Ever feel like your home is more “chaos central” than a cozy sanctuary? As moms, caregivers, or just busy humans, it’s easy to let clutter take over. But here’s a tip that might just save your sanity: Stop turning your Living Areas into Storage Spaces!

Living Areas
Living Areas are where life happens—magical movie nights in the living room, mealtime at the dining room table, and those fleeting moments when your family sits down to do an art project together. But when your living room starts looking like a storage unit, things can get tricky. How are you supposed to whip up a quick snack when the kitchen counter is buried under the remnants of last week’s school projects, wrappers, dirty dishes and that random thingamajiggy nobody knows what to do with?

Storage Spaces
Storage Spaces are where all those non-essential but still-needed items should go. Think cabinets, closets, basement shelves etc... These spaces are supposed to contain your stuff, not overflow into your “Living Areas” like a never-ending avalanche of clutter.

Why Mixing Them Up Is a Recipe for Disaster
Mixing up your Living Areas and Storage Spaces is like trying to cook a gourmet meal in a closet. It just doesn’t work. You’ll end up with piles of stuff in the places where you’re supposed to, you know, live. Imagine trying to relax on the couch while balancing a basket of unfolded laundry and a stack of unpaid bills. Not exactly a zen moment.

For caregivers, this clutter can be a double whammy. It’s hard enough juggling your loved one’s needs without tripping over last year’s Christmas decorations that never made it back to the attic. And moms, we all know the struggle of trying to find five minutes of peace in a house that looks like a tornado hit.

Real-Life Survival Tips

• Pending Box Method: Ideally, we want to get in the habit of putting things away right away, however, I get it, things happen! Let’s say everyone in your family is hangry & it’s crunch time to get supper on the table, but your counter is covered in miscellaneous stuff such as mail, school papers, toys, and random items. Establish a “pending box” as a temporary storage space to ensure that your counter is a clear living space so you can get crackin' on meal prepping.
• The Caregiver Shuffle: You’re helping your loved one get around, but the hallway is a minefield of shoes, random boxes, and the dog’s toys. Clear a path, designate a storage spot, and keep those areas free for safe, clutter-free movement.
• The Daily 5-Minute Pickup: Spend just five minutes a day going through and putting things back in their designated "Storage Spaces" or letting them go (i.e. donating, discarding of garbage). It might not sound like much, but those minutes add up, and soon you’ll find your Living Areas are, well, livable again.

Remember, Living Areas are for living, not storing. By keeping your home’s spaces distinct, you’ll not only reduce clutter but also make room for what really matters—family time and maybe even a little bit of relaxation. 

Spring is in the air, and what better time to give your home a fresh start than now? If you are feeling stuck & stressed out by the excess stuff and responsibilities in your home, come to our Spring Refresh Workshop on May 16th at 516 East where we will provide you with practical strategies and tips you need to revitalize your living space. Fun fact, 88% of those who attended this workshop expressed that their stress levels improved after learning the strategies taught in class. That means they felt less stressed out after just attending this 2 ½ hour workshop! That’s incredible!

Led by April McNamara, occupational therapist & founder of “Functional Living with April,” who is passionate about functional living and supportive spaces, this workshop is designed to empower you with the tools and knowledge to transform your home into a functional & supportive sanctuary… so you can have more time doing the things you want to do with the ones you love throughout the different seasons in life…what we like to call “Living in Place.” 

Say goodbye to overwhelm and hello to actionable steps you can start incorporating into your home right away. From simple home management strategies to effective decluttering techniques, our workshop is packed with practical advice to help you achieve real results.

1. Functional Living Solutions: Our workshop will introduce you to functional living solutions designed to make home more functional for you & your family.
2. Pre-organizing Strategies: Preparation is key to success, and our workshop will arm you with pre-organizing strategies to set the stage for a supportive home. Learn how to assess your space, establish priorities, and create a plan of action to help you get started!
3. Simplifying Systems & Routines: We'll show you how to simplify your systems and routines to help reduce stress in your day-to-day life.
4. Decluttering Tips: Did you know that “decluttering” can reduce your housework by 40%? Our workshop will help you to identify what items to let-go and how to manage the meaningful things you wish to keep as well as provide you with methods on how to declutter.

And that's just the beginning! With interactive discussions, hands-on activities, and Q&A sessions the Spring Refresh Workshop will be an engaging and interactive experience for those attending the class ready to learn!

Ready to get started? Reserve your spot today and take the first step towards creating a functional & supportive home. See you at the Spring Refresh Workshop!

For details on how to register go to: https://functionalliving.weebly.com/classes--events.html or contact April at [email protected] or via phone: (920) 475-8461

Not able to make the workshop? Not to worry, April also makes house-calls! If you want help to get started in your home, she will collaborate with you to create a customized plan and guide you along the way. 

(We highly recommend both: 1) Attending the Spring Refresh Workshop AND 2) Working with April in your home to help you to apply the concepts learned in class and to individualize it to your home at your own pace.)

Identify your why:
Ask yourself prompting questions to help determine your purpose...aka "your why."

• What are your values?
• What is important & meaningful to you?
• What brings you joy? 

Determine what "home" means to you:
When you walk in the door, what do you want to feel when you come home?

• What do you want to spend your time doing in your home?
• What makes you feel safe?

Identify the function:
As you walk through the rooms & spaces in your home, think about the function of each area to bring clarity as you begin the next step.

Let-go:
Keep what is meaningful to you & let-go of anything that does not support your why or a functional need in your home. 

Simplify:
Simplify routines and systems in the home to help maintain clutter projects & reduce distractions.

Relax & Recharge:
Enjoy your home, rest, spend quality time with your loved ones and being you. 

Earlier this year, I began researching concepts related to “Aging in Place” & that’s when I realized that it really isn’t about age…as these themes appeared it became apparent that this information can be beneficial throughout the different seasons in our lives, which is how the concept of “Living in Place” emerged (more on that later).  

I asked a question in 2 different social media groups: a “sandwich generation” group (i.e. caregivers who have children and who are also taking care of their parents) & one that was more specific to in-home therapists, which included occupational, physical & speech therapists. “Given your knowledge & experience, what suggestions do you have to live in your homes as long as possible while aging gracefully?” I received over 250 responses and categorized them into the following top 10 themes (ranked in order from highest to lowest frequency of recommendations):

1.    Accessibility

This was by far the most commonly recommended theme that emerged with a large majority of suggestions indicating having one’s bedroom, bathroom and washer/dryer on the main floor or access to them via a stair lift or elevator.  Another key feature identified was the ability to easily access the home through the main door at the ground level or having a ranch style home with little to no step entrance. Other examples included: larger bathroom to accommodate caregivers when helping loved ones as well as to have enough room for mobility equipment, wider doorways to allow for wheelchairs & walkers to pass through, Closets & shelves within reach, access to the garden/yard, and utilizing technology such as through smart home devices to aide with controlling the temperature, TV, lights and for communicating through an intercom system.

2.    Safety Features

While there is some overlap with accessibility, this theme was geared more specifically to "safety" & injury prevention. These included bathroom safety features such as grab bars & shower chairs, technology specific to safety (i.e. smart home devices for security & devices to allow for calling for help), non-slip floors & removal of rugs, increased visibility through lighting, and clear pathways.

3.    Minimize & Declutter

This was another popular topic area, ranking in third and has some overlap with safety as decluttering can help to reduce tripping hazards and clearing pathways. Family members & in-home therapists recommended that unwanted items be donated and/or designated to family prior to catastrophic events.

4.    Location & Size of  Home

Caregivers & specialists stressed the importance of living near family for support as well as to live within near range of healthcare services (i.e. doctors, specialists, home health aides.) Many recommended downsizing to a smaller home to make it physically easier to clean & complete yardwork as well as associated reduced expenses compared to a larger home. A common area mentioned in the sandwich generation group related to planning ahead should one be unable to remain in their home by looking into graduated care communities: including assistive living facilities, senior apartments, skilled nursing facilities as well as condos that are all on one campus and include yard services, social opportunities & as well as care.

5.    Transportation

Related to location of one’s home, is access to public or private transportation services near home.  (Another important part of this is ensuring that your loved one knows how to utilize the public transportation service if they will be needing to use it.) Often times the ability to maintain a driver’s license & safely drive to appointments and to navigate in the community has a big impact on one’s independence. This can often be a difficult transition when a loved one is no longer able to safely drive themselves. Therefore, preparing ahead of time by having alternative transportation options can be helpful to be able to access health appointments, the grocery store, family & friend’s homes as well as to remain engaged in the community.

6.    Supportive Services

Arranging for supportive services such as lawn care, snow removal, housekeeping/cleaning as well as meal delivery can be beneficial when your loved one has a difficult time completing these tasks and if caregivers are not able to assist in these household activities.

7.    Relationships

This was a topic that was brought up a number of times by individuals in the home health group. They stressed the importance of investing time with family and friends to develop relationships. Another recommendation was to also engage with people from varying age groups as we can all learn & grow from each other.

8.    Engage in Activity

Members in the home health group expressed the importance of staying physically active as well as engaging in hobbies & leisure activities.

9.    Documentation

This was a topic that was brought up in the home health group. They recommended being up to date on paperwork (i.e. Wills – notarized, finances, passwords, beneficiaries, family history, photos with associated written obituaries). Communicating preferences in writing such as: routines, favorite foods, allergies etc… is also helpful for home health aides to provide quality care.

10.  Create Space for Family/Caregiver

Members in the sandwich generation group expressed the importance of a separate space in the home for caregiver and home health therapists recommended converting a space in the adult children’s home for their aging parent.
 
In our journey through life, our homes become more than just places to stay; they are extensions of who we are. Whether we are parents caring for our children, adults tending to aging parents, or retirees seeking a high quality of life, the concept of "living in place" resonates. 

These recommendations highlight that creating a supportive home goes beyond just safety features and age. It emphasizes the essence of "Living in Place" – actively experiencing and enjoying life within your home & community throughout the different seasons of your life. These shared insights from caregivers and therapists can act as a helpful guide to prompt sometimes difficult conversations in order to ensure our homes are not just places to survive but to serve as functional and supportive environments to nurture a fulfilling journey in life.

When I walk into our kitchen I feel so much better, actually prefer being in the room and cooking there…when it’s clean.  And really, by clean…I mean that the dishes are done.  What does “done” look like?  What does doing the dishes actually mean?  It means different things to different people. 
This was a source of contention in college.  We’d bicker about who’s turn it was to do the dishes…who’s dishes were sitting in the sink making that weird smell….who used the last clean spoon?  Then, fast forward to early marriage and parenting years,…doing the dishes can create a literal breakdown!  A wise friend once told me, “Don’t let roommate problems become marriage problems.” So let’s break it down…What does doing the dishes mean and how do we make it manageable?

Step 1) Define it
What does doing the dishes mean? Does it mean throwing the dishes in the dishwasher? Does it mean washing by hand? Does it include putting away the dishes or searching around the house to find stray dirty dishes lingering in rooms? I think you get the point…Figure out what “doing the dishes” means to you.

Step 2) Break it down (i.e. task analysis)
Break the task into smaller steps and take it one step at a time.  This is what doing the dishes looks like to me:

1. Notice sink, dish bucket and counter are full of dishes
2. Empty sink
3. Place bucket into sink
4. Fill with soap & water
5. Put clean, dry dishes that are in drying rack & on the counter away
6. Wash dishes, rinse & place into drying rack
7. Wipe down counter, stove & table

I might end here if I’m doing dishes in the evening and don’t want to dry dishes and put them away.  While I may save that for the morning, I love having a clean kitchen when I wake up so:

1. Dry dishes
2. Put dishes away
3.  Hang drying towel/put in the laundry basket

 
Step 2.5) Time analysis (because it involves the task analysis part)
Now, I have to be honest here…there were those days where just looking at that endless pile of dirty dishes made me turn around and walk out of the kitchen.  I knew that avoiding it really didn’t make it go away and that I’d have to go in there eventually to take care of business. But, seriously, It felt like there were so many and that it would take me forever…so I’d procrastinate and do something else (even though this was still on my to-do list in the back of my mind)…if I could calculate the time that I procrastinated on this task, it probably added up to hours (maybe even days).  So…I decided to break it down and see how long “doing the dishes” really takes me in this season of life.
​

1. Make decision to wash the dishes: 1 second

2.  Before I could tackle today’s dishes, I put yesterday’s clean, dry dishes away.  That took me 5 minutes to complete.

3.  Wash today’s dishes: 7 minutes and 45 seconds. And it even included the pans!

4.  Dry & put away dishes: 4 min.
5.  Complete the wrap-up part: 2 min. This included wiping down the counters, table, emptying the sink drain strainer and tossing the dirty cloth in the laundry and hanging the remaining ones. 

The total time it took me to do the dishes (including putting away the ones from the night before) was 18 minutes and 45 seconds.  If I deduct the time it took me to put away yesterday’s dishes, it would only have taken me 13 min. and 45 seconds…less than 15 minutes! And a light bulb moment occurred as I thought to myself, “You mean to tell me that I would spend hours (sometimes days) avoiding a task that took me less than 15 minutes to complete?” Wow, that really put things into perspective and made getting started feel much easier.
 
Step 3) Reframe it 
I used to hate doing the dishes…UGH, UGH, UGH…but after becoming a mom something happened that I never thought would happen…I had very little time to myself and I had no idea how much I’d value that little bit of time.  Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love being a mom, the family time and being able to connect with my loved ones. However, sometimes it’s just nice to have a little alone time to catch my breath…to reflect. So, I don’t feel the same way I used to about doing the dishes.  I appreciate that moment while doing dishes to look out the window at the agile squirrels doing acrobatics in the yard; or having quiet reflection time; or time to listen to an audio book/podcast…or one of my favorites…jam to some of my favorite tunes.  It even turns into an opportunity to connect with loved ones when we share parts of the task together. Yes, there are days when seeing the kitchen mess feels overwhelming and I revert back to my former self and I just don’t wanna do them…but then I remember how much better my family and I can function…when the dishes are done…and when I remember that really it doesn’t take that long to do the dishes…when I break it down.