I would love to know… do you have a housework schedule?
Do you have your housework under control?
Or does it control you?
Mine has been controlling me for awhile lately because I have fallen out of my housework schedule.
Not only has the house been a mess, even though I have cleaned during this time, unfortunately, it invades my head as well.
WARNING: Unabashed honesty ahead. Maybe you’ve had these thoughts too…
When it gets this way I get irritable and even depressed at times.
This is mainly due to the fact that in all that I do, the most important thing for me to excel at is looking after my family – and that includes keeping a house that makes us feel good in.
When I look around and see messes, it makes me feel like I’m not doing a very good job at it.
When I look around and feel embarrassed for myself, in particular at my lack of control in my life at these times, I wonder what my kids feel like having to live with it, to witness my shortcoming. What they think of me.
What to do?
I have begun using my simple housework schedule again – I’ve climbed back onto my BOOST Circuit routine and in 2 days of working on it for about 45 minutes each day I am already seeing a big difference.
The basic principles of working the circuit are…
1. Repetitiveness
2. Focus
3. Controlled Time Frame
It works because I am focusing a concentrated effort repeatedly on the same items. When starting out, I see the piles and messes grow smaller. After I’ve been doing it for awhile, the process is FAST and the piles never get to be piles in the first place.
It then becomes a matter of keeping it clean before it gets out of hand. And that is a whole new way to live.
And I like it!
It is energizing. It’s uplifting. I almost feel like going and cleaning something just talking about it 
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ACTION TIPS
- Create a housework schedule – nothing too long and drawn out, just a short routine for yourself including the main repetitive tasks that cause problems if they are not kept up.
- Create a time block that you will do your own BOOST Circuit in. I find that doing mine in the morning is more effective both because there is generally no one in my way, and because it is almost like showering for the house instead of me, it sets me up for the day in a positive way and keeps the house clean and fresh.
- Get out your timer or purchase one. Set up a time frame for each task. I use 5 or 10 minutes for most of mine. You might want to use up to 15 minutes if you are just starting out and have the time to devote. If not just go for 5 or 10 minutes. As you repeat the process every day you will find that things are getting done, even in that short time frame. (eg. 5 minutes tidying bedroom, 5 minutes tidying livingroom, 5 minutes cleaning bathroom)
Want some help?
Check out Take 5 for Dustbunnies, our free 5 minutes per day program to get that housework going.
It will help you to get into the habit of having a habit for starters!
That’s the hardest part.
JOIN TAKE 5 – BOOTCAMP FOR DUSTBUNNIES – FREE!
Create your housework schedule 5 minutes at a time
The first time I ever did anything with Janice, it was to work on creating my own ACTION plan. I still have it – it’s pinned right here on the bulletin board beside my desk. I can even see it over the top of my piles and mounds!
I seem to always succeed at the first few days of the week and then fade off by mid-week and forgotten to follow the plan by Friday and the weekend!
The days that I can keep on top of it, my house looks pretty good and I feel really great. Having a clean house makes me feel more like a successful wife and like I’m finally doing something right! It’s hard to balance home and work and kids! Little steps are the best.
Thanks for the reminder. 🙂 Time to go scrub my bathroom!
I know exactly how you feel about the depression that can come with a messy home. My old method involved doing one room and being to tired to do the rest (I have three jobs). I’m now itching to try this method and can’t wait to see the results!