How to prepare your family for the week ahead

Loads of laundry, mounds of dishes, and endless carpools – tasks in family life can add up quickly! But with a little planning and cooperation, you can drastically reduce your weekly workload, making for a smoother week.

Here are three areas you can prep ahead of time for a smoother, drama-free week.

Groceries

1. Make a meal plan

Creating a weekly menu cuts down on decision fatigue, and ensures that you have a clear list of which ingredients you need at the grocery store, preventing last-minute supermarket runs. You can even keep the same weekly menu, or the same rough plan – roasts on Sundays, pasta dishes on Monday, and so on. 

It also helps you decide how to use leftovers ahead of time so that they don’t go bad: Your family can enjoy a rotisserie chicken on Tuesday, and you can use the leftover chicken to make enchiladas on Wednesday.

2. Prep staples ahead of time

Think ground beef that can be used for tacos and shepherd’s pie, and starches like rice and beans you can eat throughout the week. 

3. Make breakfast and/or lunches in bulk

Every weekend, I make a week’s worth of the burritos that my husband will bring to lunch during the week. You can also do this with breakfast food – egg casserole, hardboiled eggs, and baked oatmeal all work well.

Laundry

1. Set out clothes for the week

It sounds like overkill, but setting out outfits for the week (which kids can do themselves at a young age) is a great way of taking laundry inventory. That way, you know if your son has no clean jeans before it becomes a Monday morning emergency, or if your husband needs his socks washed!

It also cuts down on decision fatigue and last-second arguments (your toddler is less likely to try to leave the house in her Cinderella costume if she already has an outfit chosen.)

2. Wash sheets and towels

A great way to start your week off on a clean foot!

Calendar

1. Have an activities meeting

Meet with your husband and kids, and make sure everyone’s activities are on the calendar. If there’s a conflict – Dad has spiritual direction on the same night the kids have gymnastics – you know ahead of time and can plan carpools and rides accordingly. 

Note: If you have teenagers who drive, don’t be afraid to let them take your younger kids to activities! It’s a fun way for siblings to bond, and gives the teenagers a sense of autonomy and responsibility. 

2. Discuss social plans

Now that you have the necessary activities on the calendar, you can see which days are free for playdates, teenager hang-outs, and visiting family. 

3. Assign chores 

Some families like doing weekly chore rotations so that the children don’t get bored of their assignments. You can make this as straightforward or as fun as you want – Mom and Dad can choose for the kids, the children can pull popsicle sticks out of a hat with the chores written on them, or they can trade among themselves.

Hopefully these tips help your family face the week’s work with joy and grace!