If you try to emulate the 5 a.m. risers despite preferring a slow start, an early morning routine will never stick.

I see so many people feeling bad about not waking up before the sun and immediately getting in an intense workout. Or feeling ashamed that their mornings look nothing like all the “It Girl” influencers.

But let’s be realistic — most of us aren’t getting up at 5 and most of us aren’t doing intense exercise before the crust is out of our eyes.

And that’s okay. That’s normal.

You can still have a grounded, effective morning routine without getting up at 5 a.m.

Here’s the framework I used to create a more realistic morning routine that helps me feel ready for the day without stressing me out before it’s even started.

The Pillars of a More Sustainable Morning

1. Honor Your Body

   The number one complaint I hear about morning routines is people thinking it requires getting up early, but that’s just not true. You can still have a beneficial morning routine no matter what time you wake up, it just may look different than what you think a morning routine is “supposed” to look like.
   

   If you’re an early riser, that’s great. But if you’re not, then don’t force yourself to wake up early if you know you’ve always struggled with mornings. Just build that slow start time into your routine.
   

   And even those that enjoy getting up early, might occasionally have mornings that need a slow start. Having a slow start doesn’t have to mean your whole morning routine goes out the window.
   

   This is the foundation of a sustainable morning routine — adapting to your body and life, reducing friction points.
   

2. Reset Your Space

   I truly believe there is no step more important than making your bed every morning.
   

   Not only does it reset your space, it gives you that quick win first thing in the morning to get you motivated to be productive. If I had to pick only one step to do in this routine, it would be making my bed (maybe breakfast too).
   

   I would say this is the one step you can’t really customize, but if you’re not someone who regularly makes your bed — try it for a week and see the difference it makes.
   

3. Regulate Your Nervous System
   I’ve always heard you’re supposed to get outside first thing in the morning, but I always thought who wants to do that? And who has time for that?
   

   It was just another item on the long list of items I “should be doing”.
   

   However, I just needed a mindset shift.
   

   Viewing sunlight within 30-60 minutes of waking has many health benefits — cortisol and mood regulation, and better sleep quality.
   

   So instead of viewing it as “just another thing I have to do”, I’ve started viewing it as a tangible way I can take care of myself and set myself up for a better day.
   

   To me, that’s what a good morning routine is about: How can I set myself up for a good day?
   

   So here are some ways I like to get sun first thing in the morning. I alternate through these depending on my energy level and the amount of time I have:

   • short and long walks

   • checking on my garden

   • reading outside

   • eating breakfast outside

   • drinking tea/coffee on the patio
     

   Bare minimum? Sit outside for 5 minutes.
   

   Another way to regulate your nervous system is to get some movement into your morning routine. I aim to get daily movement, and I always do better if I get it first thing in the morning.
   

   And on the days I’m running short on time, I combine my movement and outside time as a quick walk outside.
   

   But don’t add the morning movement yet if you’re already adding a bunch of new things to your routine. Start with sunlight in the morning and the movement will happen naturally and as your routine evolves.

   Enjoy intentional living discussions and tips like this? Explore free and paid tiers to get them straight to your inbox

   
   

4. Nourish Yourself

   Just like getting sunlight in the morning, eating breakfast anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours after waking improves your metabolic health and establishes energy for the day.
   

   Eating breakfast as part of a morning routine may sound like the most obvious step, but I see too many people talk about skipping breakfast or not having anything nutritious.
   

   Eating breakfast is likely something you’re already doing, but I challenge you to focus on good nutritional value and see how it changes your mood and energy throughout the day.
   

   Struggle with this?

   Try prepping ahead of time (weekly meal prep/overnight recipes) or buying easy options like frozen breakfast sandwiches, yogurts, and better cereal.
   

   My favorite thing to prep is different iterations of breakfast sandwiches, but bacon, egg, & cheese croissants are my favorite. I spend 30 minutes prepping them at the start of the week so I can have easy mornings.
   

   Bonus: It’s generally recommended to eat before having caffeine. So, if you’re doing good with breakfast every day, try switching your routine so that you don’t have coffee before breakfast. Your nervous system and stomach will thank you.
   

5. Set Future You Up

   Don’t get caught up in the social media morning routines — most people aren’t doing a thousand things before the work day starts.
   

   Instead, commit to doing one thing that sets you up for the day.
   

   It will look different depending on your lifestyle, what you prioritize, and how much time you have, but here are some options you can pick and combine to set up a good day:

   • pack/prep your lunch

   • review your schedule

   • small cleaning tasks (unload dishwasher, 10 minute tidy, etc.)

   • do one small task you’re dreading later (pay a bill, make a phone call, etc.)

   • set intentions/goals for the day

   • quick journaling session (5 minutes)

   • listen to/watch something that brings you joy (music, podcast, etc.)

If you don’t do any of these things already, try a few different ones out and see how they fit in your life. Commit to doing something each morning that sets you up for the day.

The key to a sustainable morning routine is flexibility within structure.

Take these frameworks and adapt it to your life. You deserve to have a calm morning, with a routine that sets you up for success. It doesn’t need to be as hard as everyone makes it seem.

To show you real life examples, I’ve included two versions of my morning routine: a low effort bare minimum one and my ideal one on good days.

My bare minimum one probably takes about 30 minutes and my optimal one takes about an hour and a half depending on how long my walk is.

My hope is that you realize morning routines don’t need to be complicated. I believe a simple, grounded morning routine can be found by being more intentional with the basics — following your body’s cues and doing the right things give you a good mood and energy for the day.

If you want help building your own morning routine, I turned this into a simple, customizable system you can use digitally or printed. You can check that out here.

PAID SUBSCRIBERS: you get that custom morning routine builder sent to you as part of your subscription. Check your inbox!

I’m so curious to hear about everyone’s morning routines — which of these things you’re already doing, things you’re going to start doing, or other intentional moments in your morning routine.

Don’t be so hard on yourself to have the “perfect morning routine” and instead find a more realistic, personal routine that works for you.

- The Living Standard

If you like intentional routine and reset posts like this, you might like some of my other detailed routines:

This Week’s Intention, The Weekly Refresh, Something to Try, Seasonal Note, In the Kitchen, & Hobby Hour

This Week’s Intention

Something about April felt so rushed to me. Looking back over the month I just felt like I was so busy, but unmotivated at the same time.

I want to leave that energy in April, and start May with a fresh perspective.

That means this week’s intention is committing to a good month.

Yes, I’m still completing my usual monthly reset, which helps me close out the month so I can start fresh.

But beyond that, I’m striving to have a better outlook and do my best to keep things positive.

I’m learning that most things come down to your attitude.

For me, that looks like doing the things I need to do to meet my goals, because I know that’s what’s going to make me feel good about the month and help me stay motivated.

Commit to a good month (and week) with me.

The Weekly Refresh

The days are getting warmer, and finally the nights are too, so this week I’m focusing on switching up my bedding.

I got a few new sets for Christmas, so I don’t need any new bedding. But if your sets are getting too worn, now would be a good time to get a new summer set.

If you’re like me and aren’t in the market for new bedding, you can simply switch to whatever your “summer” bedding looks like. Usually in the summer we need lighter fabrics and less layers — think thin sheets and thin quilts instead of fluffy duvets.

On top of switching to my summer set, there are some other things I’m going to try with my bedding this week:

• mix + match pillowcases from different sets

• adding in a throw blanket or another layer

• making my bed in a different way

  if you usually go for a hotel look, try a more lived in one & vice versa!

Sometimes we just need to switch things up!

You can also take this a step further by rearranging your linen closet, so that your heavier fabrics are “put up” for the summer.

And move those lighter fabrics front and center. You’re going to need them.

Something to Try

Last week in my weekly reset, I talked about trying to add one good habit to my mornings.

I accomplished that, but it got me thinking …

Our mornings are made by our nights.

My morning routine is limited by my nighttime routine (which isn’t horrible but could definitely be better).

So this week, I’m trying a screen-free hour before bed.

I can’t really be on my phone right up until I shut my eyes and then expect to get a good night’s sleep. I’m going to try the screen-free hour for a week and see if I notice a difference.

This week, try staying screen free for one hour before bed.

Or, if you already do that (good for you), try identifying the one “sore spot” in your nighttime routine, and modify it in some way.

Seasonal Note

This is a big week for me. With the weather finally warm I get to plants all sorts of veggies, but what I’m most excited for is to plant my flower field.

It’s going to be a big field with 10+ kinds of flowers, and I’ve also sprinkled wildflower mixes in random spots around my house.

But you don’t have to commit to a flower field to plant some flowers.

Not only will you have something pretty to look at, you’ll be helping out the pollinators too. And depending on what you choose to plant, you could cut them for personal bouquets all summer long!

If you’re new to gardening, I suggest starting small with one of these:

• some pretty flowers in pots by your door (if you’re scared of wasps I wouldn’t suggest this location)

• a few hanging pots on your patio/deck/outdoor area

• a couple by your mailbox

• sprinkle a wildflower mix in random spots

• if you really want to start some from seed (cheaper/more variety), zinnias are supposed to be the most beginner friendly cut flower

Tip: You can get already blooming annuals at big box stores like Walmart/Lowe’s, but look into your local plant nurseries. They are usually cheaper and have plants better suited to your specific area.

And if you’re intimidated by all of this, drop your biggest question in the comments - I’d love to help!

In the Kitchen

My new kitchen goal is to find my perfect “house dressing”, aka the dressing that I will become known for among friends and family because it’s so good.

Here are some I’m loving right now:

Harrison Wallace’s “Lazy Caesar” - SO good, make it almost every week

My Backyard Herb Ranch (sort of like if Caesar and ranch had a baby)

Take this as your sign to experiment with making your own salad dressings, the options are endless!

Hobby Hour

As I said at the beginning of this post, April wasn’t a great month for me. I just sort of felt unmotivated, uninspired.

That’s when I know it’s time to focus on my creativity.

I’m a very creative person, so I find that when I go to long without honoring that, I can feel very stifled.

And in my opinion, every person needs to honor their creativity, because everyone is creative in their own way.

Here are some ways that I’m honoring/stimulating my creativity this week + some suggestions for you:

• no social media for a full day

• make a new playlist

• practice a new skill (knitting, painting, something in the kitchen, etc)

• spend an hour outside, unplugged

• recreate Chopped in your kitchen (make a meal with random ingredients)

• try a random DIY around the house

• watch a classic movie you’ve been meaning to watch (Mulholland Drive, Eyes Wide Shut, Carrie, etc.)

I’m hoping that by giving some intentional attention to my creative side I’ll feel more fulfilled and have more to give to other areas of my life.

And that’s it for the first weekly reset of May. I’m already feeling more positive about this month (could be because I’m committed to making it good).

As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts or anything that’s inspiring you this week.

Leave a comment

- The Living Standard

If you enjoy the format of these Weekly Resets and want more, check out my previous ones and come back next Tuesday for another!

Here’s an example of the schedule I shared:

(You can also check out the full post below)

The internet was flabbergasted.

The response on Substack was pretty normal, with a few reasonable questions.

But I shared my weekly schedule on TikTok and IG reels and some people lost their minds.

The video had 4.8M views on Instagram and 394K on TikTok, with plenty of comments on both — some logical, some obtuse.

So I did a roundup of the common questions and here’s what people really want to know …

What this routine looks like in real life, how my home actually stays clean (or doesn’t), and how flexible this system really is.

Q&A

For the skeptics

Is this realistic? What if you miss a day? Does your house just get gross in between?

• “Isn’t this unrealistic?”

  I would argue that finding 10-15 minutes a day is easier than finding 3 hours on the weekend, but maybe that’s just me.

  I invite you to reevaluate your relationship with cleaning. Do you consistently overestimate the time it takes to get it done? Do you feel like it’s something that has to take up your weekend/free time?

  The whole reason I started cleaning my house this way is because I wanted to spend less time cleaning and worrying about the state of my home. And it works!

• “What if you miss a day?”

  Happens all the time. Literally maybe almost every week, especially as summer gets closer.

  Say you have a last minute dinner you get invited to on a Wednesday and your bedroom doesn’t get cleaned that night.

  You have three options:

  1. Skip it that week

     This works just fine for places like the living room and bedroom that can maybe go a little longer in between cleans. Probably not ideal for high use areas like the bathroom and kitchen.

  2. Do the bare minimum

     This is the sweet middle ground option, you’re not doing nothing but you’re not doing everything you would do on a normal clean.

     Instead of dusting all surfaces, organizing surfaces, changing sheets, and vacuuming, maybe you just change your sheets and leave it at that.

     This lets you do the most important task that makes a big difference, without spending a bunch of time. You’ll pick back up next week.

  3. Add it on to another night that week or one of your “free days”

     (*my preferred option)

     I recommend adding it to a free day (I have two free days in my schedule) or adding it on to the shortest/simplest nights (bedroom, living room, etc).

     Your 15 minute evening routine expands to 30 minutes, which is still manageable for most. Or, you just added a quick 15 minute cleaning to your free day.

• “Don’t things get dirty in between?”

  I’m assuming this came from the Sunday Reset crowd, which I have no problem with, I did Sunday Resets for a long time (and still do mini ones from time to time).

  But you cleaning the whole house on a Sunday it no different than me cleaning the bathroom every Tuesday. It still only goes a week in between cleanings, same as your whole house.

  I would argue that my way actually leads to a more consistently clean house because things are all deteriorating at different rates, whereas if you do Sunday resets, by Thursday your whole house is getting messy.

For the logistics people

But how does it actually work?

• “How long does each day take?”

  I spend roughly 15 minutes each day on my assigned section.

  Granted, I live in a small house with only two people. You might have to adjust for certain sections based on the size of your house and how many bathrooms/bedrooms you have, number of kids/pets etc. But regardless, I promise you it doesn’t take as long as you think it does.

  Tip: Next time you clean one section of your house (just the bathroom, just the kitchen, etc.) time yourself. You’ll be surprised how fast you can actually do it. We tend to overestimate how long it takes to do something, especially when we don’t like doing it. But this mindset is keeping you from squeezing cleaning into little free pockets of time.

  I would say the one section that sometimes takes longer is my laundry day. It just depends how many loads I ended up doing. But I can easily get 3 loads (clothes x2 + towels) folded and put away in 20 minutes.

• “Do you still do daily cleaning?”

  People on Instagram and TikTok were seriously concerned that I don’t “clean” my kitchen every day.

  (I do)

  This weekly cleaning schedule is for more substantial cleaning, not just daily cleaning.

  I think part of this is a mindset problem. I don’t see daily tasks (like dishes, cleaning up messes, wiping crumbs away, etc.) as “cleaning”, that’s just part of my day.

  You can find a full list of my “daily non-negotiables” aka my daily cleaning tasks in my full weekly cleaning schedule post.

• “What about laundry?”

  People were also very concerned about laundry. It seems that laundry is a real issue for people, almost like they’re scared of it or something.

  I know a lot of people swear by a load a day and that’s great if that works for you, and it would fit in great with this schedule. You would just have to add 5 minutes to fold your daily load.

  This is not an all-or-nothing system, I just want you to rethink how cleaning fits into your life. Take what works for you and change what doesn’t.

For those that don’t “get it”

Why would you do it that way?

• “Why not just clean everything on one day?”

  You absolutely can, that’s the beauty of free will.

  I’m just sharing with you a different kind of system that changed the way I view cleaning and taking care of my home.

  I no longer see cleaning as something I “have to do” and I no longer dread Sundays because I “have to clean the whole house”.

  Instead, doing a little cleaning each day is just part of my daily routine and life. When it becomes part of your routine, it’s just something you do, and it takes away a lot of the dread and avoidance.

• “Isn’t this more work?”

  Like I said, I spend about 15 minutes a day on my cleaning section.

  15 minutes, 5 days a week is 75 minutes. I’ll even round up because some days do take a bit longer.

  90 minutes a week for a clean, easily maintainable house.

  That’s shorter than most movies.

  When I did Sunday Resets I was easily spending 3 hours cleaning the whole place. So no, I don’t think it’s more work.

  It’s also important to note that it feels like much less work because I’m not having to spend a chunk of my weekend doing everything all at once.

• “Why?”

  Yes, I really got several comments just plain confused about why I would do it this way.

  Let me state it simply: assigning certain tasks to certain days, and having a schedule + repeatable system frees up so much of my mental load and limits my decision fatigue.

  If decision fatigue and mental load are things you struggle with, then I really think this system could change things for you.

So, you want to implement it …

• “How do I start without overhauling everything?”

  If you’re skeptical — you could start with assigning just a few days (bathroom, bedroom), not the whole week.

  If you’re ready — I suggest checking out the original post for a full break down of the system.

And use my weekly cleaning schedule template!

If you really want to take out the guesswork, get my weekly cleaning schedule template. It has prefilled cleaning checklists for each room of the house as well as a “daily non-negotiable” checklist.

You can also fully customize it to fit your schedule and your house. Hang it up on your fridge to have a daily reminder and easily accessible checklist.

PAID SUBSCRIBERS: You will get this download and template link sent straight to you (check your inbox).

I love this Q&A format. It really lets me get into the nitty gritty of these systems and my thought process behind them. Although, I’d be okay with not having another viral post that gets people up in arms about my cleaning schedule.

But the Substack crowd is a little more understanding, so if you still have questions, drop them in the comments. Let’s chat.

- The Living Standard

Most of what I write about is building simple systems like this into everyday life. If that’s your thing, you might like these:

This Week’s Intention, The Weekly Refresh, Something to Try, Seasonal Note, In the Kitchen, & Hobby Hour

This Week’s Intention

I thankfully have a short work week because I’m going on a trip, but that also means I have to squeeze 5 days of work into 3.

That means this week’s intention is getting sh*t done.

This week I don’t have the time to be slow and intentional like I normally try to be. So temporarily, I’m allowing myself to let go of perfection and just do the things that need to be done, as fast as I need to.

That might mean less time upfront spent on my hobbies or free time, but that translates to going on a trip carefree because I got all my stuff done.

Do a little more this week so your weekend can be freer.

The Weekly Refresh

Last week’s deep dive on my food systems had me very focused on my kitchen.

I try to clean out my fridge pretty thoroughly week to week, but it had been ages since I properly cleaned out of my freezer and pantry.

So this weekend I finally did it.

I was surprised to find several things I fully forgot about, and between 4 family sized boxes of spaghetti noodles and all kinds of chicken I now have meals figured out for the next week.

Here’s how you can do it too:

Action Items

• Pantry

  • Empty + wipe down

  • Check for expired items

  • Rotate old items to the front + reorganize

• Freezer

  • Empty + spot clean

  • Check for expired/freezer burnt items

  • Rotate old items to the front + reorganize

• Optional: give your fridge a quick clean too if it’s been a while

Once you’ve cleaned them out and made note of what needs to be used ASAP, keep those ingredients in mind for upcoming meals. That’s how things get used instead of sitting until it’s too late.

Something to Try

I’ve been really struggling with my mornings lately. I never want to get up, and it takes me too long to get into the swing of the day.

And I know it’s because of my morning routine (or really, the lack thereof).

But instead of trying to totally revamp my morning I’m just going to try adding one good habit to my mornings.

I considered a lot of different ones: walks, reading, journaling, yoga, waking up earlier, etc.

I think the most realistic one for me is morning walks outside. I used to do this all the time but got out of the habit once the weather got bad. But I don’t really have that excuse anymore so tomorrow I’m starting my mornings with walks.

I remember the days I used to walk before work I would feel so much better all day. It’s the fresh air, the exercise, the time to myself — all important things to our well-being and the perfect way to start your day.

This week, try adding one good habit to your morning routine.

Seasonal Note

This time of the year I’m soaking up every ounce of good weather I can before it gets too hot. Where I live I get about 4 months of pleasurable weather where it’s not too cold but not too hot either.

Here’s how I’m enjoying all the outside time I can (featuring the main character: the cute outdoor patio my partner built me):

• having friends over for Friday happy hour on the patio

• reading outside after work

• gardening (forces you to get outside even when you don’t want to)

• dinners on the patio

• weekend mornings spent on the patio with tea and a book

• trips centered around outdoor activities (hiking, camping, boating, fishing, etc)

• lunch hour walks

• windows open 24/7

In the Kitchen

In last week’s post I stressed the benefit of simple dinners during the week.

But I got to thinking, simple meals are probably only going to keep you coming back if you know how to cook.

You may know how to throw together a recipe but what if you only know how to perfectly cook like two different vegetables?

Simple meals almost require you to be a better cook because there are less components distracting you from the taste.

That’s why I’m on a mission to find my go-to recipes and techniques, so I can have simple meals but keep them delicious.

This week’s focus? Mashed potatoes.

I scoured different recipes until I found the key.

What’s the key to perfect mashed potatoes?

Warm your milk and butter before you add it into the potatoes. And add fresh minced garlic!

I never chose to do this extra step because I thought why dirty another dish but it somehow makes all the difference. If you haven’t tried it this way, I implore you to try it the next time you want mashed potatoes. You’ll never make them the old way again.

Hobby Hour

In last week’s Weekly Reset, I mentioned ordering Lena Dunham’s new memoir, but I also ended up ordering another book I’ve been seeing all over socials, Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke.

Yesteryear is a satirical take on the “tradwife” influencer culture, with it’s plot showing a “tradwife” influencer transported to the true time of her aesthetic (1855).

I saw the plot one time before I bought the book, that was all I needed.

I’ll be diving into that this week and I’m so excited — I’ve seen nothing but rave reviews. I’ll also be tandem reading the Lena Dunham memoir. If you’ve read either please leave your general reviews in the comments! Hopefully by next week’s weekly reset I’ve finished both and can give a true recommendation.

This next one might be controversial, but I think that in moderation, watching tv/movies can be considered a hobby okay! Sue me!

So I’ve hopped on the Summer House train since the Scamanda of it all. Since the news dropped it’s been the only show I’ve watched and I’m currently on Season 9 hoping to catch up before the Season 10 reunion drops (next month I think?).

If you’re a Bravo person, I would love to hear your Summer House takes in the comments. I unfortunately have no one in my life to talk to this about.

Leave a comment

Okay, and I’m off to the races! Gotta get sh*t done! Hope you all have a productive and inspired week.

- The Living Standard

If you’re on TikTok, you’ve probably heard of the woman that only spends $300 a month on groceries for a family of four (Nicole Svenson if you want to follow her).

People get very triggered over this concept and the way she lives her life. She lives very simply and frugally in order to save for the things that really matter to her. Which hello, when did that become controversial?

Her comments have shown me that people love to overcomplicate things, and apparently that extends to dinner at home.

Not every meal needs to be social media ready. Weeknight cooking is not about cool ingredients and good presentation, it’s about getting an easy, nutritious dinner on the table. And just because it’s easy doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice flavor.

If you’re trying to prioritize cooking at home and have had issues sticking to it, you probably just need to simplify your meals and the systems you use to get there.

The reason I’m able to cook 90% of our meals at home and keep my grocery budget reasonable is because I keep it simple. Having elaborate meals every night is not attainable for most of us . You’re way more likely to stick to home cooking if you make it the easiest and cheapest option.

There are several other systems I use when it comes to grocery shopping, meal planning, and more that also help me cook at home and keep it simple and easy.

The goal of my systems is to spend as little time as possible thinking about food. I don’t want to spend hours thinking about what to have, what we need from the store, or how much it’s going to cost. And I certainly don’t want to waste money or food. Here are some things that help me.

My Food Systems:

Simplifying Weeknight Meals aka Capsule Cooking

What’s the easiest way to simplify something? By going back to the basics.

Instead of default thinking in “meals” I want you to think in “ingredients” first.

The 3 keys to an easy but tasty meal are: protein, carb, veggie.

That’s all you need. Not every meal has to be some elaborate, super niche, unique meal. (And I used to be totally guilty of this!) I felt like every meal had to be totally different from any others that week and I needed all different cuisines and configurations.

But it’s true — a protein, a carb, and a veg are going to get it done every time. You get an easy, nutritious meal without feeling like you just cooked a five-course meal and spent your whole night on dinner.

And it’s usually cheaper since you’re not buying all those random extra ingredients.

I’ll share my exact lists for these categories later in the post.

Shop Your Own Kitchen

I used to start from scratch every week. I would think about what I wanted, put all that stuff on the list, and just go get it. I would pay no mind to the bag of chicken that had been in the freezer for 3 months or the broccoli that was right on the edge of saving. I wouldn’t take note of what we had a lot of or what needed to be used soon. This led to so much unnecessary food waste and cost me more money.

So now, before I even think about what I want for the week, I shop my kitchen and work with what I have first.

Ingredient Prep

This one is major for those with partners and kids, but really anyone with a busy life would benefit from this.

Most of us don’t have time for full meal prepping, and I for one don’t like the idea of having the same thing over and over again.

“Ingredient Prep” is much less time consuming and will actually result in you eating more of your groceries, likely making healthier choices throughout the week, and in some cases will actually save you time.

Once you get back from the store, ask yourself this: how can I prepare individual ingredients to make them ready to eat?

Here are some that I usually do: preslicing apples and other fruit/veggies, cubing/preshredding cheese, batch cooking bacon, prepping breakfast sandwiches, hardboiling some eggs for easy snacks

Setting Your Meals For The Week

This doesn’t have to be a strict schedule, but 20 minutes upfront of planning your meal options will make your life easier during the week.

Even if you end up going somewhere else for dinner or plans change, you have that backup plan and you’re not scrambling to figure out what to make, ordering takeout, or running to the store again.

Bonus: Any produce or meat left from the last week gets used up early in the week. Prioritize the ingredients that will go bad faster.

Identify Your “Emergency Meals”

Life happens. Things don’t thaw in time, you get stuck somewhere longer than you thought, and all of the sudden your best laid dinner plans aren’t going to work anymore.

“Emergency meals” will save you from grabbing fast food.

They will look different for everyone.

I suggest having a “I don’t want to do a single thing” emergency meal (ex: frozen pizza, ramen, etc.) and a “I don’t have as much time as I thought” emergency meal (entirely pantry or freezer staples so you can always have them on hand - spaghetti is my go-to).

Whatever they are for you — make sure you have it on hand for crazy/lazy nights so you’re less likely to order out. It will probably be healthier and definitely cheaper.

A Running Grocery List

And one more small tip before you go.

Keep a running grocery list throughout the week. Do this however works for you (notes app on your phone or notepad on the fridge).

When you use the last of the garlic powder while seasoning your chicken, it immediately goes on the list so you don’t forget when it’s time to go to the store again.

You can also easily add things as you think of them.

Every little bit saves you time when you go to make your grocery list.

Why these systems work

• less decision fatigue

• less waste

• more consistency

• easier to stick to

It’s simple. The easier you can make your systems, the more likely you are to stick to them.

How do I start?

I get it, these all sound great in theory, but how do you go from ordering takeout 2x a week to cooking 90% of your meals at home?

It’s not realistic to start all of these immediately. I would start with the most impactful: setting your meals for the week.

And if you already do this, try to simplify one weeknight meal this week.

Can you make a simple protein, carb, and veggie meal from what you have on hand?

Once you get these bigger changes down, you can add the other systems.

I also made a capsule cooking checklist/meal planner template that will help you easily plan your meals each week, which you can check out here. (My paid subscribers get this for free down below!)

Need more guidance?

If you want to see what this actually looks like in practice, I’ve broken down exactly how I structure my week. From how I plan meals, to how I build my grocery list, to what I keep stocked so things stay easy.

Here’s what’s included below:

1. My weekly food flow schedule

2. My grocery list strategy

3. How I actually plan my dinners

4. My go-to meals and example shopping lists

5. What I keep stocked

6. A downloadable capsule cooking template to help you plan simple meals for the week

Read more

Introducing: The Weekly Reset

I want this to be a lighter, more comprehensive outlet, a way to give you some inspiration for the week ahead. Inspiration for taking care of your home, but also taking care of yourself and finding intentional ways to move through the week.

If you’re confused about how this new weekly series will fit into my usual content (it’s not going anywhere!) you can check out the update post I made yesterday in which I also introduced the paid tier I added.

The Weekly Reset

This Week’s Intention, The Weekly Refresh, Something to Try, Seasonal Note, In the Kitchen, & Hobby Hour

This Week’s Intention

I’m having a hard time believing we’re already half way through April. This year and this month are speeding past and lately I’ve been feeling very out of control.

So this week, I’m focusing on what I can control.

That means slowing down, taking a step back, and taking a breath.

What can I control?

The space around me. So to hopefully help me not worry so much about the things out of my control, I’m redirecting that energy into my space.

Maybe a little more time cleaning, maybe a little redecoration, maybe a little furniture rearranging.

That’s my intention for the week.

The Weekly Refresh

For a refresh this week I’m tackling a sore spot in my home that I’ve been neglecting. It’s not anything crazy, nothing that’s going to take me weeks to do.

It’s my laundry room.

I’m pretty sure there are a few empty containers and I’m honestly not sure when I cleaned the floors last. I know, so unlike me, but I guess out of sight out of mind. The laundry room falls outside of my “normal cleaning” so all of the sudden weeks (maybe honestly months?) pass and I realize I don’t do anything in there besides the laundry itself.

So I’m making an easy, approachable game plan to spend some time on it this week.

My game plan?

• Making a list of 5 separate tasks that will better the space (toss empty products, restock, tidy, clean floors, deep clean appliances)

• Do one task each day this week (or combine some if I have extra time one day)

And at the end of the week I will no longer have the state of the laundry room haunting me.

So if you’d like to participate in The Weekly Refresh, pick one area that’s been bothering you (you probably already have something in mind) and create your game plan for taking care of it. You will feel so much better once it’s done.

Something to Try

I’m someone who loves everything routines and habits. And I’m all for trying new things and seeing what sticks.

So this week I’m trying “burping” (my house, not my mouth).

If you’re on TikTok I’m sure you’ve seen this trend taking over. “Burping” your house just means opening your windows, it’s not a crazy concept. I would hope that most of us open our windows from time to time, and especially when the weather is good, but by the rules of burping, you’re supposed to open them every day, no matter the weather.

As someone with cold winters and very bad seasonal allergies I usually only open my windows at very specific times of the year (early spring and late fall), but I’m willing to give it a go.

So something I’m trying this week is burping my house for 10 minutes each morning. Even though tomorrow morning is supposed to be in the 30s.

I will report back next week with my findings.

And if you already do this, tell me - is it worth it?

Seasonal Note

I try to be as in tune with the weather and the seasons as possible. It’s honestly one of the easiest ways to live more intentionally. So each week I want to share how I’m living seasonally.

My seasonal note this week is plant some herbs.

If you cook, it’s so much cheaper to grow your own than buying them at the store every week and it’s so handy to have them pretty much all the time. And even if you don’t cook much, they’re pretty! And they smell good! And you can give them to your friends and family and have them think you’re so cool.

Also, cooking with something you grew, even if it’s just an herb, creates a totally different experience and is something you can be proud of.

If you don’t want to start from seed (a little less beginner friendly, takes longer, but more cost effective) most stores have young starts you can buy (I know Trader Joe’s does, but also most garden sections of big box stores do too). I believe they’re still relatively cheap though.

If you have no gardening/plant experience, do not worry, herbs are some of the easiest things you can do and you can keep them very manageable in small pots just outside your door.

Come on, how cute would it be to have some herbs sitting outside your door and just running out there whenever you’re cooking a good meal? That’s straight out of a Nancy Meyers movie!

I also started mint and lemon balm seeds this week, hopefully I’ll have some pictures to share soon!

Have questions about watering, spacing, harvesting, etc? Just google! (You can also ask me! I’d love to help)

In the Kitchen

In tune with my Seasonal Note, I plan to cook with herbs a lot this week.

I’ll be able to use my parsley and dill in this Mediterranean Cod and Potatoes. I’ve made it before with store bought herbs and it was delicious. Herby, citrusy, and so spring!

I also adding an herby twist to my base turkey meatball recipe.

And the simplest, using my green onions to top my breakfast bowls (eggs, hashbrown, bacon) all week.

Hobby Hour

As I discussed last week in my quest for joy, I’ve been trying to take my hobbies more seriously by scheduling them into my life.

My focus for the week is finishing the book I’ve seen all over TikTok.

Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage by Belle Burden finds Belle reeling from her husband’s sudden desire to divorce her in the middle of the pandemic after 20 years of marriage. She reexamines their relationship and how her life has led her to this point.

I’m only a quarter of the way in I’m hooked. The writing is amazing, the story is compelling, both real and profound. I can already absolutely recommend. If anyone else has read/is reading please drop your thoughts on it, I’d love to discuss!

I also ordered Lena Dunham’s new memoir and will start it the second it gets here!

How are you practicing your hobbies this week?

And that concludes the first Weekly Reset!

I’m already having so much fun with this format and hope to hear from you all how this collection strikes you and what else you’re inspired by this week!

- The Living Standard

Up until now, I’ve been sharing weekly resets, monthly resets, and systems for everyday life.

That part isn’t changing. If anything, I want to make it even more useful and easy to come back to.

But I also want to start adding depth.

These systems I share are one small part of the picture. The bigger part is how the systems actually work in real life, how to implement them, stick to them, and adapt when necessary.

I’ve noticed some common questions about my systems.

How can anyone stick to this?
What happens when life gets busy?
What happens when life changes?
What if they stop working?

So I want to add a layer where we can reach a deeper understanding of these systems and how they fit into real life. Beyond that, I want this newsletter to help people take control of their home, and more importantly their life.

So what’s changing?

Adding free content with “The Weekly Reset”

Starting tomorrow, I will share my “weekly reset” every Monday. But this is much more than a cleaning reset.

This is where I’ll share:

• simple resets for home and life

• cleaning and home focus ideas

• seasonal living inspiration

• small habits and “try this this week” ideas

• meals, hobbies, and the other little things that make up life

  Something simple, useful, and grounding to help you start your week inspired and motivated.

Adapting system breakdown posts

These are the posts you’re used to. My resets, my routines, my systems. I still plan on sharing all sorts of content like this, but I’m adding another layer.

These are things like:

• how I structure my daily routines

• how I maintain my home throughout the week

• how I plan and reset my month

• how I keep things feeling manageable instead of overwhelming

Each post will include a full free breakdown of the system so you can understand and use it in your own life.

And for paid subscribers, there will be a new additional layer where I go deeper into:

• the exact step-by-step process I use

• timing and real-life execution (what it actually looks like day to day)

• the adjustments I make when life doesn’t go perfectly

• and downloadable resources to make it easier to implement (checklists, templates, or other tools)

Adding paid content with “The Lifestyle Edit”

Paid subscribers will also get access to a separate column called The Lifestyle Edit.

This is where I move beyond the systems themselves and share how they actually play out over time.

It’s less about “how to do it” and more about how it’s actually going.

Inside The Lifestyle Edit, I’ll share things like:

• what’s working right now in my routines and systems

• what I’m adjusting or simplifying

• how I shift depending on the season or life stage

• what I’m learning from actually living it, not just planning it

• and the reality of building a structured but flexible lifestyle

It’s the behind-the-scenes layer of everything I share here.

Another bonus for paid subscribers

Paid members will also get access to my subscriber resource library.

This includes my current collection of digital products—things like templates, checklists, and printables that connect directly to the systems I share.

My goal is for it to feel like a small, usable toolkit you can return to whenever you need it, not just something you download once and forget about.

Why I’m doing this

I don’t want this space to just be inspiration.

I want it to be something that actually helps you build a life that feels more intentional in a real, sustainable way.

The free content will always stay free and valuable. I still want a community here that doesn’t require a subscription.

The paid tier is for those that want a deeper look at how these systems actually work in real life or need that extra direction. You will also get access to the tools and behind-the-scenes layers that support them.

If you’re here already

Thank you for being part of this early version of The Living Standard.

I’m building this as intentionally as I can, and I’m really grateful you’re here for it. And if you choose to support the paid side I’m excited to share even more with you.

The first edition of The Weekly Reset will hit your inbox tomorrow, with another systems break down coming later in the week. And paid subscribers can expect the extra layer to that system break down and an installment of “The Lifestyle Edit” this week as well.

Either way, I’m so thankful for your support.

— The Living Standard

Yes, it’s nice to have a clean home and it definitely has its benefits (mental health/clarity) and I talk about that plenty on here. But lately, I’ve been thinking about joy — how to find it, how to make it, how to get it.

When life gets crazy and chaotic, it seems like joy is the first thing to go. When really, in the harder moments, we need joy the most. Even in good moments, sometimes we have to look a little harder to find joy.

So why don’t we just schedule joy in our calendar like we would for a meeting or appointment?

I know it seems like the opposite of joy, but by penciling pockets of joy in your schedule, you’re forcing your brain to expect joy, which in turn will help it look for joy all around you.

You know what they say, how you spend your day is how you spend your life.

It’s not about planning out every minute or every activity, or adding new things to your list. It’s just about finding ways to make joy easy and readily available in your life.

These are some small ways I’ve been “scheduling joy” in my life. These have genuinely become the highlight of my weeks and days.

I call them my pockets of joy.

(Hint: they’re way simpler than you think)

My Pockets of Joy

Dessert of the Week

I have a huge sweet tooth and honestly my day doesn’t feel complete if I don’t get a little sweet treat. I’m also very into cooking and baking, so I love trying out new recipes. Also, just having something to do with my hands is very relaxing to me.

So every week I pick a dessert and make it.

A few of my favorites have been Ina Garten’s Brownie Pudding, Sourdough Mixed Berry Scones, Broma Bakery’s Brown Butter Brownies, and The Pioneer Woman’s Blackberry Cobbler.

And this week I will be trying a brookie recipe I saw on Tiktok.

This is just one example of what you could do, but it’s whatever you enjoy.

You like cooking? Try a new recipe you’ve been wanting to make each week.

You like coffee? Try a new coffee place each week.

You like walking/running? Try a new trail/path each week.

Beyond the joy, it’s also amazing for the brain to try new things and go new places. You’ll be scheduling joy but also improving that neuroplasticity.

Hobby Hour

This one sort of goes along with the last one. If you only do your hobbies when you feel like you have a bunch of extra time, you probably won’t end up doing them very much.

So I started “Hobby Hour”. At least a few times a week, I try to block off one hour of my day for my hobbies. For me, that’s usually right after work before I have to start thinking about dinner and other nightly duties. And most weekends I can usually get in a few hours too.

My hobby hours might look like making my dessert of the week, trying a new recipe, taking a long walk outside, or reading more of my current read. Lately, most of my hobby hours have gone towards getting my garden up and running. And on lower energy days it might look like me watching my current show or starting a movie (they’re hobbies too okay!).

A lot of the times I end up going past the hour as long as time allows and most weeks I have hobby hour almost every day. My hobbies are very important to me and are probably responsible for like 80% of my joy, so prioritizing them is how I prioritize my happiness.

I can already hear the comments about kids and busy schedules and yes — a few hours a week may seem like a lot. But before you comment that, I would like you to take a look at your screen time total for one week. I’m willing to bet that most of us (me included!) have hours of screen time a week, some even a day. And I’m not criticizing that at all, that’s your business, but if you really think you don’t have a few hours to spare for yourself and your passions, I encourage you to look at some of your other habits and priorities and see if they actually align with the life you want. And if your hobbies aren’t a priority to you, that’s okay too, but I believe spending time with yourself and your interests is very important.

If you can’t dedicate a full hour, dedicate whatever you can. 45 minutes, 30 minutes, 15, even 10 is better than nothing. You don’t have to do a full hour just because that’s what I do and am fortunate to have enough time for. Adapt the idea to your life and schedule.

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Dinner With Friends

I know, social interaction doesn’t always instantly invoke joy for me either. As an introvert I tend to dread plans (even with people I fully love and adore and always have fun with). But once I’m there and talking and laughing, I’m happy I went. And I leave feeling lighter and happier, because human interaction is important to our well-being, even if some of us can only handle small doses.

So to get my dose of social interaction, I shoot for at least one “social event” a week. Most of mine are dinners with friends and family, either at theirs or mine, sometimes out.

To me, dinner with friends (or family) is the perfect mid-week pick me up.

Your monotonous work week routine gets mixed up and you get good food and conversation. I think most importantly it shows you that not every day has to be the same, which can be an eerie, constant feeling during the work week.

There are so many ways you could accomplish this:

phone calls with long distance friends/family, date nights, girls nights (my favorite is picking a show to watch together one night a week), or attending community events (library events, farmer’s markets, trivia nights, etc.)

This one is probably the one that’s changed my life the most. As an introvert I find it so easy to isolate myself and go way too long without interacting with the people in my life, but too much solitude is still a bad thing.

It’s all about knowing yourself and your limits. If you’re like me and the idea of weekly social plans intimidates you, start with once a month, and add more of less plans as you gauge your social battery and see the benefits of regular socializing.

Once you get into the habit, I promise it will become one of the things you look forward to most.

Finding My Perfect Nighttime Routine

Nighttime routines have somehow become both overcomplicated and undervalued.

I don’t have a strict night routine. I don’t have a 10 step skincare routine. But if you do and that’s what brings you joy, then that’s awesome.

It’s not about what the routine looks like, it’s about how it makes you feel, and most importantly if it brings you joy.

The key part of my night routine is very simple: a cup of tea, a piece of my weekly dessert, and an episode of reality tv.

Is it the healthiest? Probably not. Do I care? Hell no.

I live healthy 80% of the time so the other 20% of the time I can eat daily sweet treats and have wine sometimes.

This little trifecta is the perfect combination to shut my brain off at the end of a long day and add a pop of joy to close out the day.

I wouldn’t advise creating an elaborate routine that includes steps that you don’t really care about or hate doing. This is about adding joy, not adding more work.

So find one thing to add to your nightly routine that will bring you joy.

Could be big, small, elaborate, or simple. But usually the simpler, the better, and the more likely you’ll keep doing it and keep bringing yourself joy every day.

And that’s that on that!

I hope you enjoyed this change of pace from my usual. Hopefully it gives you a glimpse into everything I want The Living Standard to embody. I want The Living Standard to be a combination of clean living (cleaning, organizing, optimizing) but also intentional living (learning to take pride in ourselves and our lives, becoming happier and better versions of ourselves). And I’m looking forward to finding more ways to combine the two.

What are your “pockets of joy”?

- The Living Standard

This daily system is what saves me from that spiral every time. It’s not some complicated, involved routine. It’s simple by design. With each part only taking about 10 minutes, all you have to allocate for your daily routine is 30 minutes.

This is the bare minimum I do every day to keep things running. On days where I don’t have a lot of time — maybe I don’t have time to cook or clean or I ended up being gone longer than I thought — this is what lets me still have some sense of control over my day, my home, and my life.

As long as I take these steps, I’m not worried about what I did or didn’t accomplish on a day that maybe didn’t go as planned. And on good days, this system elevates it even more.

It makes my days feel calm and controlled, never frantic.

The Daily Standard: My 3-Part Daily Routine

My 30-minute daily routine is broken into 3, 10-minute sessions: The Morning Brief, a 10-Minute Tidy, and The Closing Shift. Below you’ll find a full break down of each.

1. The Morning Brief

After your morning routine, whatever that looks like for you, I want you to set aside 10 minutes to plan your day. You might be thinking, I just have to work, what is there to plan?

And I hear you, but there’s a more intentional way to approach your work day.

I start by setting my “Daily Big 3”, my 3 most important tasks (or focuses) of the day. This makes the day seem approachable

Then, since you’re probably thinking of all the other little things you have to do throughout the day, you’re going to brain dump all of that onto your daily to-do list. I break mine up into morning, afternoon, and evening, to keep it organized.

And to close out your morning brief: time block your day.

Instead of bouncing around all day, you set certain tasks to certain time windows so you can stop thinking about what you need to do next. It decreases decision fatigue and increases productivity, a win-win if you will.

Some parts of this will stay the same day-to-day, while some blocks will change. For example, the first hour of the day might always be emails, or you might always have meetings at a certain time. Add those into the schedule and fit your tasks into the blanks.

Why does this work?

It’s simple. Planning your day at the beginning takes away the mental energy you usually use throughout the day to decide what you’re doing next, what should be done first, and all the other decisions you have to make. Taking ten minutes to do this thinking up front means freeing up mental energy for the rest of the day.

2. 10-Minute Tidy

I honestly can’t remember what my life looked like before I discovered the magic of the 10-minute tidy. I think I used to view cleaning and taking care of your home as an all or nothing thing. But the reality is that a clean home and a tidy life takes small, consistent effort, instead of sporadic bursts.

That’s the beauty of the 10-minute tidy.

Ten minutes is longer than it sounds. And ten minutes is plenty of time to reduce visual clutter, which is all the stuff that overwhelms you when you walk in the door.

Shoes, jackets, mail, trash — anything not in its spot, has to go back.

You’ll find out pretty quick that it takes seconds to put these things in their true spot, which may inadvertently result in you putting things up instead of “putting them down”. That’s just a bonus of this system.

The 10-minute tidy is also great for little tasks we tend to put off for “later”. Restocking empty products, changing hand towels, taking out the trash, folding laundry, etc.

You can do this at any point in your day. I find that due to my other cleaning schedules and routines, I don’t need to do it in the morning (and I usually don’t have the time anyways). So I usually do it during my lunch break or as soon as I’m done with work. I find that if I don’t do it right when I’m done, then it won’t get done at all, so that timing is just what works for me.

If you don’t know what to do during your 10-minute tidy, ask yourself these:

What’s overwhelming me the most right now?

What’s something I said I would do “later”?

Why does this work?

The main reason people put off cleaning or tidying is because they’re overwhelmed, they don’t know where to start. It seems like there’s too much to do, so they don’t do anything at all. Starting with the little things is the easiest approach, and visual clutter is what contributes most to that overwhelmed feeling. These 10 minutes are likely to make the rest of your evening more productive, and definitely certain to make you feel more optimistic about cleaning and keeping up with your home.

3. The Closing Shift

I’ve talked briefly about this on other posts, and that’s because I truly think it’s made the biggest difference in how I feel each day.

Because of my “closing shift”, I get to wake up to a clean, tidy fresh start each morning. If you’re curious how I fit in my other real cleaning, check out my weekly cleaning schedule post.

Even if you don’t realize it, waking up to dirty dishes and cluttered counters sends you into overdrive first thing in the morning. You’re overwhelmed before the day has even started.

To keep this from happening, I implemented the closing shift. Think back to your high school minimum wage job and what you had to do at closing to get the place ready for the next day. The same logic applies.

Here’s mine for an example. I start after dinner because that’s when I start winding down for the night.

Closing Checklist:

☐ Load dishwasher

☐ Wipe counters

☐ Reset living room (fold blankets, fluff pillows)

☐ Close curtains/lock doors

☐ Put out anything you’ll need in the morning (coffee cup, lunch box, rain jacket, etc.)

Elevated bonus:

☐ Lay out pjs and turn down your bed

See? Very easy. Most nights it doesn’t even take me the full 10 minutes.

Why does this work?

Even if you have a chaotic day and no regular cleaning gets done, with this system your bare minimum is 20 minutes of tidying/light cleaning (10 minute tidy + 10 minute closing shift), which does wonders for the feel of your home.

You can have a clean home, but if it’s not tidy, it won’t feel very clean. A tidy home is always at least going to look clean even if you haven’t been able to actually clean for a few days.

There are things that just have to be done every day, especially if you spend most of your time at home or have a big family. These little things (dishes, clutter) pile up fast. The only way to stay ahead of them is to do a little bit each day, and this system makes that easy and approachable.

And that’s The Daily Standard system!

Hopefully you can see that it doesn’t have to be complicated to get some sense of control over your home and your life. 30 minutes is all it takes.

If you’re interested in starting this daily routine, I turned this into a simple two-page system you can use every day. Check out the editable Daily Standard system here.

Come back next week for all things routines, systems, and intentional living.

- The Living Standard

But one of the most useful has turned out to be my monthly reset routine.

This one has no cleaning involved. It’s solely about closing out the month and preparing for the next one. This little reset routine brings so much more intention to my life and helps me process each month as it happens.

I complete this anytime around the end of the month, but the first of the month always has a good productive energy, so I will be completing my monthly reset once I get done with this.

My monthly reset routine has 3 sections:

1. Reflect: take stock of the last month — what worked and what didn’t

2. Plan: goals and focuses for the next month

3. Reset: digital housekeeping, finance check, personal upkeep

Here’s the in-depth breakdown and how I utilize each section:

1. Reflect

This isn’t about dogging on yourself for any “bad habits”, but it is about holding yourself accountable. This is the area that has made the biggest difference because it makes me check in with myself, my habits, and my goals on a monthly basis instead of just at the beginning of the year.

To keep it easy, I just brain dump into 3 simple categories: Start, Stop, and Continue.

So it looks something like this:

As you can see, you can make note of little and big things you’ve been doing that month. View it as a check-in with yourself.

Since I can kind of get down on myself during this portion, I also answer the question “What are you most proud of from the last month?” and list 3 things.

2. Plan

This part is valuable because this is where you apply your reflection of the previous month. Since you’ve already thought about last month, what worked and what didn’t, you have an idea of what you want the next month to look like.

In this section, I set 3 goals for the month, add a deadline, and detail steps to make it happen.

Here’s a visual:

I have a template like this that I reuse/refill each month. If you’re interested, I’ve made a printable digital download version (which you can edit with Canva), that you can check out here.

This takes maybe five minutes and makes such a difference. I also refer to this at the beginning of each week to find ways to incorporate my monthly goals into my week.

3. Reset

Now that you’ve reflected, you can reset, which is the part that’s going to make you feel like you’re actually closing out the month. You can completely personalize this to your life — think about the areas that may not need daily or weekly attention, but require more than a few times a year.

I’ll give you an example and show you how I reset my life each month.

Mine is split into three areas: digital, financial, and personal.

a) Digital

As someone who does all their work on the computer, and a fair amount on their phone, it gets messy very fast. By the end of the month my files are a disaster, my email is out of space, and I have dozens of useless screenshots.

So, these are some steps I take at the end of the month to keep things a bit more manageable:

☐ empty spam and trash folders in email

☐ clear inbox from past month (delete useless email, delete unread, etc.)

☐ organize desktop file folders (downloads, documents, etc.)

- if you don’t have sections in your file folder (and folders within those), I highly recommend making them, so at the end of the month you can file things where they belong and get rid of the rest

☐ (phone) delete screenshots/unwanted pictures from the past month

☐ (phone) delete random/spam text messages

If you don’t regularly do this and your digital life is sort of a mess, it may seem like a lot. I will warn you, it will take much longer if it hasn’t been done lately. However, once you get things organized, it’s so easy to maintain it every month and makes it so much easier to find what you need and keeps things running smoothly.

It’s oddly satisfying too.

b) Financial

As someone who used to avoid thinking about money, I will tell you it’s so important to keep an eye on your finances and take care of them like you would your home.

This is my monthly financial audit:

☐ bill check (price, due dates, automatic payments, etc.)

☐ double check subscription costs and cancel unused

☐ check credit card points/rewards

☐ set monthly budget

I find that it’s so much easier for me to do all this one time a month instead of doing it whenever I think about it (because then I’m more likely to just put it off/forget).

c) Personal

This is easiest section and purely just for random personal things I like to do on a monthly basis, so it will look very different for everyone, but here’s a brief look at mine:

☐ change computer/phone lockscreens

☐ check Libby holds (electronic library system)

☐ set TBR (to-be-read) and watchlist (shows and movies) for the month

Again, you can get all of this in an easy checklist format that you can edit and reuse each month. Check out the editable digital download template/printable here.

And that’s my monthly reset routine! Overall it’s very simple, it’s just about closing out the past month and refocusing before the next one.

What does your monthly reset look like?

Come back next week for all things routines, systems, and intentional living.

- The Living Standard

This week we’re focusing on small habits you can implement to your weekly routine that will set your future self up for success.

1. A “Weekly Reset”

Everyone’s weekly reset will look different, but I think these are the three most important things to start a new week with: a clean bed, a full fridge, and a sense of control.

So for me, my weekly reset consists of washing my sheets, making a meal plan for the week, picking up groceries, and taking stock of what the next week will look like. Once you have your system down, it doesn’t take nearly as much time as you think. And the sense of calm and control you get from being prepared, makes it well worth it.

If you’re interested in the break down of my 2-hour weekly reset, check out the full post.

And if you’re more of the checklist type, you can check out my 2-Hour Weekly Reset Checklist. It’s a printable digital download with itemized checklists to guide you through a weekly reset.

2. Monday “Admin Hour”

Some people add this into their Sunday resets, but most of the time I’m not quite ready to dive into the logistics of the next week. So thankfully, I have the freedom to do a Monday “admin hour” before I start work for the day.

(Spoiler Alert: it usually doesn’t take near an hour)

This is where I start planning my week — marking any appointments, bills due, important tasks, anything going on that week, certain things that need to be done on certain days, etc.

I can move through my week so much easier because the “admin hour” I did at the beginning of the week did all the thinking for me. Each day is essentially already planned, and I can start the day knowing all the important things for that day, and fill in the blanks accordingly.

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3. Set a Cleaning Schedule

My life totally changed when I set a weekly cleaning schedule. I assigned each area of the house it’s own specific day (Tuesday = bathroom, Wednesday = kitchen, etc.).

It’s the same every week. And the brain space this clears up is amazing. I no longer have to think about if I should clean that day, what I should clean, or dread cleaning my whole house on a Sunday.

To supplement the schedule, I also have daily non-negotiables. A few examples would be making my bed, no dishes in the sink, and wiping down the counters every night. These are now just a part of my daily routine and all of this combined makes my life so much easier and my home so much cleaner.

If you’re interested in the concept but need more details, I wrote a whole post about my weekly cleaning schedule.

And if you’re more of the checklist type, you can check out my Weekly Cleaning Schedule Checklists. It’s a printable digital download with itemized checklists for each room of the house. There’s also an editable template.

4. Meal Planning / Food Prep

As mentioned in the weekly reset tip, a full fridge is essential to a good week. But beyond a full fridge, knowing what you’re cooking with that food is what helps you have an organized week.

So before you even go to the store, you need to think about what you want to eat that week. Better yet, what do you still have from the last week that needs to be used? Use that to jumpstart your list.

Once you know what you want, make your list, get your food, and stick to your plan. Obviously things come up, but sticking to your list is what’s going to take some things off your plate during the week. You don’t have to “come up with something” for dinner anymore, it’s already planned and bought.

To take this a step further and really give yourself a leg up, you can prepare your food in advance. Most people think this means meal prep, and if that fits your lifestyle then great, but a whole meal prep can be intimidating for most people.

I never meal prep dinners because I just prefer cooking dinner each night and don’t like the “leftover” feel, but I routinely meal prep breakfasts like breakfast sandwiches and bagels.

But an even more approachable version is “ingredient prep”. Instead of preparing a whole meal, you prepare individual ingredients so that they’re ready to use.

For example: chopping veggies/fruit, making any sauces/dressings so they’re ready to use later, assembling lunches so they can be “grab and go”.

Not only will this likely help you make healthier choices throughout the week, it will save you time and energy on busy week days.

5. A True “Rest Day”

So I know the list up until this point might seem like a lot of work, and don’t get me wrong, it does take some upfront labor and thought, but the benefits far outweigh that.

That being said, rest is important too. If you try to maximize every moment and are always focused on being productive, it’s going to catch up with you.

If I go too long without giving myself a genuine rest day, it comes back to bite me later, often resulting in multiple rest days in a row because I’m so beat down.

So, I try to have one true rest day a week. Mine usually ends up being Saturday. No cleaning, no extensive cooking, and certainly not ANY planning.

I really think this rest day is how I’m so productive the rest of the week. I can clean and plan everything throughout the week because I know a rest day is coming. And I can do it the next week because I had a rest day.

It really plays a big part in the system.

That’s all for now! These are just some small habits that have helped me reach a calm, organized life. And I hope they can do the same for you.

- The Living Standard

This time of the year is much more conducive to starting new goals and projects, or refocusing on ones you’ve neglected. Nature is doing it right along with you.

A “spring reset” will look different for every person, but I believe a good baseline starts with two easy steps: Decluttering & Refocusing.

We have to get rid of the old to make room for the new.

Step One: Decluttering

I truly believe the state of your home is essential to your wellbeing. And it’s only natural if our homes have been a little neglected in the slower time of winter.

After spending a majority of our time inside this winter, we have a pretty good idea of what we do and don’t use in our homes. Now is the perfect time to get rid of things that have gone untouched the past few months.

There are so many ways to declutter a house, but I suggest starting with the space that gives you the most anxiety.

What’s the space in your house you know is cluttered? What are some things you know you need to get rid of, but just haven’t taken care of yet?

Some easy areas to start with are:

• Closets (regular, linen, hall, extra bedrooms)

• Junk drawers/cabinets

• Medicine cabinets, spice cabinets, etc.

• Laundry room

Look for: damaged/useless items, expired products, things you simply don’t use (and know you never will)

Once you start, the ball will keep rolling and you’ll want to move to full rooms. I am not responsible for all the things that will get thrown away once you get started.

*Try to throw away as little as possible, only use as a last resort, or for items that are destroyed. First, try giving away to friends/family, repurposing, and donating.

Decluttering is a big step you can take to make a major difference in the feel of your home, and the lightness of your mind. It makes you ready to tackle the rest of your to-do lists and goals. It feels so good to get rid of things that have just been sitting and taking up space, physically and mentally.

Once your space is decluttered, you have more space to think of other things you need, and want, to tackle.

If you’re overwhelmed by the idea of decluttering your house and want some guidance, I’ve made decluttering checklists for each room of the house. You can check them out here. And if you’re looking for a more in-depth home spring reset, I also have a 14 Day Spring Reset Guide that combines decluttering and deep cleaning.

Step Two: Refocusing

Now that you’ve decluttered, you can focus on a more personalized spring reset. This is where you figure out what goals you need to refocus on, what you want the rest of the year to look like, and how you’re going to get there.

This is like the less intimidating version of your usual New Year’s resolutions. Instead of making a mile long resolution list, you’re refocusing on what’s important to you, and making plans for them.

Instead of a traditional resolution list, I’m making a Spring Big Three: three areas of my life that I want to intentionally give focus to.

Mine are: health, finances, and community.

It’s a vision board, but with a plan behind it.

For each focus, I’ll set 3 specific goals that fall within that category. And for each goal I’ll brainstorm actions I can take weekly to help me reach that goal.

Most of these aren’t super specific goals like New Year’s resolutions — certain amount of miles ran per week, counting calories, etc. — but more general ideas I want to strive for.

For example, here’s my community focus:

I didn’t have a great start to the year, I never even made resolutions. Even if I don’t do all of them, I usually at least make a few resolutions … but this year I just wasn’t feeling it.

This Big Three method feels way more intentional and realistic. I feel like it will help me focus on what really matters to me and not get caught up in silly resolutions I feel pressured to make, only to fail because they’re not things I’m really passionate about.

Drop your potential “Big 3” in the comments! They can be as broad or specific as you need.

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These past few weeks I’ve been itching for a change, which is why I came up with this two step reset system and my Spring Big Three. It’s simple enough for me to stay true to it, but intentional in a way that will help me make meaningful changes in these areas.

Hopefully you’ve found something in here to help you refocus on yourself and everything you want for this year. Happy New Year!

- The Living Standard

But as I got further into my twenties, I realized that cleaning didn’t have to take up my whole weekend, or multiple week nights.

I was overcomplicating it, and about six months ago I decided I was sick and tired of it. There had to be a better way.

I’m a girl that loves organization and systems, doing things in the most efficient way possible.

I decided to start systematically cleaning a little each day to avoid spending hours doing the same stuff on the weekends.

The truth is that once you make cleaning a part of your daily routine, it no longer has to rule your days. And the reality of working small cleaning routines into your daily life is a cleaner, easier maintained space overall.

Now that I clean a little each day, my space is pretty much always clean, which does wonders for my mental health and state of mind.

A consistent cleaning schedule also means less cleaning overall, because things don’t really have time to build up dirt and grime.

So, here’s a breakdown of how I’m able to clean a little every day, instead of using precious weekend hours.

1. Assign areas of the house to certain days

This has been the biggest game changer for me.

It takes all the guesswork out of cleaning. Most people give up before they even start because there’s “too much to clean” and they “don’t know where to start”. This system greatly reduces the risk of you feeling overwhelmed by cleaning.

For example, here’s my weekly breakdown:

Monday: laundry

Tuesday: bathroom(s)

Wednesday: kitchen

Thursday: living room/general spaces

Friday/Saturday: nothing :)

Sunday: bedroom(s)

Most days take me about 20 minutes. That’s it.

The beauty of this framework is that it’s fully customizable. Move the areas that take the longest to the day you have the most time, do your bedroom around the time you wash your sheets, do your kitchen the day before you go grocery shopping, etc.

My advice is to implement this schedule immediately, don’t think too hard about what area needs to be what day, you will figure that out with time. I’ve moved a few days around since I started this system about six months ago, and I’m sure I will continue to move them around as my life changes.

This, paired with my next tip is what has made this system sustainable.

2. Daily Non-Negotiables

Now, if you were to only do the assigned daily area, your home would probably still be a little dirty. That’s because there are areas that can be cleaned weekly without a problem (bedroom/bathroom), but there are other high-use areas that need daily attention.

The biggest one for me is the kitchen. I work from home and eat 90% of my food at home, so I’m in the kitchen at least 3x a day. Obviously I can’t only clean the kitchen on Wednesdays, or it would filthy by the end of Thursday.

That’s where the daily non-negotiables come in. These are the things you do daily, no matter what, to supplement the weekly schedule.

Here are few examples of mine:

Make my bed every morning

No dishes in the sink by the end of the night

Clean messes as they happen (spills, crumbs, etc)

Wipe the kitchen counters after dinner

Reset the living room before I go to bed (fold any blankets, reset the pillows, etc)

Pretty simple right? These are all a part of my daily routine and take mere minutes. I believe these are what take my house from “pretty clean” to “ready for surprise company at any time”. And these will look different for everyone, but just try to think of small things you could do every day that would make a difference in the way your home looks or functions.

Just try these for a week, along with the weekly schedule, and tell me your mind isn’t way clearer and calmer. I swear you’ll enjoy your home more when you take care of it daily, even in small ways.

RAISE YOUR STANDARDS: The 10-Minute Tidy

This one is supplemental, I definitely don’t do it every day, but I am trying to do it more often just because it’s so effective. I tend to do it anytime I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed (usually later in the week) or I feel like things are piling up (usually lots of random tasks I’ve been putting off).

The concept is simple — set a 10 minute timer and tidy up any problem areas.

Some easy areas to look to are entryways, general living spaces, and kitchen counters. Mine usually involve refilling random things (dish soap, toilet paper) and putting things up where they belong.

And what usually ends up happening is more cleaning. I feel so good getting stuff sorted that I’ll go for another 10, maybe even longer.

I recommend doing this on days where your daily cleaning area goes by really fast, days you have more time, or days you have more energy. Think of it as helping your future self.

FAQs

What if I only have 10 free minutes a day?

I’m willing to bet you spent at least 10 minutes today already on something frivolous, which is our right, but let’s be frank, whatever your priorities are, is where your time will go. So, if your priority is scrolling on social media, then you might not have 20 minutes to spare to keep your house tidy. There’s no judgment here, but you have to be honest with yourself about your priorities. If that’s not you, and you truly just barely have time to do everything else (I know there are some of you out there), then I would say 10 minutes is better than nothing. You would be surprised how much you can actually do in 10 minutes. We have a habit of overestimating the time it takes to do something we don’t want to do.

What happens if I miss a day?

Look, this is a schedule meant as a guide, it’s not set in stone. Life happens, things come up, and suddenly you don’t have time get to your cleaning area that day. It happens to me every couple of weeks. Since the daily load is not that much, it’s not a big deal to just move that area to the next day or later that week on a day where you have a little more time. Or, worst case scenario, your room doesn’t get dusted for two weeks instead of one. It will be okay. Remember, perfection is the enemy of progress.

How sustainable is this, really?

Maybe I’m just Type A crazy person, but this schedule is the best thing I’ve ever done. I spend so much less time and brain space on cleaning, and somehow my house actually feels cleaner more consistently. I’ve been doing it consistently for over six months now and the changes that I’ve seen are what let me know that I will keep doing it this way.

💡 Like the idea but need a little guidance? I’ve made a weekly cleaning schedule template available for digital download. You can check it out here. It comes with a prefilled weekly schedule, complete with individual area checklists, for those that need more guidance, and a blank template for those that want to customize their areas. It also has a section for every day non-negotiables and guiding questions for the 10 minute tidy.

I’ll see you next week with more ways to raise the standards of everyday living.

- The Living Standard

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And then I quickly learned how unsustainable that is. I was always one Sunday plan or busy weekend away from utter chaos.

Now, instead of blocking a whole day off for cleaning, I have quick daily cleaning sessions and a much more simple Sunday reset routine.

This system allows the cleaning to fit into my life instead of my life revolving around the cleaning, which has given me more control over my life. I no longer feel like the house is always dirty or all I do is clean. The state of the house no longer takes up so much space in my brain.

And yet, my house is more consistently clean than ever before.

Here’s one major piece of the puzzle:

A manageable, no-frills weekly reset that takes no longer than two hours. And honestly, it will probably take even less once you adapt it to your space and life, and get used to the rhythm.

Here’s the breakdown of my 2-hour weekly reset:

I break it into four 30-minute sections:

• Laundry & Linens

• Kitchen Reset

• Floors & Surfaces

• Planning & Prep

1. Laundry & Linens

   I always start with this section since laundry takes the longest. Depending on the speed of your washer you might be able to get two loads done, but I usually just aim to get my sheets done. There’s nothing better than a fresh set of sheets, especially on a Sunday night. Get your load in the washer and move onto your next section, you’ll finish this section at the end by making your bed and/or folding your laundry.

   *If you have loads of laundry that are clean, but haven’t been folded, take the rest of the time in this section to get them put up!

2. Kitchen Reset

   My kitchen descends into chaos quickly, even with a weekly clean and daily surface cleans. As someone who cooks almost every meal at home, my fridge and freezer are the things I struggle the most with. I do my best to limit food waste, but even so, by the end of the week there are usually a couple things that need to be tossed. This is the time I handle those things.

   I go through the fridge, searching for produce that’s about to go bad and leftovers that are too old. I also take stock of what is left in the fridge. This helps me know what needs to be used first in the next week and what we’re about out of, before I make my list for the week (more on this in section 4).

   Then I deal with any dishes that came from the fridge or any dishes I’ve been putting off (pans, reusable water bottles, etc.). This is the time of the week I also remove everything from my kitchen counters and give them a thorough cleaning.

3. Floors & Surfaces

   The simplest section of them all. It’s time to vacuum, sweep, and mop your floors. There’s been a rule of thumb going around on TikTok that you’re supposed to clean your floors based on the number of people/pets that live in your house (ex: 2 people = cleaning floors 2 days a week). Thankfully it’s only the two of us so I can get away with doing the floors during my Sunday reset and then again mid-week.

4. Planning & Prep

   This is probably the most important section of the whole reset, it’s what actually makes me feel ready for the week ahead instead of still reeling from the last one.

   This is when I make my grocery list and dinner schedule for the week (future post coming on this system). Once I’m done with that, I take a brief look at my calendar for the week just so I’m aware of what’s going on (it also helps plan dinners).

   And then to close out the reset I think about my goals, focuses, and intentions for the week. Writing them down and reviewing them throughout the week really makes such a difference!

   ---

And that’s it! Like I said, it’s a very simple, easy reset that helps me feel ready for the week without taking up too much of my precious free time.

Like the idea but need some structure and guidance? I made a digital download with itemized checklists and the weekly planning page. You can find it here. Print it out each week for an easy way to stay accountable!

Happy spring cleaning!

- The Living Standard

In February, it’s less about “making the most of every day” and more about “finding a glimmer of hope”. At least it’s felt this way for me lately, and I’m willing to bet it’s that way for a lot of you too.

We’re far from the coziness of the holidays, but still experiencing winter weather and spotty sunlight. Everything is dull and gray, everyone is grumpy and restless. Spring couldn’t possibly feel any further than it does in these last few weeks.

But, I’ve decided hope is not yet lost. I’ve been trying to intentionally add some things into my life to help late winter not feel so heavy.

Here’s a quick list of what I’ve been doing lately to beat the winter blues:

1. Soaking Up TV Time

Summer is a busy time in our house, so I don’t get nearly as much tv time. I’m using this slow period to get in all the time I can. Thankfully, I’ve been supplied with some great tv lately.

Tell Me Lies just wrapped up last week, the second part of Bridgerton is days away, and The Pitt season two has been amazing so far. Not to mention The Traitors, which might have been single handedly getting me through the year so far.

I think next I will rewatch Big Little Lies, one of my favorite shows, which for some reason feels like spring to me. But I’m always open to suggestions!

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2. Planning My Garden

The magic of this one could be applied to anything you want to plan for this spring and summer. Trips, vacations, activities with the family, dinner parties, bucket lists, anything you can think of.

This works because you now have something (or a lot of somethings) to look forward to.

For me, it’s my garden.

I’m deep into winter sowing, seed starting dates, layout plans, and finding last minute things to add.

Even if you don’t have a full garden, you could plan some herbs to try out this spring and summer. They’re so beginner (and small space) friendly! And trust me, the dopamine you get from seeing the green seedlings after a long winter is the best.

Bonus: look up the start dates of your local farmer’s markets and mark them on your calendar!

3. Audiobooks

I always love a good audiobook, but there’s something extra special about listening to them while doing stuff around the house while avoiding the cold outside. This is the time I prioritize my romance, fantasy, and memoir reads, because I find this is the time I want escape and coziness.

Tip: Avoid any heavy topics for now. No need to make things worse!

4. Ina Garten Everything

Speaking of audiobooks, a certain audiobook is why I’ve been hooked on Ina Garten lately. A few weeks ago I listened to her memoir, Be Ready When The Luck Happens, and felt so comforted and inspired that she’s basically all I’ve been able to think about since. If you’ve yet to read her book, I HIGHLY recommend it. Its coziness just might lift your mood.

I’ve also started watching her show, Be My Guest (on HBO), while cooking dinner and it’s definitely the highlight of most of my days.

Currently looking for a used copy of ANY of her cookbooks …

5. Getting Outside (yes, even in the cold)

This is one I don’t see on most lists like this, probably because it’s not as cozy as the other suggestions.

This is not for true winter, and heavily dependent on your area, but now that we’re in the last few weeks, temps are starting to fluctuate and there are more and more days that aren’t too bad.

I made myself a promise for February: any day above 40 degrees, I had to be outside for at least 30 minutes.

A lot of the time this looked like a 30 minute walk after I logged off work for the day, but sometimes I would also eat lunch outside. On the unseasonably warm days, I read outside.

My advice is to take advantage of any moderately warm day when they come, because we never truly know how many times the temperature pendulum is going to swing back and forth.

I plan on continuing this in March because it really does make such a difference. I would be having such a bad day, grumpy for no reason, unmotivated, but as soon as I got my outside time I was in a much better mood.

6. Social Hour

This one pairs beautifully with #5 because combining your outside walk with a phone call is guaranteed to make you feel like yourself again.

Social Hour just means you finally set aside time to call everyone you’ve been meaning to call.

I’ve never been the best at keeping in touch, but I find that I especially struggle in the winter. Probably has to do with the overall doom and gloom I feel in the winter. But every time I do finally call, I immediately feel better after.

Talking with loved ones makes you feel better, crazy I know.

I don’t do this every day because as an introvert, my social battery could not handle it, but if that’s your thing then go crazy.

I typically take an hour after work one day a week and walk outside while I call everyone I need to call — my mom, my sister, my grandma, my friend.

It’s been something I look forward to every week, and it makes the walk go by faster too.

Hopefully this list can give you inspiration for ways to live more intentionally these last few weeks of winter. Good luck to you all. Spring is almost here!

- The Living Standard

It was the number one contributor to my anxiety.

Clearly, I was craving structure and stability.

So I created The Living Standard.

It’s a publication focused on thoughtful, practical frameworks for running a well-managed home. Cleaning routines that are simple and repeatable. Organizational systems that reduce decision fatigue. Small structures that make daily life feel deliberate instead of reactive.

It’s not about perfection, it’s not about buying all new, shiny things.

It will be about doing everyday life well, in a way that leaves room for more intentional living.

In the coming weeks, I’ll be sharing:

• Cleaning and reset frameworks
• Home organization systems
• Routine structures
• Occasional recipes and hobby integrations
• Practical guides you can implement immediately

To begin, I’ve created a 14-day spring reset guide. It includes daily checklists to help you reset your home for the new season, and frameworks to set the foundation for what I hope to teach you through this publication.

As a thank you for being here, subscribers can use code SUBSTACK20 for 20% off the 14-Day Spring Reset Guide through Friday, February 27th.

You can explore it here: 14-Day Spring Reset Guide

More soon.

— The Living Standard

Raising the standard of everyday living