Tuesday, September 6, 2022

HOW TO BEGIN CLEANING WHEN OVERWHELMED

 

CLEANING WHEN OVERWHELMED

Didn't I just clean this? Have you ever looked at a messy living room or a sink full of dirty dishes? It could feel like a never-ending cycle of cleaning and clutter these days with more people staying at home than ever. 

Fear not! The Merry Maids® professionals offer some advice to assist you avoid the stress that might result from not knowing where to begin or when you're finished.


Give up the never-ending cleaning

Looking at the house—or, let's be honest, the room, or even the pile of dirty laundry—as a whole rather than in smaller, more manageable portions makes cleaning feel daunting for many of us. If you approach housework like a marathon, you can start to link it with the boredom and worry that comes with it. It's hardly surprising that cleaning feels daunting and never-ending if you approach it with an all-or-nothing mindset.

 

Consider adopting a more sprint-like strategy, such as the 20/10 strategy popularised by writer and blogger Rachel Hoffman:

 

·         Set a 20-minute timer.

·         Use those 20 minutes to do some cleaning.

·         pause for ten minutes while cleaning

·         Repeat

Change the schedule to meet your requirements, your state of mind, or your level of enthusiasm, even if that means cleaning for 5 minutes and taking breaks for 30. Your brain has to be trained to link cleaning with manageable chunks of time and steady movement rather than a mentally exhausting trek.

 

Choose a starting point

When faced with a cluttered house, you could feel overwhelmed not by the work of cleaning but rather by not knowing where to start. Real decision fatigue exists, and it might cause you to avoid a situation entirely. If this describes you, keep in mind that there are no bad decisions to make and that making even a tiny amount of progress will likely spur you on and help you make sense of the confusion.

 

Still unsure of your course of action? Here are some suggestions for starting points:

 

·        The floor - Arrange or organise stacks of mail or books, sit down and clean up crumbs with a broom, or vacuum the carpeting in the living room. Starting with the floor may have a significant impact since a crowded or dusty floor can make everything else in the room look dirtier.

·         The kitchen sink should be thoroughly cleaned after any dishes have been washed in it or loaded into the dishwasher. (Pro tip: After rinsing, dry the sink to help preserve it.) You can finish cleaning and polishing the sink quite fast and effortlessly, w    hich will give you a sense of satisfaction that will help you go on to the next chore.

·         Start by placing a load of laundry in the hamper. You may utilise the momentum to work on anything else while your dirty clothing whirl in the suds.

·         Your purse - Cut up any outdated credit cards, throw     away or burn any old receipts you don't need, and keep contact information from business cards in your phone or address book. Yes, this task may just benefit you, but occasionally, completing a modest task might inspire you to tackle a greater one.

 

Establish Your Priorities

Make an effort to avoid feeling overwhelmed by housework if you have in the past. Make a note of the exact chores that will provide you the greatest sense of satisfaction or effect when finished. You don't have to list every potential cleaning task, space, or surface. Just concentrate on the ones that matter the most to you. Make a note of it on your phone using a note-taking programme, or write it down by hand and post it on the refrigerator. When you're feeling overwhelmed, refer back to it. Are these assignments finished? If not, pick one and go going there.

You may choose your cleaning priority by considering the following scenarios:

·        Consider having visitors over in an hour. What tasks would you guarantee were finished without fail before they arrived?

·         What must be completed immediately if you work from home in order to focus properly?

·         Are there any particular messes that would prevent you from relaxing and having pleasure whether spending time alone or with your family?


Make a playlist for cleaning

You could be inspired to finish your to-do list by upbeat music that gets you moving. Make your own playlist of your favourite songs, or search through well selected playlists on streaming music services like Spotify, Apple Music, or Amazon Music Unlimited. (Hint: Look for "cleaning incentive" on Google.) If you're in a more thought-provoking frame of mind, listen to an audiobook or catch up on a popular podcast as you work. Sometimes all your mind needs is a small diversion to help you focus on cleaning.


Recognize When to Trust the Experts

Overwhelm can occasionally result from feeling under pressure to keep your house immaculate and spotless at all times. However, mistakes can occur, and when life interferes with maintaining a sparkling bathroom mirror or a neat dining room table, there is no need to apologize. Even the tidying expert Marie Kondo acknowledges that the goal of cleaning is to feel happy while being in that environment. Identify the cleaning jobs on your to-do list that are necessary for your family's health, safety, and happiness. If so, consider whether a cleaning specialist might handle such duties on your behalf.

 

 


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