Each of us has our set of responsibilities — whether we are at work or at school or at home. We have to get our work done by the end of the day. Of course, office deadlines can be postponed a little. We can come home and relax. However, if one is a housewife (or a househusband for that matter) it is difficult to pack up for the day. There is always something more to be done. The dinner has to be cooked. Dishes have to be washed. Children have to be helped with their homework. There is so much to do.

We cannot neglect a housewife’s labor of love. Her day starts in the morning and ends only with bed-time. Talk about long working hours! Naturally, the housewives of the world become irritable and tired by the end of the day.

However, housework need not take up all of one’s day. Some short-cuts here, a few quick tricks there, and the housewife can end up with a lot of free time on her hands. Here are some tips for the harried housewife.

1. Club jobs together

A lot of time gets wasted in doing just one chore at a time. Ever heard of multi-tasking? I don’t mean that one should vacuum with one hand, iron with the other, and take calls at the same time. However, one can save time by doing the day’s cooking at one go, or by washing the basin while brushing one’s teeth.

2. Get the kids to help out

Sharing the workload is a good idea. One may be slaving away trying to turn a house into a home. However, messy children or an untidy spouse can put one’s efforts to naught. One should not have to pick up after the rest of the family. In fact, they should be made to help out in the house.

3. Don’t try to be Superwoman

A lot of housewives make the mistake of imagining themselves as superwomen. Homemakers must not trick themselves into believing that they are blessed with super powers. The idea is to not take on more than one can chew. One should space out the work, take breaks, and not try to do too much at a time.

4. Stick to a schedule

Time management is very important when it comes to housework. A routine always helps us stay on track. Working some breaks into the schedule is recommended. Dividing the day’s work into bite-sized chores is also a smart way to go.

5. Reduce your errands

These days, one does not need to keep on rushing to the store. Most of the major retailers allow us to shop online for our daily necessities. Phoning for home delivery is also a good option. Nowadays, even the running around and long lines that are associated with paying bills can be done away with. One can arrange for the bills to be paid directly through the bank.

6. Don’t leave chores pending

Sometimes, there is the temptation to leave a chore pending. However, this may end up taking up more time. For example, it is always easy to clean the table just after a meal. But when we come back to it even an hour later, wiping off the hardened remnants of the last meal does become more difficult.

7. Avoid unnecessary chores

We all have our share of wasteful tendencies. But one must identify the tendencies that do not add value to the day. Much of the day can be spent ironing out creases on clothes that we may not wear in a long time. It makes much more sense to iron only the clothes that we will be wearing the next day.

8. Use technology

Technology is supposed to make life easier for us. Thus, a vacuum cleaner is an improvement over the broom, and a dishwasher does cut down on the time spent in washing dishes. We must look out for technology that adds comfort to our lives.

9. Get help when too much work piles up.
When one gets sick, the housework does pile up. Rather than keeping the work pending for oneself, it may be a good idea to hire some help. This way, one does not get too stressed while recovering, and the house also remains spic and span.

10. Get some time to yourself

A housewife may spend much of her time at home. However, this does not mean that she gets time to herself. Just as the office-goer needs the occasional break from office work, housewives need breaks from housework. Setting aside some leisure time is a must. This would give one the chance to pursue one’s hobbies or spend quality time with the family.

These are some tips that experienced housewives swear by. Time management is the main thing. In fact, by effectively managing her time, even the most harassed housewife can get all the housework out of the way before most of the day is done.