"The holiday season can be super busy, but when you have five school-age kids and four birthdays between November and December, things can quickly tip from festive to chaotic. Add in being out of town three weekends in a row plus a revolving door of guests, and our house was under near-constant use. All of these are good, love-filled things, but they take a toll on the state of a home."
"I'm especially sensitive to mess and clutter during the winter months, when we're indoors more and craving that calm, cozy feeling. Ironically, that desire for peace can make me more on edge about messes. Neither a cluttered home nor a mom constantly reminding everyone to clean up is what I'd call "calm and bright." I was determined to make this year different. The problem? I didn't have a solid plan."
A household with five school-age children and four birthdays between November and December experienced frequent travel, guests, and near-constant home use that increased clutter. Winter indoor time heightened sensitivity to mess and disrupted routines. Traditional Power 10s and Skylight calendar chores worked in normal periods but faltered when schedules changed. The 4×5 method prescribes four specific tasks for five minutes each day: clear one hot spot, refresh the entry drop zone, clear kitchen surfaces, and prep a basket or bin for the coming week. Five-minute time limits made the approach approachable and effective.
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