While for the most part I am reasonably tidy and relatively organized, I am sorely, sadly lacking in the upkeep and maintenance department… because when it comes to household chores such as dusting, vacuuming, cleaning the bathrooms, and taking care of the yard, I would rather do anything but. Add to that a Scarlett O’Hara mentality (“I can’t think about that right now. If I do, I’ll go crazy. I’ll think about that tomorrow.”) and a husband with a similar approach and you have a recipe for, if not disaster, then certainly a house that a) is not ready for spontaneous drop-ins and b) requires hours or days (depending on the visitor) of preparation for invited guests.
People often marvel that I’m able to blog daily, produce artwork regularly, join photo (and other) challenges, and so on, wondering where on earth I find enough hours in the day to get it all done. Well, now you know – it’s mostly because I don’t spend enough time cleaning!
Do I like that it’s this way? No.
Do I want things to change? Yes.
Do I know how to make that happen? Er… not really.
While I don’t wish to be a slave to my house at the expense of spending time on the things I enjoy, I do want things to be more balanced. I want to live in a house that, while not perfect, is always presentable. I want friends to feel comfortable stopping by unannounced, and I want to feel comfortable welcoming them in to my home. I want to be in a position to not dread the hours and hours of cleaning and catching up involved prior to hosting company – because all that stuff would have been maintained all along and so there really isn’t much else left to do.
So how do I find a way to break years and years and years of bad habits and make this happen? How do I learn to be more disciplined with my time so that I’m satisfied with all aspects of my life? How do I fight procrastination – and, more importantly, win?
Help!
Got any practical suggestions for me?
Please share!
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Twitter: BatteredHope
October 5, 2015
I have written many posts about this subject. In fact, I used to teach it to the staff of corporations many moons ago. There are some secrets but can’t take the space here to share them. You are on the right track.
Procrastination has never been a problem for me – basically because I refuse to go there – EVER. My motto from my dad: Do it right, Do it now – EVERY time.
Carol Graham recently posted… Where to Look if Your Dog Goes Missing
Twitter: alphabetsalad
October 6, 2015
Sounds like a great motto – I have the “do it right” bit down, it’s the “now” that’s the problem. 😉
Laurel Regan recently posted… Tangled Tuesday No. 62
Oh, Laurel, I had to laugh–I could have written this. My husband and I are exactly the same way. In fact we joke that we have to invite friends for dinner at least twice a year so we can get the house cleaned! Although I am a champion procrastinator, for me it’s no so much that as that I just HATE to clean. Really, I loathe it. I watch things getting dirtier and dirtier and think, We’ve got to clean this soon, but then I go off and do anything else. In fact, I’d rather work than clean, so you can see how much I hate it. I’m still hoping for those little elves to come in some night and do everything for me. Think there’s any chance of that???
Twitter: alphabetsalad
October 6, 2015
I am SO glad to know we’re not alone! And I’m with you – I’d rather do anything but cleaning. That said, I do love the look and feel of a clean house, so you’d think I’d get over my dislike!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Tangled Tuesday No. 62
Twitter: RamblinGarden
October 5, 2015
Well…gulp. That’s my secret to blogging, too. Along with a husband whose tolerance for bad housekeeping is worse than mine. And you know what? Some of my cousins have the same problem – it’s genetic. That’s my explanation, and I’m sticking to it.
Alana recently posted… Music Mondays – October 5, 1965
Twitter: alphabetsalad
October 6, 2015
LOL, I wish I could blame genetics – but my mom is a champion homemaker with a showroom-quality house, a skill which I apparently didn’t inherit!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Tangled Tuesday No. 62
Hey Laurel have you checked out flylady.net? I’m still learning to “fly” but some of the tips on that sight have helped me immensely in the cleaning department. Especially in breaking up the rooms into smaller more manageable tasks. The best thing I think I’ve taken from that site is the 15 minute bit. Set a timer for 15 minutes and clean like mad. When the timer goes off take a brief break then repeat. It’s amazing how much you can accomplish in 15 minutes. Good luck and hugs!!
Twitter: alphabetsalad
October 6, 2015
I’ve heard of the site, but never actually checked it out for myself. I will have to do that – thank you for the suggestion!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Tangled Tuesday No. 62
Oh, gosh, I can’t help you at all, I’m exactly the same! 😛
Twitter: alphabetsalad
October 6, 2015
LOL, well, at least neither of us is alone!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Tangled Tuesday No. 62
Twitter: CorinneBlogs
October 5, 2015
I’ll be hanging around hoping for some good ideas from the others, Laurel, because your home sounds like ours!
We’ve just done a major clean up only for me to get a severe bout of hay fever.
Corinne Rodrigues recently posted… How To Comfort Someone Who Is Grieving
Twitter: alphabetsalad
October 6, 2015
Oh dear, that’s not a very nice reward for your hard work!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Tangled Tuesday No. 62
I’d have to go with the Flylady thing for an overall makeover of your house keeping practices. LOTS of great ideas. But I also live by my timer some days. 15 minutes is great, you can get a lot done and promise yourself you can quit altogether when the timer goes off. Most of the time though, for me, it’s “I can do ANYTHING for 5 (five) minutes.” I always give myself the option to walk away when the timer goes off, but occasionally keep going. Who knew?
My biggest and best housekeeping advice, however, is that no one truly gives a fuck about how your place looks. a) because they’re just happy to see you and b) because they know what their own place looks like. So flush the toilet and throw the laundry into the hamper and you’re golden.
Kisses, moi
Twitter: alphabetsalad
October 6, 2015
The timer thing is really starting to sound like a good idea. Now if I can just get around to setting it… 😉
Laurel Regan recently posted… Tangled Tuesday No. 62
Wish I could advise you, but I am afraid I am a putter-offer as well. I know it’s easier to keep up that catch up, but I just can’t make myself clean until there’s an urgent need (mother-in-law coming or Health Department coming). I can tell you what my husband does that keeps him up to date on everything in life: he always does the hardest/most unpleasant thing on his to-do list first. If we all did that . . . well, we simply don’t.
Twitter: alphabetsalad
October 6, 2015
That’s a good strategy – I will have to give it a try!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Tangled Tuesday No. 62
I’m so the wrong person to ask this question!!
I always always postpone dusting to the last minute!! ugh!
I don’t mind the vacuuming part but dusting – sigh!
Twitter: alphabetsalad
October 6, 2015
Once I get going I don’t totally mind doing it (though I’d still RATHER be doing something else) – it’s the getting going part I find difficult!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Tangled Tuesday No. 62
I thought I was a slave to the house until I started living with my husband. He is a clean freak and it can be so exhausting 🙂 Both of us start cleaning as soon as we get home.
Rajlashmi recently posted… The Connection
Twitter: alphabetsalad
October 6, 2015
I can imagine that WOULD be rather exhausting – I’ll bet your home looks lovely, though!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Tangled Tuesday No. 62
Twitter: mahathi_ramya
October 6, 2015
Laurel, I also don’t spend enough time on cleaning my house and my mother always complains about my laziness whenever she visits 🙂
My practical suggestion would be to do one thing per day, like cleaning sofa one day and vacuum on next day and so on.. simple tasks, simple targets to make it a habit. But, I don’t attempt cleaning everything at once, it makes me crazy and tired.
Mahathi Ramya recently posted… First brush on the Canvas – Anthology – Book Blitz
Twitter: alphabetsalad
October 6, 2015
Good idea! You’re right – it’s when everything is saved up and has to be done at once that it’s tiresome.
Laurel Regan recently posted… Tangled Tuesday No. 62
Twitter: parul2411
October 6, 2015
Omg Laurel! VT and I are exactly the same. that’s how I get the time for everything else other than cleaning, dusting, etc! 😀
Parul recently posted… #MicroblogMondays – Is BMI a correct indicator?
Twitter: alphabetsalad
October 6, 2015
The other stuff is so much more fun, isn’t it?!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Tangled Tuesday No. 62
Number one tip I have (beyond letting it go and stop feeling guilty) is to leave cleaning supplies in each room. And then, as you stand there, talking, clean something. It’s how I did it when the twins were little. I never had a set time that I cleaned, but every day, I ended up cleaning each room as we moved through it.
Twitter: alphabetsalad
October 6, 2015
That’s a good idea… thank you!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Tangled Tuesday No. 62
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