If you’re wondering how to get motivated to clean when overwhelmed by mess, here are some simple ideas to get you started.
Life happened…
And now, you’re faced with a messy house.
Clothes everywhere — dirty and clean, dishes are piled up in the sink, you’re constantly tripping over toys and when’s the last time you vacuumed?
Maybe you had to work longer hours this week, maybe you’ve been ill for a while or maybe you just didn’t feel like doing it all.
It can be very stressful and overwhelming when you have a dirty and cluttered house. And the problem is, the longer you leave it that way, the worse it gets.
But, where do you begin when you don’t even want to deal with the task?
Here’s how to get motivated to clean.
How To Get Motivated To Clean When Overwhelmed By A Messy House
Set A Timer
You can do anything for just a few minutes. At least that’s what I tell myself when I feel like I’m dying in a gym class.
The same can apply when cleaning your house.
Set a timer on your phone or even using the microwave clock for 15 minutes. Pick one chore and race against the clock to get it done before time runs out.
Usually, when I try this, I keep going once time is up. I just needed that little push to get going.
Grab this free printable Speed Cleaning Checklist.
Start With a Task You Enjoy
Mark Twain once said you should eat a live frog first thing in the morning.
Besides being really gross, it basically means you should start with your most difficult task first and then, anything else will seem like a breeze.
In most cases, I think he was right but in this particular situation, I recommend you do the opposite.
If you’ve REALLY been struggling to get motivated to clean, starting with a chore you absolutely hate is probably not going to get you moving.
You’ll probably keep procrastinating and putting it off.
Instead, start with something you actually enjoy. Hopefully, there’s something on your to-do list that fits the bill. Once you’ve completed that, you’ll hopefully have built up a little momentum and can move onto the task you’re not looking forward to.
Find Your Zen Spot
Pick one spot that makes you feel really good when it’s clean — kitchen or bathroom, maybe?
Tackle that area and make it spotless. This will make you feel really good and hopefully remove some of the overwhelm you’re feeling.
Stick to areas that are very visible, a.k.a not your closets or inside drawers. That way, you’ll look at it often and it just might inspire you to do more.
Create A Checklist
I LOVE lists.
Seriously, I think I have a problem.
I always have a notepad and pen nearby and I use Google Keep and Trello (both are free) on my phone.
I find making checklists so incredibly useful.
When I have a million things that I need to get done. I feel stressed out and they keep swirling around in my head. “Don’t forget to do X and I have to do Y tomorrow!”
Writing down all the things I have to do makes me feel a whole lot better. I can get those thoughts out of my head and see what needs to be done.
Do the same thing with your cleaning. Write down all the tasks you need to complete and all the rooms you want to tackle.
Prioritize
Now that you’ve written a to-do list, it’s time to prioritize.
Everything on your list can’t be important and urgent. So shuffle things around, putting the most essential chores at the top.
For example, it’s important and urgent to wash all the dishes in the sink because you’re running out of clean ones. The same goes for the laundry when your clean underwear is almost down to nothing.
Cleaning out the pantry is not so urgent, though, so you can save that for the bottom of your list.
Start with the tasks at the top and just focus on one at a time until you’ve done them all.
Make It Fun
I know, I know. Cleaning is boring.
So, you need to go the extra mile to make it more fun. Blast your favorite songs, listen to a podcast or audiobook. Dance with the vacuum cleaner (I won’t judge.)
Just do what you have to in order to make it entertaining.
Go Slowly
You don’t need to declutter your entire house in one day.
Take your time, schedule it out and go slow. You’ll get it all done when you take small consistent steps instead of racing towards the finish line and burning out before you even get halfway.
Get Help
Unless you live alone, there’s absolutely no reason why you should be clearing out clutter and cleaning on your own.
Assign chores to your husband and kids. Even young children can help with easy tasks. Here’s a list of age-appropriate chores.
If all else fails, hire help. Get someone to come in a few hours a week to help out even if it’s just until you get back on track with your regular cleaning routine.
Think Ahead
Close your eyes and just imagine how you’ll feel when your house is neat and tidy. I know it sounds a little “woo woo”, but just work with me here.
This is also another trick I use when I need motivation to clean house. I picture myself snuggling into clean sheets on a freshly made bed. I imagine my shower tiles gleaming and I can almost smell the fresh scent in the bathroom.
Hey, sometimes it’s these little things that work.
Set A Reward
Finally on my list of how to get motivated to clean, is simply to set a reward. What do you enjoy doing?
It can be as big or small as you like.
Have you been dying to read a new book you bought? Well, after you’re done cleaning your messy house, you can curl up in a cozy chair and have at it for an hour.
Treat yourself to some wine or whatever makes you happy. As long as you’ve gotten your cleaning done, you’re golden.
And there you have it! If you’ve been wondering how to get motivated to clean when overwhelmed by mess, these ten tips should definitely help.
Go forth and clean! (Yes, I just said, “Go forth.”)