, these can last weeks before the scent pod needs to be replaced.

Diffuser

Having a diffuser is great because you can concoct your own scents using various essential oils. On top of that, if you live in a drier climate, they also act as a small humidifier. There are so many kinds and sizes to choose from depending on the size of the room or the style you are looking for.

Having a fresh smelling home can make your home feel cleaner, even if it’s a mess!

Deployment Bucket List

lifestyle

Deployment Bucket List

^{During deployments I think it is always good to set intentions and goals, and a “bucket list” is a great way to do that. This deployment will be from mid-summer until sometime in the winter. So, taking the seasons into consideration, I have created the list below. This will be my third deployment, so I’ve had a couple to get an idea of what is achievable and set some goals based on that, as well as some reach goals.}

^{These are for my physical, mental, financial, and emotional health! I have to have it printed and at my desk so I am reminded of my goals and intentions I have set for myself. Otherwise, I will forget and all of a sudden the deployment will be over and I haven’t done most of the things I set out to do!}

^{Exercise 3 times / week}
^{Take the kids on a trip solo}
^{DIY Project – Main Bedroom and Closet}
^{Practice a new language}
^{Read a minimum of 6 books}
^{Save, save, save! $$}
^{Write a blog post every other day}
^{Try new recipes every month}
^{Visit the zoo}
^{Have a girls night once a month without kids}

What do you have on your deployment bucket list?! Comment below.

Books I’ve Read Recently

lifestyle

Books I’ve Read Recently

Do you like to purchase physical books? I love to collect hardcovers. There is something so beautiful about bindings on hardcover books lined along a bookshelf. Totally worth the extra $$ in my opinion!