Do you ever think about tomorrow and plan to wake up early, in a good mood, and be super productive?

But then tomorrow comes and you sleep past your alarm clock, the kids are fighting with each other or someone is calling your name just as you begin focusing on every. single. task.

That was me this morning! 🤪

I had grand plans today because I was sick three days last week with a cold.

I was tired of laying around and I was ready to feel productive around my house and in my business again.

Resting and taking some time off is nice but after awhile I’m ready to get back to being productive.

Unfortunately, the morning didn’t go as perfectly as I had planned, and I had to muster up a LOT of self-control not to join in the chaos that was building around me.

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How I’ve learned to stay calm

I wish I could say I’ve always lived from a state of calm and self-control but I’ve had to work really hard at this skill.

I used to quickly explode on my kids when it’s too noisy or the house is a mess.

Even now I’m not perfect all of the time and I can easily fall back into that state of stress when I don’t have a supportive framework in place.

Real-life chaos in the home

Like I mentioned to stay calm in the chaos I need a framework of support.

When things were starting to get a little crazy, I took a deep breath and referred back to my calendar and tasks I had laid out the day before, and I was able to keep my cool while I gently worked through each goal. 

Of course, some chores took longer than I had planned for and some chores even got pushed to another time-block or another day altogether, but I can honestly stay I feel good with the productivity I was able to achieve.

I was still able to accomplish what was most important for the day because I had planned ahead of time long before any chaos had ensued.

My motivation to simplify and systemize

THIS is why I do a weekend reset. 

THIS is why planning and systems are so important because chaos happens. 

Some things we can’t control in our day, like me accidentally hitting “off” instead of “snooze” on my alarm this morning.

However, if we focus on what we CAN control, we will be more equipped to remain calm when chaos begins invading our space.

So, what can we control? 

Here are a few things that have helped me remain calm lately.

5 Things You Can Do to Remain Calm in the Chaos

1. I can control how I respond even when others invade me with their chaos.

I may not be able to control other people but I can control myself, and I can control the way I react and respond to people and situations.

Despite our attempts to control our husband, our children and the functionality of our home, we simply can’t control everything.

This truth may be especially hard for type-A personalities to accept because they have a greater need to feel in control.

I have discovered that when I react aggressively in an effort to gain control I end up adding to the tension in the home instead of extinguishing it.

Take a lesson from teachers.

When I was a public school teacher, there would be many times throughout the school day that the students would start talking while I was trying to talk to them. Or they got too loud and I need to get their attention and back on track.

Instead of yelling above the noise, I would start speaking very quietly and within a couple of second the students would get quiet and give me their attention.

It worked like magic!

So try this in your home. When things are messy, loud and chaotic, get quiet. Whatever that looks like.

It may mean going outside for a walk and inviting the kids to join you or you may opt for turning on some soft music.

Give it a try.

2. I can reset my home to be better prepared for the week to come.

Each week I perform a simple weekend reset in my home to help me be better prepared for the week to come.

You can read more about my three bare essentials in a Simple Weekend Reset for a Successful Week.

My weekend reset maintains order and keeps our home clutter-free.

Instead of letting my house get to the point of being a big mess, I tidy it often with a simple daily reset.

You can download my free Daily Reset Checklist to use as an example for your own home or to create your own checklist.

Establish a home reset habit.

Resetting is a habit that I’ve worked hard to establish. If you want to create a reset habit as well, I recommend starting with just one task until it’s easy to do.

I started resetting with the dishes in my kitchen sink and clearing off my counter tops every night. Once that routine became habit, I was ready and eager to take on something else.

Eventually everything in your life will be easy as a reset!

3. I can support my ability to focus on tasks by planning and writing things down ahead of time.

I haven’t always been consistent with using a paper planner but I have done really well with it for the past two years after I started incorporating time-blocking into my day.

I’ve stopped trying to depend on my mind to remember everything I have to or every place I have to be and I now take the time weekly and daily to make plans in my calendar.

When I plan ahead of time, I’m not emotionally triggered by chaos.

And because of the reward I’m experiencing from this habit, I’m highly motivated to keep doing it.

How to Start a Planner Habit

Start your planning habit by writing down events on your monthly view. These should be all your appointments and important dates to remember.

Once you’ve consistently mastered recording important dates, write daily to-do lists in your weekly view.

You can take it a step further and time-block your day into focused chunks of time.

The At-A-Glance Harmony calendar is currently my favorite planner and I’ve been consistently using it for two years.

There are no rules to keeping a planner. I put everything in mine from habit tracking to when I start my menstrual cycle.

I even take notes in my planner, write down quotes I want to refer back to, and record my monthly and weekly goals.

It doesn’t have to be perfect. Just take tiny steps to be a better planner of your days and activities.

4. I can ask for help by communicating frequently with friends and family.

Stop trying to do everything on your own. It’s okay to ask for help and asking for help is something you can control.

It’s important to communicate what you need to your spouse and children. Don’t expect them to read your mind or to just know.

Have a family meeting.

I have found the best way to tell my family something I need help with around the house is to have a family meeting.

It might feel weird at first and your family might think your mad, but after doing it several times they will get used to the idea and welcome the opportunity to share their own desires.

Don’t be afraid to ask for what you want but keep in mind you will attract more flies with honey. Be sweet and sincere in your requests.

5. I can simplify my home and set up home management systems that supports my daily fundamental needs.

Want to minimize the mess? Declutter what’s making the mess in the first place.

Now of course we can’t live in a home that’s completely bare and I’ve learned that no matter how little you own there’s always going to be an opportunity for mess.

That’s where habits come in!

But you can minimize the mess and how often it occurs by simplifying your home and setting up some systems that help you keep up with good home management habits.

Some systems you might want to set up in your home are:

Start slow by creating one new system in your home and get it well established.

Get online coaching and support

If you’re overwhelmed with where to start or just need some help, offer coaching to help you simplify and systemize your home. Check out my online coaching packages and get started today!

I’d love to hear from you!

What helps you stay calm when your home starts feeling chaotic?

You May Also Like

• The Best Digital Calendar Habits for ADHD
• Step #1 to Better Time Management for ADHD Moms
• How a Freeze Creates Better Spending Habits for ADHD
• 5 Simple ADHD Tips – How to Stick with Routines
• How to Make a Decluttering Plan – Basic Steps for ADHD Moms

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