Balancing home and motherhood can be a challenging task. Whether you are a stay at home mom or a working mom– it is a full-time job. Here are eight habits to help you and your family stay on top of organization in the home.

1. Some of us don’t mind dirty dishes lying in the sink. However, by taking a moment to rinse the dishes, pots and pans before placing them into the sink, time will be saved the following day when you go to wash them or put them in the dishwasher. All family members can get into the habit of rinsing their dishes prior to placing them in the sink.

2. The silverware caddies found in dishwashers have nice little compartments to help with organization. Encouraging family members to put same sized spoons in one section, forks in another, and knives in another speeds up the process of putting clean silverware away. It also makes it easier for younger children to help put the silverware away once it is clean.

3. Taking your shoes off at the door does more than just keep your carpets clean – it prevents the early morning scramble in search of lost shoes. Avoid being late for school by making this one of your children’s daily habits.

4. Car clutter comes out of nowhere and can drive a mom crazy. Teach family members to clear everything out of the car each time they get out. Backpacks, garbage from snacks, and stray socks should all be unloaded at the end of the day.

5. What children do behind closed drawers is their business. Stop wasting time folding laundry when it becomes disorganized and rumpled soon after it’s put away. Sort clean laundry by family member and let each person put his or her clothes away (unfolded).

6. Make your personal phone calls during bed making, dish washing and laundry folding. You can get in a good thirty minutes catching up with friends while accomplishing tedious household tasks.

7. A great habit to begin early on is to teach your children to pull up their sheets and blankets before getting out of bed. Even if you go back and make the bed later, your job is easier and they are on their way to taking over that task.

8. Keep a write on- wipe off board in your kitchen where it is easily accessible. Encourage family members to write down items you have run out of. Whether it’s food, toilet paper, or cleaning supplies – it helps make shopping day a lot easier.

If you are like me, your house is constantly in motion. Any little organization tidbit picked up along the way saves small pieces of time that all add up in the end. By creating healthy household habits, all of your family members can contribute to an efficiently run household.