Monthly Musings: An Easier Week

Patty at Good Better Best hosts this monthly sharing of tips, tricks, and conversation starters. We all like finding ways to make our everyday lives just a bit easier, whether it's streamlining the morning rush out the door or simplifying dinners and chores. This month's musings focus on tips for making the week easier. I could use some ideas, and I hope I have something useful to contribute as well. Maybe I just need the reassurance that I'm not the only one with a bit more chaos and disorder in my routines than I'd like!

1. Paper planner, digital calendar or other option? 

I mostly rely on my Google calendar to keep track of all the things, though I also have a wall calendar by my desk, and a weekly paper meal planning and grocery list calendar on the fridge. For appointments and schedules and when we have hockey tickets, that's on the digital calendar. Bills that are due are on the wall calendar. Birthdays are on both. 

2. Meal planning, meal prep or wing it?

This is another combination answer. I am lousy at prepping meals ahead of time, but I really need to plan the meals at least a few days out so I know what I'm doing when I get home from work, and what I need to grab at the grocery on the way home. The meal planning calendar on my fridge helps, and I also quickly jot shopping list items on it so they won't be forgotten. I use the Plan To Eat website and app to keep track of my recipes and plug them into a meal plan. I don't always use this feature, but it also can create a shopping list for me based on my meal plan. It is really handy to have my meal plan and the recipes right on my phone so I can refer to it while on the go!

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3. Do you choose your outfit the night before?

Hardly ever. For work, I usually wear t-shirt and jeans, so no planning required. I do think on Saturday night what I'm going to wear to church on Sunday. 

4. Tips for managing laundry and ironing

Now that there's just the two of us, it shouldn't be that hard to manage, but I still tend to leave clean laundry in a basket and don't get it put away in a timely manner. Oops.

At this point, I basically do laundry three times a week. Often the clean laundry stays in the dryer until the next day before it gets put away. I do try to remember to hang up anything that might need ironing (pretty much just hubby's dress shirts) right away so that when I do the ironing, it's mostly touch up. I only iron once every two or three weeks.

5. Grocery shop instore or online?

I shop in the store. I have been saying for months that I need to just bite the bullet and place my order in the app and pick it up, but I haven't done it yet. I feel like it would take the same amount of time, just during my workday on my phone instead of in the store. 

6. Best tips for getting out the door in the morning without chaos?

Again, with just the two of us and no kids, my job is pretty easy. My husband gets up a bit before me and wakes me. I always get the coffee ready the night before so it is brewed by the time I get downstairs. I have a pretty good system for packing our lunches so most days that goes pretty quickly. I hand him his coffee and lunch and he heads out. Then I have about 40 to 45 minutes before I have to leave. I finish packing my lunch, then go back upstairs to finish getting ready. It's during this time that I listen to my morning devotional as well. (I have the First15 app on my phone for this) I have a little time drink a cup of coffee, check email, and sometimes even spend a few minutes doing something blog-related. I have an alarm set on my phone to count me down to the time I need to be out the door. Without that I would get sidetracked and "do just this one thing" for way too long. My preferred route to work is one that sticks to a "back road" for as far as possible before getting onto the highway. It takes a few minutes longer, but I consider it so worth it because the highway is so stressful.

7. Share your easiest dinners for crazy weeks

I try to keep burger patties in the freezer for a quick meal. We go with Breakfast for Dinner sometimes when I'm out of ideas or just don't have the energy to make dinner. 

8. Best tips to keep your house organized during the week

I've been failing spectacularly at this so far in 2026! LOL My plan is that I spend some time on Tuesday evenings whipping the kitchen and dining room back into shape, and some time on Thursday evening cleaning the bedrooms and bathrooms. Anything that needs more time has to be tackled on the weekends. But honestly, I've been getting only the barest minimum done lately and keep saying I'll catch up and give things a really good proper clean on Saturday . . . and when Saturday gets here I don't get everything done. That said, I find it does help me stay on track when I have a clear expectation of which job should get done on which day.

9. Share your easiest breakfast

We almost never eat breakfast so my easy breakfast is my cup of coffee! 

10. Share your best overall tip not covered yet

I don't think I have anything. I'm not really known for my organization skills! I try to have routines that make the quick everyday maintenance things automatic. I don't always remember to do those things, but the house runs more smoothly when I do. And I might not get a detailed deep clean done as often as I should, but the basics are done as I go, so things are generally tidy and quite acceptable.

What are your best tips for keeping your home running smoothly? Leave a comment and let me know!

I'm linking up with Monthly Musings hosted by Patty at Good Better Best.

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