How do you people get motivated?

kate1976

newlywed wrote:

I kept piles of stuff for a car boot sale that never happened. Took loads down the charity shop. Had loads more to take that just sat there for ages.

I've done that too! I'm hopeless at things like this, I think it may just be junk anyway so I won't feel too bad about throwing it all out! I'll just put a donation in the charity shop tin next time I go past!!!:p

I'm off to do the hall and stairs now while I still have my motivated head on!

kate1976

Josiegirl wrote:

Well done on getting the bathroom and landing done Kate:T

I would start right now but my excuse is it's now 9.20 pm in Oz, almost bedtime. Ah well, always tomorrow;)

Thanks!

Yes, there's always tomorrow, sweet dreams!

comping_cat

Whenever i watch how clean is your house, or Antheas perfect housewife, i always want to start cleaning!!!!! Some on here reward themselves with 15 minutes computer (or me) time if they have been busy for 45 minutes, i seem to do the same, but its 45 MSE time, 15 mins cleaning!!!!

kate1976

catowen wrote:

Some on here reward themselves with 15 minutes computer (or me) time if they have been busy for 45 minutes, i seem to do the same, but its 45 MSE time, 15 mins cleaning!!!!

:rotfl: Addictive isn't it?!

Right I'm definitely off to do my hall and stairs now! Why oh why do I pile things up on the stairs thinking DS will take it up?:rolleyes:

calleyw

I found lists very helpful as well setting a timer for X or putting on a certain a cd that is 60 mins and do as much as I can in one room in that time.

Yours


Calley

kate1976

Well I think I got a bit carried away, so far today I've sparkled my bathroom, hoovered the landing, cleared the stairs (although things have just been put in a box and thrown in DS's room), hoovered the hall and stairs (those silly dog hairs, I'm shaving him) and also moved furniture in living room so I could hoover!

I'm now even hotter, redder and sweatier but as my house gets tidier I'm getting more motivated!! I've just stopped to take a break and also recover from finding a giant dead spider (dead ones freak me more than live ones, I'm strange) and then I'm going to hoover the last corner then I'm done!

Kitchen and bedrooms tomorrow after college and Friday before friends arrive! Unless of course I decide I'm energised and motivated enough to do it tonight!!:p

Thanks all for your motivating words of wisdom! Bye for now! xx

Mics_chick

Every so often I pop into the OS forum coz I've got a new sense of purpose but I never ever actually get cracking coz I'm one of the worst procrastinators alive, methinks

I would really like to know how you luvverly peeps do it, especially if you have certain tips/tricks to keep yourself motivated as well ???

Desperate of Derbyshire :rolleyes:

Aril

My suggestion would be that you tackle one thing at a time. Make a decision about where you might like to start....it may for example be menu planning but the thought of doing a whole week in one hit may be too overwhelming and you may stop before you even start. One way through this example might be to plan for a couple of meals in one week. Once you get used to that increase the days etc. There's far too much to do all in one hit and the scatter gun really doesn't work. The other thing you have to decide is what your priorites are with OS and just how much you have available/want to spend on doing it. I certainly don't do everything OS..simply haven't got the time/inclination but I just concentrate on the bits that matter to me. As I get to grips with one thing and it becomes part of my daily routine then I put in another small step and so on. There are also times when I specatularly fall off the wagon eg for the 2 weeks I had flu at Christmas. Then I just dust myself down and hop back on:D
Aril

HariboJunkie

The moneysaving keeps me motivated Mics-chic.:D

Just take it in baby steps.... Try the storecupboard challenge which will also make you meal plan and if Flylady doesn't work for you (it doesn't for me) just write down a personal housework routine and try to stick to it.

Most of all, don't be hard on yourself if you procrastinate.

danz0l

I'd say start small at first.

Plow through recipes you fancy and pick one that really grabs your attention. Order (if you shop online) or buy the ingredients for that meal the week after and spend sometime preparing. Make it YOU time, i.e make it relaxing and a joy and not a chore. Think that your making something from scratch that, hopefully, your entire family will enjoy. Once you've cooked it and they've eaten and enjoyed, you'll have all the motivation you require to repeat again. As you feel comfortable increase the amount of meals you prepare at home.

We now make meal times fun by us all participating in the choosing period. We plan meals for next week, this week, then order the ingredients online ready for home delivery. It makes cooking fun, interesting and a family experiance. It also saves impulse buying and gives you immense satisfaction knowing your eating a much healthier diet.

Recently we've started getting our two teenagers involved in the actual preparation stages of the meals. Its a great way to teach them food hygiene, what makes up a meal, how to prepare the ingredients, whats actually going into the dishes and gives them a sense of pride as well as valued life skills. Our two, who i'll be honest with you can look at food and say "UGH i aint eating that" just because it has a certain ingredient in it, are now so excited about cooking it has amazed us. They are using ingredients they always refused to eat if someone else cooked them and are fighting over who cooks and when. Also it allows you to spend quality time with them, knowing your passing on your knowledge on how best to do things. Thats great motivation.

Same tricks go with general cleaning and house chores. Make it fun and above all use MSE to experiment. We've just started using stardrops and white vinegar for everything under the sun and its rubbing of on the kids too. They'll remember the lessons learned and what you can use these things for, think its immensely funny adding vinegar to towels in the wash etc and will likely use these skills as they grow older too.

My best advise is to take things at your own pace and make it both fun and rewarding. For instance I cleaned our cooker out yesterday and although it was hard work, it was also fun to see the grease lifting of the shelves in a solution of bold washing powder soaked in the bath. The kids thought it was weird, the wife didn't trust it to work, yet it did and made me feel great. Also i had the satisfaction of a totally clean cooker and bathroom (cos the bath was all oily so had to do that as well).

So best advise is to enjoy and take it at your own pace.