Housekeeping: Not my favorite thing. Really.
So, left to my own devices, I would tend to let things go until they honestly, truly, inescapably need to be dealt with and then resign myself to several hours of misery as I get the house back in order. Yes, I’ve read all the home organization books. And yes, yes, they all work. That is, when I’m applying them. Which I’m not all that good at. Because of the whole “housekeeping: not my favorite thing” thing.
But one technique I’ve found that really works for me is something I call Ten-minute Tasks. It’s this list I have of housekeeping chores that can be done in ten minutes or less (hence the name. Creative, no?). Such as:
- Cleaning the toilets
- Folding a load of laundry
- Changing the sheets on our bed
- Weeding one section of the garden (assuming that I haven’t let the weeds take over)
- Carrying a plastic bag around the house and tossing things in it that can and should be thrown away (thank you, Fly Lady)
- Vacuuming a room or two
- Picking up and putting away the “stuff” that has accumulated on the various surfaces in our family room
- Etc.
The beauty of this approach for me is two-fold:
First, while it’s very difficult to talk myself into a full-fledged cleaning of the house, I can usually convince myself to do something for ten minutes. Usually daily. Sometimes multiple times in one day. So I’m more likely to actually get something done and less likely to say, “But I don’t have the time or energy to do any housekeeping today.” (And yes, I know that’s not a valid excuse, but that doesn’t stop me from trying to use it.)
Second, when I do finally get around to doing a more thorough cleaning job, lo and behold – some things are already done! Hooray for the Ten-Minute Tasks that were accomplished during the week – they’ve saved me some misery on the Big, Bad Cleaning Day! Works for me.
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Take some time to head on over to Rocks in My Dryer to check out the other Works for Me Wednesday tips!
Excellent post – I’m a fellow hate to housekeeper and it can be so hard to get motivated.
So could you swing by my house for 10 minutes today?
Just kidding. Since I started leaving later for work, I do have some spare minutes so I’m going to try to get one thing done before I leave each day. (Catching up on Bloglines doesn’t count!) Good tip!
Great suggestion! I will often set my timer for 15 minutes and see what all I can get done. It’s amazing that the chores that I keep putting off only take a few minutes for me to actually complete.
Okay, I can make a list. Because if I already have a list, and I know I have “just a minute,” then I could actually do one of those things. I hate housework.
After I get a chore done, I run over and read a few blogs as my “reward.” That sort of keeps me motivated, but doesn’t let me sit at the computer so long that I don’t get anything else done around the house.
Thanks for sharing!
I am not enjoying any cleaning right now…I need a reminder that I don’t need to do EVERYTHING- at least one thing would be nice
Thank you so much!
Love this idea! I have always tried to use lists, but I like the ten minutes part of it.
I do that too!
I’ll just throw myself completely in to a task for ten minutes to see how far I get.
Usually, by the time the ten minutes have passed, I’ll just go on to finish anyway. It get’s me started.
Thanks for the WFMW
Welcome btw!
Good idea! And I love love LOVE your blog design!
Whats really cool is on the occasion I’ll have cleaned the toilet, wiped down the counter and left the floor for later. My 11 Yo son decides he’s going to finish the floor. Woo-hoo, my swiffer sweeper and swiffer mop just paid for themsleves in my eyes. He thinks it’s fun!
Hey! I just skidded in here from Family Friendly blogroll. Love your header, too cute! Now off to read. Have a great day!
Excellent idea. I know I always feel like things are going to take a lot longer than they really do.
I’m right there with you. I HATE cleaning and will let it get to the point where I’m embarassed to have anyone over. Inlaws are usually a good motivator for me (everybody to your stations! We have 45 minutes to clean the entire house before the get here!!) I love your idea– very manageble for those of us who can’t manage.
That’s a great idea. For me, I will also need to make a list of “Things that can be done while Abigail sleeps”. My daughter is a light sleeper, so I have to be very quiet if I want her naps to last as long as they should. If I have a list of “quiet” housekeeping tasks, maybe I’d get more accomplished during that time.
Thanks for visiting my WFMW tip!
Excellent idea! I too have a similar problem with putting off chrose that might take me forever. I think I could convince myself to do something for ten minutes too!!
I do this with folding laundry—the most dreaded chore of my day!
I love it! I am going to have to try that…I am so bad with the housekeeping too! I normally only get the house picked up when someone is coming over.
I really need to condition myself to think like that…just 10 minutes can accomplishment so much!
Thanks for the tip.
I’ve posted my WFMW tip as well. Stop by and take a peek.
Excellent idea! So many times at night I just want to blow off housework and kick back with my feet up. But the housework fairy never seems to come to my house! Surely I can do something for ten minutes and then I’ll feel quite virtuous.
I’ll have to try this one. Sometimes not being to finish the whole job makes me not want to start. But I can see the advantage to having some of the job done when I decide to really clean a room
I love it!! Thanks for this inspiring idea! I love your blog too, by the way! I’ll be back.
I just saw the post below about books…I’m off to read it!
Blessings
Great idea! I really need to apply this too since it is amazing really what you can get done in 10 min.
Thanks
An excellent name – I do the same. When I am supposed to be studying and know there are house jobs to be done, I pick a time for a cup of tea, and then have a study break and allow myself 10-15 mins to do the house as well.
Works well – study gets done and some housework as well.