17+ Things I Keep In My Home To Make Life Easier

/ The Good Life / By

17+ Things I Keep In My Home To Make Life Easier

Life is hard. There is no doubt about it. However, there are some things that can make life a little bit better, a little sweeter, and a little bit simpler. Here are a few things that I love to have on hand to make life easier:

1.) Chocolate Chips

     This technically may not make life easier, but it sure does make life better. I don’t usually have sweets in my house, so chocolate chips are always there for me when I need a little chocolate fix. They are also great to have on hand to whip up chocolate chip cookies for a gathering, chocolate chip banana muffins for easy breakfasts, or to use as potty training rewards! Life can be rough, but as long as you have chocolate chips in the cupboard, you still have something to make life a little sweeter.

2.) Quality Speaker for Music/Podcasts

     I use my speaker Every. Single. Day. This simple home addition has acted as a tool to help me manage my children, redirect the atmosphere of my home, allowed me to cope with the loneliness of motherhood, abled me to learn, to grow physically and spiritually stronger, and so much more. Here are some amazing ways I use my speaker everyday:  

  • Fill my home with worship music
  • Listen to educational, challenging, encouraging and/or life-giving podcasts
  • Connect it with my workout videos
  • Dance music for the kids
  • Listen to missed sermons 
  • Play instrumental music to calm the kids when they are overwhelmed or before bedtime

     I can’t ever take my speaker for granted. It is such a valuable asset in my home that helps me in so many ways! 

3.) Dumbells In Sight

     I own a few sets of dumbbells. That on its own is HUGE. What’s more is that I keep them in my living room (where I workout) where I can see them constantly. They are strategically places to be out of the way, while remaining in sight of my everyday tasks that revolved around the kitchen and living room.

 

Now I won’t lie, dumbbells can be pricey, but so can be a gym membership that you never actually go to. As much as I admire people who routinely utilize a gym and all the equipment a gym has to offer, I have not had great success in keeping up workouts at a gym. It’s hard enough to muster up the discipline to workout, let alone to find a sitter for the kids, plan out a workout rather than follow a program on YouTube, and pack everything and everyone for a trip to the gym- and to do that every day? It’s just not for me. 

 

     Having my own dumbbells and keeping them in sight keeps working out at the forefront of my mind until I get it done, and I can do it from home on my own time, with the kids running around me if need be. No sitter, no drive, no hassle. It’s all right there for me. 

 

     Dumbbells are very small comparatively speaking for workout equipment and extremely versatile making them the best workout equipment to own and start with. They have made it possible for me to uphold a regular workout routine despite what life throws at me at the time. 

4.) Back Up Meal (Or 2)

     I make food from scratch nearly every day. It’s something I love to do and value for my family. However, some days mama needs a break! If I’m under the weather or it’s getting late and we need something quick and easy, I’m always grateful to have something pre-made. Here are a few ideas that I love to have stashed away for a quick and easy meal: 

  • Frozen Pizza
  • Leftovers
  • Frozen Chicken Pot Pie
  • Frozen Taco or Sloppy Joe meat 
  • Frozen pancakes
  • Frozen French toast
  • Cereal
  • Cheese slices, bread and butter for grilled cheese
  • Chicken tenders

Tip: Whenever you make a meal that can be frozen, double the recipe and freeze half to use for an easy homemade meal!

5.) Workout Clothes as Pajamas

     I no longer own “pajamas.” Instead, I go to bed in a fresh pair leggings, sweatpants, or athletic shorts. That way when I roll out of bed, I am immediately ready for a workout. Whether or not I work out right then and there or a bit later, I am already one step closer to getting a workout done. It’s so much easier to actually workout when you simplify and limit the steps it takes to make it happen. Less steps = less excuses. This might not be for everyone, but ditching pajamas for comfortable athleisure wear has been a game-changer for me!

6.) The Bible In Reach Of My Spot

     Everybody has their spot. That spot you choose to sit in your house at least once a day if not more. That comfy place on the couch where you sit to drink coffee in the morning or the recliner you kick back in after a long day’s work. You know the spot I’m talking about.

 

     Keep your Bible there, or at least in reach of it. As we mentioned before with the dumbbells, in sight = in mind. In mind AND in reach of where you sit everyday significantly increases the likelihood of you picking it up and getting that daily bread. This part of life is so easily forgotten or plain out neglected, so I support anything that encourages getting into God’s word, no matter how simple or silly it sounds. Setting it in sight and in reach of where you choose to perch everyday rids yourself of any excuse not to dig in and fill up on the goodness of God. 

 

     Honestly, if you are reading it everyday (or want to) there’s no point in hiding it back into a bookshelf anyways. Save yourself the extra work and keep it nearby!

7.) Toy Bins

     Moms, I’m telling you, get a couple soft rope bins from Target (or a few cutesy baskets from the thrift store) to have a spot for your kids’ toys. I’m not OCD with how well my kids keep their bins sorted, but it is helpful to have a box for different toys for multiple reasons. For one, when they pull out a bin to play with something, they have all the pieces together for that kind of play. It also creates a place for toys to go rather than sprawled out amongst your house or their room. Additionally, it teaches children organizational skills.

 

     However, my favorite thing about having toy bins is that it makes it so much easier for my toddler to clean up. Telling him to pick up his toys can be overwhelming for him when there are a million toys all over the place. He either refuses the task and I am met with a meltdown or he simply gets distracted by the toys he intended to pick up.

 

     Rather than saying “Pick up your toys”, I can start with “Pick up the animals”. Sometimes he’ll even get excited to pick out all the animals and place them in the bin. It makes the task less overwhelming and gives him a more attainable mission for his scattered 2 year old brain. Once the animals are in their bin, I can proceed to tell him to pick up the magnetic tiles, then the trucks and cars, then the books, etc. We move from one bin of toys to the next until they are all picked up. After each bin of toys has been picked up, we can celebrate that milestone of cleaning, making room for more opportunities of gratification for picking up as he cleans.

8.) Shoe Rack

     Your entryway will thank you. You will thank you. Tossing the shoes in the closet or letting them build up on the floor is such an annoying mess. You can never find the matching shoe and you’re constantly stumbling over the loose pile. There’s nothing worse than coming home just to get welcomed by tripping over the mess of shoes that cause you to fall, dropping all of the groceries with you- right when you walk in.

 

     Shoes racks are a cheap, one time buy that will drastically change the appearance and ease of getting through your entry. After living my whole life without one, I will never take for granted my cheap IKEA shoe rack.

 

9.) Himalayan Salt Lamp

     There is a lot of controversy over the health benefits of Himalayan salt lamps, as some people suggest they can improve air quality, sleep, and mood. However, there is not strong conclusive studies done to prove those claims. Potential health benefits aside, it’s the practical element of having a salt lamp that I love!

 

     It’s not too big, it’s not too fragile, and it’s not too bright. This makes my salt lamp the ideal lighting for middle of the night feedings, especially with my firstborn when I was far from being a pro at breastfeeding and still needed light to help me get him to latch. The warm light also promotes sleep making it easier for both me and baby to fall back asleep. I also love the soft romantic glow when you and the husband go to bed, but have other activities in mind before sleeping such as… reading 😉 

 

   Not to mention, I despise waking up immediately to our bright white bedroom light. It’s much nicer to wake up to a warm little salt lamp and get dressed without being blinded by the light of our bedroom. 

10.) A Butter Stocked Butter Dish

     I don’t understand how I lived my whole life prior to my husband without having soft butter out in a butter dish. The amount of struggle I’ve had over using cold butter trying to make buttered toast is plain out ridiculous! I didn’t even know it was safe to leave butter on the counter. I thought everyone struggled to butter their toast. For 19 years of my life I lived under that rock.

 

     Now, I can bake cookies and have butter that is already softened to room temp. I can butter my toast with ease. My husband picked a fight with me the other day about not putting a new stick of butter in the dish, and I realized what a simple little luxury it is to have a butter dish at all. It really is the little things in life. If this list has taught me anything so far, it’s to appreciate even the everyday simple things in life. Even a butter dish is a gift. One that I overlook despite using and enjoying it almost daily.

 

     What is a simple thing that you use everyday that is worth being grateful for?

     Tell me in the comments!

11.) Instant Pot

     I’ll admit, I don’t use this one all the time, but when I am out of backup meals, my Instant Pot is my go-to. There’s really nothing like the relief of knowing in 20 minutes I can go from 4 completely frozen chicken breasts to fully cooked and seasoned meat that I can do anything with.

 

     I can shred it and add BBQ sauce for easy BBQ chicken sandwiches. Maybe I’ll season it with taco seasoning and we have chicken tacos. Maybe we eat it seasoned with a side of veggies that I toss out of a can and sauté with salt and butter. The possibilities are endless, and no matter what time of day I remember to cook something, I know I can quickly have cooked meat, even from frozen, at the literal push of a button.

12.) Cold Medicine For Adults and Children

     It’s 2am on a Tuesday and your little 7 month old baby has spiked a fever of 101.6. You run to your medicine cabinet to grab some Infants Tylenol while your husband holds your burning hot babe in his arms. When you get to the cabinet you find that you don’t have any fever reducing medicine, and you have to make a trip to your nearest gas station or local pharmacy. (Or bring your child to the emergency room. As recommended, call your doctor if your baby has a fever over 100.4) 

 

     I can tell you from personal experience, that situation is a nightmare. Maybe you don’t have kids, but you know what it’s like to be sick. Whether it’s the flu, COVID, fever, or a stubborn cold, nobody likes shopping for  fever reducing medication while under the influence of a fever (or any other sickness symptoms). 

 

     I hate sickness; it can come out of nowhere. Do yourself a favor and be prepared with some basic cold-medicine. I have never thought to myself, “Gosh, I wish I didn’t have this in my cabinet.”  When the sickness hits, I am always grateful to have had it on-hand.

13.) Planner

     I have the cheapest, little black planner that my local Walmart has to offer, but don’t let its monetary value fool you. This tattered up, scribbled on, falling apart booklet is keeping my life on track.

 

     Without this book I would forget birthdays, doctor appointments, special events, and vacations. I would most definitely have missed days of work without even knowing it and stood up friends for coffee dates. Some people have a family calendar which I’m sure would work just as well! I personally love this little one because I can slip it in my purse to have on hand as things come up, to schedule the next well-child checks at appointments, or to be able to tell people immediately what days work for play dates. My planner has made my life so much easier when it comes to scheduling absolutely anything. 

14.) Blackout Curtains

     My toddler takes a 1.5-2 hour afternoon nap and I love it. When he sleeps, I get to reset. I get a breath of relief from the constant chaos that 2 year old carries along with them. He also sleeps well through the night, which he did not do for the LONGEST time. I tried so many things when he was a baby to help him sleep, and one of those things that has stuck with him into toddlerhood is the black out curtains. I use them for naps with my baby girl, too. The darkness helps them fall into a deeper sleep that lasts longer and is overall better for their health. I’m never going back. 

 

     I recently started working occasional night shifts while the kids are home with my husband. So during their afternoon nap, I will also lay down to enjoy a nap. Although I’ve never been a napper and have a hard time falling asleep during the day, the blackout curtains make it much easier to get in that extra afternoon sleep. Additionally, it makes it easy to do midday movies when we are all feeling under the weather, which has been a great way to keep our active toddler still while in the healing process.

15.) Small Practical Toolkit

     To say my husband has a lot of tools is an understatement. He has A LOT of tools. However, I have not had the best of luck navigating through his tools when I’m only looking for a screwdriver. (Heck, even he has a hard time navigating through his tools!) 

 

     When he is away at work and I have to be the “strong independent woman” I (jokingly) proclaim to be, my small pink and black toolkit comes to the rescue. It has made it significantly easier to make things happen. I could just leave the battery replacing or installation of the child locks for him, but having my own kit allows me to know exactly where my tools are when I need them and gives me the opportunity to fix odds and ends things around the house, making my husband’s life a little easier, too. 

16.) Cheerios

“Really, Cheerios? How do Cheerios make your life easier?”

     My house will never be dry of Cheerios. They are the backbone of this establishment that I call home. Cheerios are our last resort meal when I don’t have time or energy to make other food. They have been our toddler’s bedtime snack while we read books ever since he could eat solid food. Even if he refuses his dinner, we know he will always go to bed full, even if it’s a belly full of multigrain Cheerios from his bedtime reading.

 

     They have kept my 10 month old entertained while I’m trying to scramble with phone calls, paperwork, and dishes all at once. They have kept my children quiet during church services and have been my means of bribery to get my 2 year old into the car seat without a full on meltdown in the Walmart parking lot.

 

     Cheerios and a hug are my boy’s source of comfort after getting his doctor visit shots. They are always a go-to snack to pack for any season because they don’t melt and don’t require heat or refrigeration.

 

    Cheerios were my baby girl’s first crunchy food (though she had them well sogged up with baby slobber before swallowing.) Cheerios are a key ingredient in our favorite snack, “Healthy Peanut Butter Cheerio Bars” that we make almost every week! 

 

     From keeping kids quiet in church, preventing meltdowns, providing entertainment, being an easy meal, and a piece of comfort after vaccinations and during bedtime stories, I can confidently say Cheerios have made my life a lot easier.

17.) A To-Do List

     As a stay at home mom, it’s easy to get lost in the day-to-day of motherhood. I’d be lying if I said I don’t occasionally miss working my full-time job with clear cut tasks, routines, instant gratification and financial contribution. Truthfully, I don’t like feeling like I’m doing nothing, even though as a mom you are seemingly doing everything!

 

     I clean, and it will all be undone before my husband gets home. I make meals that are immediately ate up. I do laundry that appears back in the basket with a blink of an eye and an empty sink is filled up with dishes just as fast. I play with my children and read them books. I (and you, mama) do important work everyday, but it seems that all the work we do is undone, disappears, or is invisible to the eyes and brings no financial reward. 

 

     Many times, I have gotten to the end of the day weary with exhaustion just to look up and see that nothing is done even though I have done so much all day long. It can be a challenge to not get discouraged and simply stop doing those important things altogether. When you don’t see any physical reward for it, it’s easy to stop playing with your kids. It’s easy to stop reading books to them when no one is keeping you accountable. It’s easy to slack on the dishes and laundry when it’s never fully done anyways. It’s difficult to remain disciplined in working out and keeping healthy habits for you and your children.

 

     I have found that the best way to keep myself disciplined as well as keep me from getting discouraged is to make myself a to-do list everyday. To-do lists are a great way to ensure that I get done in a day the things I really want done and give me a visual on what I have done, even if it all becomes undone by the end of the day. 

 

     On my To-Do list I write out my daily non-negotiables: reading my Bible, working out, at least one load of laundry, etc. Then I add any pressing matters that come up such as scheduling appointments, paying bills, etc. I will also write down things I’ve already done that are important to me such as doing dishes, reading books with the kids, etc.

 

     It really is an encouraging thing to have that visual validation of all you truly do in a day and to understanding how important those things are. Spending 30 minutes sitting on the floor playing with your children is not a waste of time. Moreover, it’s not easy! (At least for me, building towers for my kid to knock them over before I can finish or being bossed around by someone who hardly stands 2ft off the ground all because I am driving the blue monster truck instead of the green one is really not my idea of a fun time) A list helps ensure that you actually do the things that are important to you.

 

     It also prevents those awkward moments in the day where you feel like getting something done, but you are not sure of what to do or where to start. I hate feeling a “lull” in my day where I’m ready to do something, but I didn’t know what. With a list, I can get to that lull and simply pick something off that list to check off. The simple gratification of checking things off the list is enough for me to keep pressing forward and not allow myself to grow lazy with my time at home. 

18.) Stash Of Grocery Bags

     I don’t know a house that doesn’t have this, but if you don’t yet, why not?! These have been so helpful! I love being able to reuse them rather than throw them away after a one-time use and their uses are so versatile! Here are just a few ways I have used these:

  • Trash bag for the car on road trips 
  • Dirty diaper bag to contain the smell 
  • Garbage bags for smaller garbage bins
  • Works as a waterproof bag for toddler accidents or other wet clothes, beach towels, swimsuits, etc. 
  • Extra bag to carry home gifts or leftover food from a family event or to send home with someone so they don’t have to return a non-disposal bag back to you
  • Put around my dress/work shoes to walk through puddles, winter slush, or mud
  • Wrapping around paintbrushes to keep them from drying out

     Like I said, these are just a few of many ways to use those leftover grocery bags! I love having them handy, and keep a stock pile stashed in my kitchen, purse, and diaper bag for all kinds of occasions and emergencies!

There you have it;  a short list of things I love to have on hand at all times to make my life a little easier! Now, let me know: 

What things do YOU keep on hand to make life easier? Let me know in the comments!

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