Day 1

Okay, so I hated Day One of my journey with my Home Master. There were too many choices and I sincerely hope that I can make it easier for you than it was for me!

So, what you will need to get started is:

• 1 binder - the more rings the better the folder will endure the test of time,
• 1 packet of at least 100 plastic sleeves,
• 1 packet of 10 tabbed dividers - preferably the plastic pocket style ones that will still be visible past the side of the plastic sleeves

Why a folder with plastic sleeves?

Before I started my Home Master, I had used notebooks, index cards, and even a mirror to write down my lists. But none were truly effective. What I did find was that the use of a plastic pocket with sleeves meant that I could scribble with a whiteboard marker on the plastic pocket any task that needed to be added temporarily or any additional errands to be run without interfering with the usual routine. They could simply be wiped off later. From there, I could then pull the page out to add new permanent tasks, as required.

My inspiration for this was my Nanna (my father's mother) who has several three inch binders full of her recipes. She colour codes her pages for the recipe based on the type of food it is and puts it in a sleeve where she can scribble on recipe variations that she has tried and how they have come out as well as cooking time variances when using her oven. It worked for her so it had every chance of working for both me, and now you also.

So, from my Control Journal days I already had a big white 50mm PVC binder and 10 divider tabs which I could load with plastic pockets. I like the PVC folders that I have used because they have pockets built into the cover so I could slip loose pieces of paper into them until they make their way into the journal or those things that need to be added to the diary like birthday invitations and the like. Oh and it has pockets on the outside too so that the outside can be personalised to suit yourself. But, don't let me tell you what to buy - get a folder that you like!

Allocating Sections

I spent a lot of time on my first thinking about what 'sections' I would need and concluded that right now was not the time to work out what goes where in the folder but rather to just split things into sections. You can work out exactly what goes between each tab based on how frequently it is accessed later - keeping the important bits at the front followed by the sections you access most regularly.

So, the sections that you may wish to consider having for now include:

• Important Details - For the stuff like emergency contact details of friends and family and things babysitters should know, like our mobile phone numbers!!
• Contact List - I was a huge culprit for not having a phone listing of my own and found myself constantly looking up regularly called numbers on the white pages.
• Daily Routine - You know, the basics, like get up; get dressed; feed self, partner & offspring; do a daily load of washing; etc.
• Weekly Routine - My approach was to have a weekly agenda which I could work to. I know that some of you may want to do something different, and that is fine too, I know people who work a 10 days on, 10 days off work roster so their cleaning routine is based around 20 days rather than just seven. Others base their cleaning activities around just weekdays because they have a retreat that they head to or family to visit on weekends. Otherwise, of course, you can always align yourself to any of the many other cleaning web sites that are out there too. For example, I know that Skipper the Domestic Guru has set her web site up on a fortnightly routine if you want to work along with her. However, it may be that your Home Master enables you to cut down on my overall PC time so that you are free to do other things!
• Children's Lists - This was not in my original Home Master but has crept in this year as I have taken to allocating regular household tasks to my own children as well as providing them with check lists for their bags when they go out to kindergarten, a field trip, to see family or for a sleep-over.
• Cleaning Tips, Guides & Lists - For all those crazy one off lists like what to do when you get an hour's notice that extended family are 'dropping in' as well as 'how-to' guides on how to best clean an item around the house.
• Packing Tips, Guides & Lists - I know I have a bunch of these for each of my kids bags from when they were different ages. From newborn baby bag packing lists through to pre-school now. I also have lists for holidays away, either plane, car or camping trips that I have included.
• Cleaning Products & Equipment- This I think was most valuable to my husband and any hired help so they could get their heads around what cleaning products and equipment I like to use as well as where and when I liked them used. I find there is nothing more frustrating than when your Enjo Floor Dust Fibre gets used for mopping or when they use a harsh chemical on a food preparation area that may later transfer to food. I wound up putting these at the back because I don't look at them myself and I am the primary user of this folder.

So, we have a folder - now what?

Okay, so preparing the folder didn't include any cleaning so we should include a task also. At Baby Steps, we know that Bedrooms are meant to be a place of peace to retire from the day and gain restorative sleep. However, often bedrooms are used as dumping grounds for what we do not wish visitors to see. Often with piles of clothing and other things that we are yet to return to their home. So, we are going to start there with a view for a 'place of peace' that you can retreat or retire to each day.

My mother always said that the quickest way to make my room look tidy (implied: and to get her approval) was to make my bed. It is easier to stay motivated to see the job through when the room suddenly looks more ordered. So, just for today we are going to start with two tasks - making the bed and ensuring that drawers and wardrobe doors are shut.

Below you will find a comprehensive How-to Guide on Making the Bed if you feel the need to read it.

Be Warned: I expect that you will make the bed as soon as you fall out of it and before adding to the list tomorrow!

Hook me up to Day Two!