6 Ideas to Help Refocus your Cleaning Efforts

I don't know about the rest of you, but there are days I get stuck in a rut. I'll have grand intentions of getting er' dun, but end up feeling completely incapable of doing anything productive. I've noticed that I more easily fall into this rut after I've been perusing those oh-so-perfect pictures I see on Pinterest. The saying is true: "Comparison is the thief of joy."

In order to combat any spirit of discontent, I've compiled a few tips to move me beyond what my eyes see, to what I most need to do. These suggestions have come from various sermons, wisdom from older women, and blogs I've read for inspiration. Some of these things seem like no-brainers, but as I've taken time to practice them, I've found my load a bit lighter, my conscience clearer for having done what I need to do, and a greater sense of contentment with the things and home the Lord has given me to care for.

Without further ado:

1) Do the hardest thing first.
If you're a list maker like me, once you've neatly compiled your tasks for the day, it should be pretty obvious which item you're most dreading. I encourage you not to put it off, but attack it straight away. By doing this, you've conquered something early on, and everything else you have to do will seem like a walk in the park.

2) Always make your bed.
WHY is this simple task such a difficult one to complete? Well...at least it has been for me. Not long ago, I committed to making the bed before I left the room, and it made a surprising difference in my day. Call me crazy, but my thought is that when the bed is made, the rest of the house seems a bit cleaner. **Andrew, if you're reading this, I know I've slacked off on this one recently, and intend to recommit starting today.** ;)

3) Never leave a room empty handed.
This helpful tip came from a list defining highly organized people. With a little one around making messes...urr...memories, I've found this to be a good reminder since there is always something out of place. It's easy to pick up little things, so the more frequently I grab something on my way out of a room, the cleaner my home gets without huge effort.

4) Clean one room at a time.
I usually pick a room where we end up spending the most time. Cleaning one space helps me keep focused and encouraged as I can see the progress moving quickly.

5) Set a timer.
It can be so easy once Olivia is down for a nap, for me to get lost in something unproductive. Time on the computer can turn from a quick 5 minutes into 30 before I know it! Egg timers are a perfect little accountability partner if you're trying to stay on task. Something about the constant ticking is enough of a reminder for me to hurry along with what I'm doing.

Lastly:
6) Turn off (or silent) your computer or phone.
This one has recently been a big conviction of mine. With the advent of smart phones, perusing the internet, email, social media etc have never been easier. With all of these things literally at our fingertips, it's so easy to be regularly distracted. Yesterday I gave the computer a break and turned it off. I set my phone away from me, remembering I'm not a 911 dispatcher in need of immediately responding to whatever call or text I received. I made my list of things to do, followed most of the above ideas, and at the end of the day, had more time on my hands, and a cleaner home to show for it.

My home may not ever be featured in a Pinterest photo, but when it's neat and tidy, there's no place I'd rather be!
If there are there any tips, hints, bits of wisdom that help you refocus, I'd love to hear them!