How can I get started cleaning my house? I get distracted so easily and never seem to get started.?
Answers:
1. Make a list of what needs to be done and schedule it out. Say on Monday you'll tackle the living room, Tuesday the dining room, Wednesday your kitchen, etc.
2. Live by the "one touch rule." Once you pick something up, you have to do something with it - not meaning that you go put it in a pile somewhere else but rather if its a dirty piece of clothes, it goes in a hamper, if it is a coat, it gets hung up where ever you hang things, if it is some financial record to keep, designate a spot to keep those things. Then, you can prevent yourself from making too many piles.
3. Anything you haven't used in a year, throw out.
Other answers:
If you get distracted, break things down task by task. Say, do the dusting, then take a break, then vacuum, then another break, and so on.
If you get distracted, break things down task by task. Say, do the dusting, then take a break, then vacuum, then another break, and so on.
turn the music up really loud, so you can't hear the phone ring or anything.
Crank the music, Pour yourself a cocktail, and clean it up
I have arthritis, and so do the housework in stages (dust, vacuum, pick up items, etc.) I set myself a goal to having the area done by the time my family gets home or when there is a program I want to see on TV. It's amazing how well motivated I can be when I think that deadline is about up!
Don't allow yourself to eat until it is done. Make a rule like "i can't eat anything until the vacuuming is done". Then no snacking or cheating! You eventually will get hungry enough to do the chore. Invite people you really like over and then it will force you to do it. Withhold treats (ice cream etc.) from yourself until it is done.
Make a rule no turning on the TV as long as the chore X is not done. No internet until the laundry is folded, etc.
Take some Ritalin and get checked out for ADD
Well since you seem to get distracted easily, you need to turn off everything that distracts from cleaning. Turn off the tv, phone, radio, video games, and anything else that may distract you. Remember cleanliness is very important and can keep you from alot of the bacterial infections that are out there.
i am the same way, what you can do is put some music on and vow to do things before a song is over. 1. get a garbage bag and throw 50 pieces of trash/paper away befor the song ends or 2. load and unload washer/dryer before the song ends etc etc then keep doing through 10-15 songs youll be done before you know it.
1. get OFF the internet!!
2. drink a cup of coffee (very important)
3. turn on the music
4. set a small cleaning goal
5. get on it (your goal)
6. if the coffee was strong enough, it'll keep you going, and going, and going . . .
that, or wait for someone else to do it!!
I wish I knew... Looking fwd to that "best answer" myself...
I have the same problem. I also have a family of 7 so it's always overwhelming. First, make sure you have some of your favorite CD's available and a portable CD player if you don't have one in or near every room so you have upbeat music to listen to. Second start with one corner of the room. Doesn't matter which one, just pick one. Third, I always start with the trash or anything that could be thrown away. Then, if it's a bedroom, I move on to the dirty clothes. Put them in a pile near the door. Then I put away everything that's not in those 2 categories. Clean clothes that have been strewn on drawers, books left out, shoes left out, etc. If it's the kitchen, after the trash is picked up off counters (and floors if applicable) I put all dirty dishes in or near the sink. Then I wipe off all counters, table areas and the stove. If your house is really messy/dirty (don't worry, most peoples is at some point), don't worry about what I call "deep down cleaning". Things like straightening cabinets, wiping down fridge, windows. Just get the basics done. Then I wash the dishes and let them air dry. Sweep the floor and mop if really necessary. Move on to another room if you wish OR if it's taken you some time, take a break, watch a show, play on the computer but limit it for yourself. Like 1/2 hr or hour. Whatever is enough to feel like you're not about to keel over. The other day I cleaned my room. It was super messy and I rearranged it, got rid of clothes we don't want anymore, etc. So it took me almost all day. I didn't clean anything else for 2 days..lol. I also am supposed to be on bedrest from back surgery so things have been out of hand lately 'cause I don't feel like fighting with the kids everyday to do chores,but that's another story. Anyway, I like to leave the bathrooms for last because in my house they're smaller and usually easier/faster to clean. For those, pick up all dirty clothes, throw by or outside doorn. Pick up all trash. Then clean as usual. For laundry, if it's way out of control like mine was, use trash bags. BIG ONES. I had too much for to just throw in bins. My daughter and I sorted them by dark, white, lights and socks. It's much easier to throw a load of laundry in if you don't have to pick through clothes to put in there. Then fold and put it away IMMEDIATELY. As far as motivation, once you get one room, especially a major one clean, you'll see it can be done and it automatically gives you motivation 'cause you want the rest of your house to look like that. If it's all too much to do in one day or even a weekend, pick a room a day. By the end of the week, it will be all done or almost all done and the rooms you started at the beginning of the week will only be slightly messy, if at all. Much easier to clean than when you started.
It's easier to stay clean than to get clean so try to pick up every other day or so depending on how big your family is. Leave the deep down cleaning for once a week or every other week depending also.
Sorry for the "book" but this is what works for me when I can stick to it.
I have that problem sometimes! and I Love all the answers.
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