With this method, your house will get the attention it
needs on a regular basis, instead of a ridiculous burnout cleaning
session once a year, that doesn’t happen anyway and only leaves
us disappointed, and sometimes in more of a mess!
What is it about spring that makes every woman in the world think
that it is time to scrub the house down from ceiling to floor? We
know many women who do this. the OGs (Organizationally Gifted) of
the world.
Their houses are immaculate, yet still, spring comes and they
determine that it is time to do even more? I wonder, what the heck
they are thinking?
Then we have the OCP (Organizationally Challenged People) and
somehow we just feel like we have to get the house cleaned up NOW.
After all it is spring! Time for spring cleaning! Right?
Which I think is really funny because we haven’t moved a sofa in
12 months or more, or wiped down the oven in years maybe…(even
when it makes the smoke alarm go off)
But suddenly it is spring, and we think that we better drag the
area rug outside and beat the piss out of it, or tear apart our closets.
I’ve even heard of Spring Cleaning Checklists! I’m not making this
stuff up. So, for this Motivation Monday I am asking, and answering
this question:
Q. “Do we have to do spring cleaning?”
A. NO WE DON’T…
But many years ago we did…
The reason that we needed to do spring cleaning years ago was because
our homes were heated with 1 of 2 things: coal or wood (sometimes both)
All of the windows and doors were sealed shut to keep the house warm
and conserve heat.
Could you imagine how bad it needed a thorough cleaning after the
winter was over?
What happened to our homes of old was; a thick film of soot covered
everything. In the spring our fore-mothers would have to do a thorough
cleaning, ceiling to floor.
As soon as the weather permitted, and they knew their would be no need
to light a fire any more, the windows and doors would be opened and
everything that wasn’t nailed down would be dragged out of the house
so it could be aired out and wiped down.
Can you see why we don’t need to hold onto this ritual any longer?
In my system that I teach, we have a schedule for getting the house
cleaned up on a regular basis. It gets done year round, it is a really
nice way to live and not a ridiculous burnout cleaning once a year
thing that never actually really happens in our world, and is not even
necessary anymore.
I am sharing with you a bit of my system here:
This is a way to keep the house clean, year round 🙂
Write down on an index card the days of the week as I have illustrated below.
You decide what to do when, according to your life and schedule.
- Rest/family day
- Once Over day
- Desk Day
- Errand Day
- Free day
- Family Work Day
Then plug in the categories to do these specific things that I have outlined, see my example below.
Sunday is a good day to chose for the family/friend day, reserved to spend actual eye contact time with family and or friends.
A once over day is a day that you just clean up quickly, not concerned about moving any picture frames to dust or getting any corners.
It is like the pastor is coming right now. You just get smudges on mirrors, run a dust cloth across surfaces without moving anything and sweep/damp-mop/vacuum the floors.
(Now, if a room is a mess, and clutter is everywhere, a once over day can not happen yet, so, don’t worry yourself about implementing a once over day right now. My course Tidy Tutor University is starting now, so if doing a once over is something you can not do yet because things are not yet under control, I really recommend taking my course – you can click this link to make it happen)
(Once the room has been dejunked, and cleaned up, then the once over day can be employed.)
A desk day is a day designated to papers, mail, bills, piles you have lying around, making phone calls, etc. Anything that is office-ish. If you have papers all over the place here is a link to take care of that. www.thetidytutor.com/papers-2
Errand day is a day you run errands. Going to the bank, grocery store, post office, etc. You may need 2 of these during your week (I have 2).
A free day is a day free of cleaning. You can make any plans on that day you want.
Saturday is a good family work day, and that is a day when you get everyone who lives with you involved in cleaning. Anyone who lives in a house needs to have some responsibility for the house.
You chose what days work best for you and your life. Then MAKE IT HAPPEN!
These things have to be done in your life. Ignoring them, or putting them off is why things get out of control. Keep appointments you have made with yourself as priority.
Now if someone calls you and says:
“Gee Milly, I really want to go to the dump, would you like to go to the dump with me?” you say this… “I would love to go to the dump with you Margo, but I can’t go to the dump today, it is my desk day.”
But guess what?! Desk day isn’t all day. The time spent is only about an hour in the beginning, and then later after you devote time to it on a regular basis, it will be about only 15 minutes. So you say this…
“Listen Margo! I can go with you after I’m done with what I have to do at home today, would you be able to wait till later?” If she says, no, then you say “Sorry, I can’t go.”
That day is set aside for your paperwork and anything ‘office,’ but if she says “Yea, sure! I can go when you are done!” Then get yourself busy and get your paperwork done and you will be free to go to the dump! But only go if you do what you determine to do.
This is a better spring cleaning list, and it works for our generation.
Keep your appointment with yourself, your house will get the attention it deserves and needs, not a ridiculous burn me out cleaning once a year. Those days are past!
Following a plan for your week keeps you from being the ball at the end of a paddle. Have you ever felt jerked around by everyones whims or your own flighty desires?
Putting a plan in place keeps you anchored, productive, and happy at home.
Implement this, and leave a comment, let me know how it is going for you.
If you have been dreaming of living an organized life:
Tidy Tutor University is starting now! it isn’t too late! (click the link to enroll!)
You don’t have to be present to get the benefits, everything is recorded and the personal support you will receive is off the charts.
Get yourself ready for the nice weather coming up! Begin the journey to order. You will have a more productive and fulfilled life. I guarantee it!
Much love!
Kathy Roberts
The Tidy Tutor
