How do you motivate yourself to clean?

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Forum -> Household Management -> Cleaning & Laundry

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PinkandYellow ↓

Wed, May 30 2007, 4:48 am

my problem is I have a ton of stuff to do but I'm sitting here on imamother. what can I do to get my lazy bum off this chair and start cleaning? what do you do to get yourself to clean? I hate cleaning and I hate being a stay at home mom. please help me fast.

ssbarnes

Wed, May 30 2007, 8:30 am

shmaisradio.com. When I have music on, I am less likely to sit here on the computer. I get more done that way.

Do you really *hate* cleaning? Or is it just such a chore that you don't get enjoyment out of it? I can understand being burnt out on being a stay at home mom (I am a WAHM), but I don't *hate* it.

mimivan ↓

Wed, May 30 2007, 8:44 am

I figure that if I reward my kids for doing something that they don't want to do...I get a reward too! My favorite is to let myself do nothing for 30 minutes after they go to bed (which is a great reward, because I'm usually so busy) LOL

I also think that I feel like a mentsch when the house is clean, that it is good for the chinuch of my children, their feeling of comfort, my husband's comfort etc..

If you are generally unsatisfied being a SAHM, think of what you enjoy doing and let yourself do it AFTER you clean!
(I strive to be as well behaved as I want my kids to be!!! Doesn't always work Wink

)

↑ PinkandYellow

Wed, May 30 2007, 8:50 am

ssbarnes wrote:

yes, actually I'm a wahm, but only part time, and it was kind of by accident, and now I'm actually "depressed" (maybe unhappy is a better word) about being home, but decided not to look for a job until after the baby is born cuz I'm just starting my 3rd trimester. and I hate cleaning, we are not naturally clean ppl and I have no problem sending my kids to the sitter, working full time and paying a cleaning lady to do the things I hate.

Seraph ↓

Wed, May 30 2007, 9:05 am

Idea- since we both have the same problem- how about we take turns- you come over keep me company while I clean, I come over and keep you company while you clean.
Part of why I don't like cleaning is I find it boring, but if I had something to make it interesting, I wouldn't mind it as much.

I also motivate myself by saying "ok, just wash the dishes, then you can go on imamother for a little bit."

Then again, I spent the last 2 days not cleaning up at all and just sitting on the computer...

chocolate moose ↓

Wed, May 30 2007, 10:48 am

make a schedule and stick to it.

amother

Wed, May 30 2007, 10:52 am

I know I'll make my husband happier if I clean up, he'll be in a good mood especially after a long hard day of work.

justanothermother

Wed, May 30 2007, 6:42 pm

I never tell myself I am going to clean the whole house. It is too much to think about. Tell yourself you are getting up to do one thing. Clean the easiest/quickest room in the house, or just wash the dishes. After you do one thing, you will be motivated to keep going.

red sea

Wed, May 30 2007, 8:06 pm

I dont motivate myself, I hate cleaning too, but I love doing laundry Very Happy

Dini

Wed, May 30 2007, 8:17 pm

hey MDM I'm in the same boat as you! I'd like to hear what everyone has to say

chen ↓

Wed, May 30 2007, 8:20 pm

Invite your mil to visit for a few days. Works like a charm!

↑ chen ↓

Wed, May 30 2007, 8:23 pm

Is your issue that you hate to clean or that you hate being a SAHM? If it's the latter, the solution is obvious--get an outside job and hire a cleaning lady. Not everyone is cut out to be a SAHM.

SouthernShalom

Wed, May 30 2007, 9:39 pm

I have these little things I tell myself like I am going to read the rest of this thread and then I am going to fold that basket of laundry. I fold the laundry and my reward is another Imamother thread. You would be surprized how much you can get done that way.
My SIL and I used to trade off cleaning eachothers houses. You get sooo tired of looking at your same old mess but sometimes it is fun to help other people get clean and organized. She would come to my house in the morn. and we would clean,and when we were done we would go do her house. Then make some tea and relax. Or go shopping.
The more you clean the more free time you have. Sounds crazy but it's true. If I wake up and keep the house strait and the laundry bin empty I have so much more free time(and peace)than if I let it pile up.

↑ Seraph

Thu, May 31 2007, 4:26 am

I rewarded myself for cleaning the house yesterday- I said as soon as I'm done finishing half the stuff, I can go on imamother. Then after lunch, gotta go the other half before I can go on imamother. And it worked!!!

↑ mimivan

Thu, May 31 2007, 9:18 am

chen wrote:

Invite your mil to visit for a few days. Works like a charm!

Wow, you must have a great relationship with your MIL (and you must be very neat and tidy yourself!)

raizy

Tue, Jun 05 2007, 9:59 pm

DONT INVITE YOUR MOTHERINLAW OVER

my house will never be clean enough for her. let her dream that my house is as clean as hers.

thank hasham there is an ocean betwheen me and her.

↑ chocolate moose ↓

Tue, Jun 05 2007, 10:02 pm

really, a lot of stuff only gets done thursday and friday. if it weren't for shabbos, I'm sure a lot of this stuff wouldn't get done . . . .

ganizzy ↓

Tue, Jun 05 2007, 10:06 pm

call a friend on the phone and chat while u work - it feels like it takes less time. my problem is not the actual cleaning its starting to clean!!

↑ chocolate moose ↓

Tue, Jun 05 2007, 10:08 pm

oh, the neck strain!

↑ ganizzy

Tue, Jun 05 2007, 10:12 pm

chocolate moose wrote:

oh, the neck strain!

get a head piece

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