It is a well-known fact that most people would like to add a few hours to our days. Most people really need to re-evaluate their time -management skills, review and maintain their schedules regularly, implement time-blocking, and overall, get more organized. I am most people.
One area that I particularly slacked in last year was in cleaning my home. I didn’t prioritize it, I had expectations that I would receive more help from my household (we all know expectations lead to disappointment), and I became so overwhelmed that I just let it go, more than I ever have in my entire life.
In reflecting upon 2019, I realized a cleaning schedule was something I wanted and needed to implement and take charge of. I read books on organization, I took notes, I looked at probably hundreds of different cleaning schedules and I made a Pinterest Board. I reviewed and read and found fault in every single idea because I was afraid of failure.
Finally, I told myself to stop worrying about whether or not the plan would work and just get started. Sometimes we think too much. And thinking too much prevents a whole lot of action. For weeks I tried to devise a cleaning plan and didn’t get too much accomplished. Then it hit me. Just do something. So I looked at my notes and my cleaning schedules and my Pinterest Board and I just started working off one I thought may just work for me. I took the pressure off myself by deciding that I didn’t need to commit to any one of these plans. If the plan I chose didn’t work for me, I could just choose another one. Hell, I could pick a different cleaning schedule every single week and I’d be further ahead than I had been for the past year!
These are the things I knew:
- I needed a cleaning plan which would be FLEXIBLE because I work a non-typical schedule, not a 9-5 and not always from home but sometimes from home, and I have a family, and family means more time constraints and obligations.
- I needed a plan I could conquer ON MY OWN because I cannot always rely on other people to contribute. Blaming other people for household chores not getting done easily becomes an excuse and being the ALPHA FEMALE that I am, I needed to take charge.
- I needed a schedule to allow me FREEDOM of choice because, by nature, I’m a rebel, according to Gretchin Rubin.
- I needed something that would offer CONSISTENCY because when my house is in a disarray, my mind is as well.
- I needed a schedule that wouldn’t take too much time because I’m a busy BOSS.
Keeping these things in mind, I chose my first plan. Wouldn’t you know, it worked out nicely and I’m still rocking it!
I do a few things every single day, I have a daily chore, which rotates, and I have a room I focus on every single week, which also rotates. It’s easy, quick and I get to check things off (I need shit to check off…it makes me feel accomplished!) and I can easily delegate tasks on my schedule if the opportunity presents itself. Most importantly, this works for me.
If you’re interested in checking out my cleaning schedule, send me an email to theterritoryboss@gmail.com and just type, ‘I WANT TO KEEP MY HOUSE CLEAN’, in the subject line.
What works for you may be totally different. My message here is that you can do it. You can create a clean household with minimal effort and not waste your weekends cleaning all day!
Figure out what you need and just take action and try something. If it doesn’t work, try something else. Remember, you only fail if you quit!
Here’s to a clean 2020!
KEEP YOUR HOME CLEAN THIS YEAR!
