5 Tips for Getting Motivated to Clean

I had a few things on my list of things to do today, including writing this blog post. I wasn't sure what I was going to share with you, so I was putting off working on it. I also needed to get our house picked up. It seems to have gotten out of control and no matter how much I seem to pick up, there is still so much stuff all around. I was fully prepared to not get anything done when I decided to just buckle down and get the cleaning and picking up done and, ironically, that task gave me the subject for my blog post! 

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When I have too many things going on, I have a hard time focusing. That lack of focus often leads to me not accomplishing anything on my to-do list. While I'd love to just skip through life without any responsibilities, I think we all know that's not reality. Since we all have things that need to get done, I'm sharing 5 tips for getting myself motivated. I hope they're just the trick for you too and you'll be on your way to a successful day!

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1. PROMISE YOURSELF A REWARD. Shamefully or not, I am highly motivated by little treats. It can be something tasty to eat, getting my nails done, or a trip to the thrift store...maybe a combo of all of them. I do this for a lot of things in life. If I can just get through something I don't love, I always allow myself a reward at the end. The reward doesn't even have to be anything that you have to spend money on. You could take a bubble bath, watch a movie that's been on your waitlist, or just enjoy some quiet time you wouldn't normally allow yourself.

2. SET A TIMER. I actually should have made this the number one tip because it is a winner every time. I normally set the timer for 15 minutes at a time. It doesn't seem like very long, but you can get so much done during that time! When the timer goes off, I always let myself take a little break. I usually zone out on my phone for a few minutes (set a timer for this part too) and then get back at it with another 15 minutes. You can do this as long as it takes to finish up your list. You will be surprised at what you'll actually get accomplished and it won't seem like too much, since you've allowed yourself some breaks.

3. TURN ON YOUR FAVORITE PLAYLIST, AUDIO BOOK, OR PODCAST. Some people can work in silence, but I cannot. I need something else to focus on, other than the task at hand. Occasionally, I'll have a show playing on my phone, but to really get things done, you need to have your hands and eyes free, so it's best to have something going that you can just listen to. I do have several shows, though, that I've seen so many times that I don't need to be watching them...they can just play in the background.

4. CALL A FRIEND. Now, the caveat to this is that you both need to be people who enjoy talking on the phone. This is a form of body doubling, the act of getting tasks done with someone else physically nearby. This method is often used by people who have ADHD or have trouble focusing. I will sometimes talk to my sister on the phone while we're working on things. If I don't have anyone to talk to, I also find it works to be texting a friend while I'm working on something, checking in with progress pictures. Bonus, you'll get the affirmations of a job well done when you're finished!

5. VISUALIZE THE END RESULT. Sometimes we get so overwhelmed by everything we need to do that it's just easier to shut down. I know that I love a clean and tidy house; it's so good for me mentally. I also love a fully crossed-off to-do list. If I can see all of these things done with my minds eye, it makes getting them done a little bit easier. There is nothing better than a clean house, lighting a candle, and just drinking it all in.

It's funny how everyday tasks can overwhelm us so much that we'd need tips like these, but we are human afterall and sometimes we need to have ways to get things done. Whether you use one of the tips or a mix of them, I know they will help you get your house picked up and cleaned. Honestly, you can use them for anything you need to get done. They have helped me on so many different occasions.

While I'm still working on this blog post (you're enjoying the finished product), I did get the house all picked up and I feel so good about it! There will always be more to be done on that end...we live here after all...life always feels a bit lighter when the house is looking its best and the clutter isn't weighing me down.

A bonus for getting the house picked up is that I was able to take some pretty pictures! I haven't done this since Christmas decorations were still up and I grabbed pictures for a Christmas home tour (still haven't written that post yet). I love seeing people photos on socials of their homes, but I feel like ours is always so messy, it's hard to take them on short notice. Maybe this should be a good motivator for me to keep the house picked up a little better and more often!

If you decide to try some of these tips out, I would love to know! Post to your Instagram stories and tag me @hilaryprall!

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