Motivation for housework..........

Shelley84

Hi,

Not sure if this is the right board for this, so feel free to move it if necessary!

How do you get motivated to do the housework. Its never ending and can be really hard to just get up and do it.

So much needs doing, tidying, organising, sorting stuff for car boot sales etc. Then theres the cleaning.

So any tips would be much appreciated!

jackieglasgow

Come over to Old Style and join the FLyLadies. The thread moves at a frightening pace, but I try to ignore that as it overwhelms me, but on the first page they posy daily and weekly housework tasklists, which I try my best to follow, it really helps build a routine!

PasturesNew

I start from another angle: how to create the least mess in the first instance.

e.g.
I don't turn taps on fast, so they won't splash and want wiping up
I take my shoes off at the door.
If wearing 'good clothes' (and that includes jeans), then the minute I get in I get out of them and instantly into leggings/T shirt, this reduces washing significantly.
Every time I have a tissue in my hand, a wet wipe, a paper kitchen towel, I look around for something quick/easy and extra to wipe, that keeps on top of things like marks, spills, dust on skirting boards, dust on light fittings, grubby marks on doors/handles/switches.

Before I start any activity, I think about how to minimise aftermath!

Oh ... and the big one: never, ever, ever let anybody else into your place. People are very messy ... I find giving one person one lift, or having somebody round for 1-2 hours generates more mess than I can manage alone in a whole month!

I also have a strange "do 10" rule, when I'm waiting for something. If I'm wating for the kettle to boil, or I'm dressed to go out but waiting for the right minute, then I "do 10", which means I have to find 10 quick and easy things to put away, just tiny things, but it all adds up.

pigpen

Linkypoop so you don't have to go hunting!

jackieglasgow

:rotfl:LOL pigpen I knew the slightest mention of Flying would attract your attention!

pigpen

I was lurking over here...

I need new mule bait!

my_gorgeous_ellie-belle

Oh me too at the mo....can't get the motivation to do anything. Might have something to do with being ready to pop (baby due v.soon) but it's getting me down big time. So i'm with you here!

Flylady overwhelmes me too but i think there is also a 'flylady' website if the thread moves too quick. I try to not sit down first thing in the morn...once i have sat down it seems game over for the rest of the day for me recently, but if first thing in the morn i wash up any items in the sink, put on a washload and wipe the sides, then have my cuppa and brekkie i'm off to a good start and the days tidying/cleaning progresses well, then i chill all afternoon feeling better about it.

x

lostinrates

My motivation and how I motivate myself are different.

My motivation is that I really do like everything clean and fragrant and nice.

How I motivate myself is with lists, I just tick everything off as I go. I love the idea of flylady but the pace of the thread moves too quickly for me..

unlike Pastures, people coming round really helps keep me motivated, I'd be mortified if anyne saw how mucky we can make the house in a day. knowing people can drop round keeps me ontop of things...ish.

edit: PN I do a ''do ten'' too. Started when I was ill and had to really struggle to do ten little things.....now its easier physically but remains MUCH easier psychologically to do ten little things at a time.

Mme.Hibou

Like others have said the Flylady thread on MSE moves far too quickly for me, but if any of you are on Twitter, they do tweets of what you should be doing. I find this much easier to handle, although it does help if you're logged into your account

Bitsy_Beans

I start with the mantra "if you get it out then you put it away". My housework takes longer when I have to keep tidying up as a go along so I try and keep things as clutter free.
I quite like the American Flylady website (if you can stomach the sheer tweeness on it bleurgh) as there are some good tips about keeping on top of "hot spots" ie places that attract clutter such as paperwork, keys etc etc. Keep these clear and you're taking small steps to keeping on top of things.
I also try and do my housework as quickly as possible. I am at home but looking after kids so fitting in housework it quite difficult - I aim to clean say one room a day - it's not always perfect but it's better than doing nothing. If I try and do it all in a couple of days then I fail and get fed up

As for decluttering generally - I have kept meaning to do a car boot etc but the reality is I will never have the time. So for the sake of my own sanity what can't be kept get's ebayed, freecycled or given to charity. Sure extra money is nice but I just don't have the time at the moment to indulge.

Edited to add:

Pastures New - I really like your idea of a "do 10" - going to nick this idea myself

meritaten

it helps to have a bit of a routine - for instance my bathroom gets a good clean on a tuesday and every morning as I brush my teeth i wipe the top of the cistern and then wipe around the basin to remove toothpaste scum.
kitchen is cleaned as I go along.....that is worktops are wiped down after i wash up and if i use the hob or the oven it gets a quick wipe down after its cooled (usually by the time weve eaten or washed up). my OH likes cleaning!!!!! so on his days off he likes to wipe down all the UPVC and the fronts of the kitchen cabinets (no, you cant borrow him for a day!), and will mop the floors for me (otherwise they get done when my feet stick to them).
if you keep a clean kitchen and bathroom and make sure the living room is tidied once a day and vacuumed and dusted a couple of times a week the bedrooms can be done on a weekly or fortnightly basis.
I have a neighbour who always devotes about two hours in the morning for cleaning and the rest of the day is always out and her house is immaculate (probably something to do with the fact she prefers to take her kids to friends houses to play and make a mess). homes to me should look lived in as long as it isnt dirty its acceptable. you find a routine that suits you - could be doing one room a day or setting aside time in morning whatever you think will work!!!