Friday, September 28, 2007

~Motivation to Clean~

Playing maid on Wednesday was a change of pace, but I don't do that every time I need to clean my house. However, I have done it a few times. The money for coffee was a new twist this time around. LOL Here are some other things I have done to motivate myself:

***As I am finished cleaning each room, I light a candle behind me. Then as I come back through that room to put something away, I see the candle flickering, reminding me that this room is already cleaned! I usually start with the easiest rooms first, that way I can get a few candles going right away!

***I write a backwards list. Every time I'm finished with a task, I write it on my list. At the end, I have a whole long list of things I've accomplished!

***I write a list of everything that needs to be done, including things that don't normally make it to a regular list (i.e. make bed, water plants, or whatever). That way there are lots of things to cross off my list, in a short amount of time!

I don't do this now, but when I was little, my mom would send me to my room to clean it and I would:

***Play like I was a shopkeeper.

***Pretend my sisters and I were orphans. LOL

***Play like I was a housecleaning elf. I had to work fast and secretly! (As if it was a secret I had been sent to my room to clean it!)

So you see, I've always had an active imagination when it comes to getting tasks done. It can be soooo easy to get bored and tired of doing repetitive tasks, so taking your mind off the boringness of the job often gets me out of that rut!

Happy housecleaning!

8 comments:

Nikki said...

Those are great! I need some help getting motivated ALOT. I really like the maid idea because of the coffee...hehe

Sadie said...

It sounds like we would have been great friends as little girls, I used to imagine similar things when it was time to clean. Also, now I light candles in the rooms after I clean them. But, I hadn't thought of the backwards list or playing maid now, sounds fun!

Jennwith4 said...

He he he I would use my imagination while cleaning my room as a child as well.

I like some of those motivational ideas! I'm going to use one next time!

theups said...

The backwards list is a neat idea!! I just may try that tomorrrow (my list is already made today). :)

His,
Mrs. U

Anonymous said...

I love the candle idea. What a nice reward! Something I do that helps is to give myself a set amount of time to get a task done...like the dreaded laundry. I will set a timer to a reasonable amount (15, 30 min, etc) and then tell myself I get to stop when it beeps. I end up hurrying to beat the timer so I get it all done that it gets done in record time!

Unknown said...

Oh this is a great list with great ideas! I loved the *backward list* one! I have used a similar train of thought with other ladies when they complain they haven't accomplished anything at the end of the day. I always tell them to make a list of what they really did do. They were amazed at how long their list was!

I love your imagination! Its evident it has followed you from childhood! If you have daughters, what a wonderful example you are setting for them in showing them that housework isn't a drudgery but fun!

~~Deby said...

great ideas....
I will add...
I clean in increments or pr job than give myself 1/2 hour computer time or another chapter in a book.

or pretend like someone is coming over....now that works...
So IF you ever need a phone call...LMK...
Deby

Sis. Julie said...

These are some great ideas!! The lighting of the candle is especially good. Then when I go back into that room it will have a fresh scent from the scented candles I like to use. Thanks for sharing these.