Two big garbage bags of toys just left my home. A man came and whisked them away in some sort of fabulous reverse Santa Claus moment. They were the toys that my eldest had chosen to give away as part of my family’s new “Pick 10″ commitment.

Now, I’m not one to say no to domestic help. That said, I really only hire people to clean my home about once a month for the deep clean benefits. The rest of the time I’m on my own.

I’m not Martha. My living room is not always perfect (the peak messy hour is 10 AM) but it is rarely out of control. A clean home makes all the difference in the world. You know how peaceful you feel when your home is organized vs. when it looks like a thrift store vomited all over it.

Here are Five Tips for Maintaining Domestic Order:

1. Set Limits! Pay attention to how much stuff you own. You don’t need two mini-strollers for your child’s dolls. Give one away. 15 sippy cups? Toss out 11.

2. Give everything a predetermined home. Almost every item in my home has a place of its own. This makes cleaning easy. Different toys have special places where they “rest.” The broom has a place it lives. Books have a spot to hang. My diaper bag has it’s own joint. You get it?

3. Getting control of dishes. Back to tip #1. If you hate washing dishes or notice they pile up quickly, put a cap on how many you own. A family of 4 doesn’t need 86 plates or 20 cups. Bonus points if you take the excess to a deserted area and take them out Duck Hunt style.

4. Make a plan. Do big tasks on the same day of the week. Make Monday floors day. Tuesday can be for the bathrooms. Then have a short routine that you do every night. Mine is: sweep kitchen, wipe down counters, and pick up the living room. Easy!

5. Laundry. To prevent laundry from taking over your life, do a load a day and then put it away immediately.

No one is asking you to be perfect but these five simple steps have the potential to completely change how you feel about your living space.

We say we want to change the world and make a difference. It essential to gain mastery over one’s self and space as a part of making the world better. What you can’t do for yourself you can never do for someone else.

Take back your home.

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2010 marks the start to a new paradigm for mothers. Whether you run a business or not, the age of work ’til you drop is over.

I experimented with many work styles in 2009 and realized that how much I accomplished had very little to do with how many hours I worked. We’ve all heard that it’s better to work smart than just hard- it’s time to put that into action.

Let me tell you a little about how I used to approach work: I’d haphazardly jump into my email inbox and put out small fires one by one with no clear direct or intention for the day. I’d tackle whatever issue screamed the loudest without making list and identifying my clear priorities. I didn’t make start and stop times for work. One of my mentors, Chellie Campbell whose workshop Financial Stress Reduction transformed me into a business owner who was pulling in a deficit every month to where I am now (this will be my first six-figure quarter) once told me, “Your work will expand into however much time you’re willing to give it,” and that’s what was happening.

I was literally working all night long. I’d sleep for a few hours and then jumped in again to another crazy day of working & mothering.

By the end of 2009 I realized that while I was getting it all done; my family was happy, my clients were happy, I was getting worn out. I had little to no time for friends but fooled myself into being proud of that (“Oh look how busy and productive I am!”). Our bodies need sleep even if our minds are stimulated. Our relationships need attention. Our spirits need time to meditate. Our souls need to have fun.

There is a difference between a business owner and a slave who is in possession of a job. I’ve resolved in 2010 to be committed to brilliance, excellence, and balance.

Brilliance: All of us have unique gifts. Our calling and talents serve the world. I have a responsibility to make sure I’m using them efficiently.

Excellence: This means doing what I say I’m going to do and doing it well. This isn’t about perfection, per se, it’s about having high standard for my work and behavior.

Balance: Being a wife and mother means that I have to take care of myself. So many women die every year from heart problems due to years of unchecked stress. Yes, it’s possible to get it all done (I know, I’ve done it) but do you really want to? We need to have periods of intense work, family time, and time to just be still for reflection and meditation. I’ve found that the key to balance is being willing to ask and accept help, create systems, and set limits. More on that next time.

I love my life, family, and the companies that I’m so privileged to serve. My hope for all of you mom entrepreneurs out there, whether you run a single blog or a multinational corporation is that you keep your days inspired and intentions clear.

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