We know how it feels to look around at your Messy House, and even your life, and say the word “impossible.” When you want to sell your house, and sell it quickly, we know what it’s like to think there is too much to do and not enough time…or energy…or arms. We know the discouragement of waking up full of ambition for finally tackling the out-of-control toys and the stacks of dishes, only to have your plans derailed by a fussy baby or an uninvited guest.
DECIDE TO TAKE ACTION
Our homes didn’t fall apart in a day, and they won’t be glued back together in one, either. That’s alright. Every step we take toward dealing with our overwhelming homemaking issues – big or small – will be one step better than things were when we started.
One of the best “first steps” we can take is to challenge ourselves to turn off the phone, the computer, the iPad, and the television for one hour each day. This one-hour challenge will sting a little, like ripping off a band-aid, but it’s amazing what can be accomplished when we aren’t checking Facebook or replying to email. Just give it a try.
Also, we need to keep in mind that what someone else’s home looks like does not matter. You will not be more or less blessed because of how clean Suzy Homemaker’s kitchen counters look in those pics on her blog. Your children will not feel neglected because their toys aren’t organized just like that Pinterest article described.
Everyone lives with different situations, limitations, and starting points. Don’t let all those perfect images bully you into thinking it’s hopeless. That’s just a lie.
Even with the best attitude and resolve, the mountain of work in front of us can be daunting. Catching up is always harder than keeping up. This means the path to getting our homes into the proper showing condition won’t be easy but maintaining that level of clean will be so much easier.
SUGGESTIONS FOR WHERE TO BEGIN:
1. TAKE CARE OF TIME SENSITIVE ISSUES.
· Check for any appointments or activities you may have forgotten.
· Look for bills that need to be paid.
· Think about other things with a time associated, such as the library books needing to be returned, the dry cleaning waiting for pick-up, or the permission slip needing to be signed.
2. FOCUS ON FOOD AND CLOTHES FIRST.
· Figure out what you’ll feed everyone that day, and then make a menu for the rest of the week.
· Decide when you’re going to make the next menu plan and what day you’ll go grocery shopping.
· Gather the Laundry and work at it until you see the end in sight.
· Don’t worry about anything else until you can feed everyone and have enough of the laundry washed, dried, and folded so there will only be one or two loads each day from here on out.
3. MAKE A SIMPLE Morning ROUTINE.
· Make a morning to-do list that works for you.
· Start small and don’t worry if the list takes most of the day instead of just the morning. It will get easier with time!
4. MAKE A SIMPLE AFTERNOON AND EVENING ROUTINE.
· Make a list that includes only what must be done to keep things running smoothly (finishing the laundry, making dinner, washing dishes, etc.)
· Be sure to start small. In the beginning, cross off anything that is not essential for you.
· Get comfortable with your basic routines before adding additional tasks. Even just a few chores in the morning and afternoon will be a huge improvement!
· Do not get discouraged if it takes a couple weeks for your morning and afternoon routines to become habit. Keep working and you’ll become more and more efficient at completing the tasks.
5. CHOOSE ONE SPECIAL TASK TO DO EACH DAY.
· Pick one weekly cleaning task to do each day, such as vacuuming or dusting.
· Or, set a timer and work on one area of your home that needs cleaned or decluttered.
· Don’t worry about perfection, just do something!
6. get rid of stuff
· Have boxes labeled Trash, Donate, Keep, Recycle, Give Away, Put Away.
· In your Put Away box, when you are doing an area clean, put things that are not in their rightful place to put away when you are done with that area.
· Don’t be afraid to get rid of your things. If you haven’t used it in 6 months or more, get rid of it. If it is sentimental, but you don’t NEED it, think about giving it away to a family member.
