Single parents shoulder a tremendous amount of responsibilities. Whether you are solo parenting or co-parenting, you have a lot to manage on your own. Between work, school, and activities, you probably feel like you are dropping the ball in one, or more realistically, many areas. After two years of being divorced, I have found living an uncluttered life makes things easier. Here are a few tips on how I have organized my life post-divorce to keep things simple.
- Implement routines – Routines help kids to know what to expect, even if it doesn’t match what your co-parent is doing if you have one. Mornings and nights can be the most stressful times of day with kids, so I implemented routines to help keep us organized. In the morning, the kids wake up, empty the dishwasher and make their breakfast all before I come downstairs after my morning workout. They are 8 & 10 years old so don’t expect this immediately with younger ones! When they were younger, we did these tasks together and now they know exactly what to do on their own. At nighttime, we eat dinner together at the table, then they clear the table, and sweep the floor. After dinner, we make lunches for the next day, have dessert, then watch a show or play a game together. At bedtime, they shower, brush their teeth, and then we cuddle and read books. This is still my favorite routine since it helps prioritize family time and we can all unwind together. Your routines might look very different than ours but just focus on being consistent to keep things on track.
- Declutter – If you are just separating or moving out, it’s a great opportunity to declutter your physical possessions. I remember during our divorce when we were in the process of dividing toys between our two homes. I was worried the kids might miss the toys that went over to their dad’s home or that I would have to buy two sets of every toy from here on out. I was shocked when I never heard one mention of a single toy they wanted to play with that went over to their dad’s! This was a huge wake-up call making me realize just how much stuff we had in the past. Since then, I’ve taken advantage of purging more and more the past two years. I’ve also encouraged our friends and relatives to focus on experience gifts rather than physical gifts for the boys. Less stuff means less to clean, maintain and replace. So take advantage of the opportunity to purge.
- Involve your kids – I recommend involving your kids in household chores and organization from an early age. You won’t magically wake up one day with a 10-year old that just knows to help out. You need to involve them in tasks from a young age to make them develop solid habits. So make it easy and fun to keep them involved. Set up stations and zones where they have everything they need in one area to do the task. For example, we have a breakfast area with our breadbox, toaster, and microwave on a cart together so they can easily make their breakfast. We also have a drop zone in our entrance for all coats, hats, gloves, and backpacks so they know exactly where to leave their items when they enter the house. When you are going to declutter, involve them in the process of purging their items. It might feel easier to do things on your own, especially when they are young, but trust me it’s worth pushing through the whining and crying. Eventually, they form habits and you’ll be amazed at how much they can do on their own.
- Implement boundaries – This is a hard one and took a long time for me to gain comfort. As a single parent, you need to be careful to organize and protect your time. Implementing boundaries and knowing when to say no to requests will help you stay organized and allow you to focus your time on the most meaningful areas. Don’t feel pressured to sign up to help with more than you can handle or anything for that matter!
- Prioritize self-care – I know, I know… You think this is impossible as a single parent. But if you figure out how to set aside some time for yourself each day, you will have more to give to your children and others. It also sets an excellent example for your kids. So whether it’s an uninterrupted cup of coffee, exercising, or glass of wine with your friends, make sure you fill your cup first then you have something to give to your kids.
All single parents are busy single parents! How you organize your home and time can help keep things simple and uncluttered.

