For most homeowners, the feeling of being overwhelmed comes from seeing cleaning as a huge task that takes up much time instead of just cleaning one room. If you think of house cleaning as a marathon, you will definitely feel stressed.
The Sprint-Like Approach
Instead of spending hours cleaning, try a shorter, sprint-like approach:
- Set a timer for 20 minutes and clean as much as possible
- Take a ten-minute break
- Repeat
You can set the timer as long or as short as you want, depending on your needs, mood, or motivation. To start with, it’s a good idea to clean for five minutes and take a break for 30 minutes because this idea is based on the fact that your brain needs to associate cleaning with something short.
How to Start
The dread you feel when you think about cleaning the house doesn’t come from the amount of work that needs to be done. It comes from not knowing where to start. But you can start anywhere. And even a small step is progress. It’ll give you the motivation to keep going.
1. List Specific Tasks
List the specific cleaning tasks that make you the happiest. These are the tasks that, when you complete them, give you the best sense of accomplishment. Don’t worry about including every possible cleaning project. Just focus on the ones that are most important to you.
If you tend to feel overwhelmed by housework, be proactive and list specific tasks that, once completed, give you a sense of accomplishment or have the biggest impact. Don’t worry about including every possible cleaning project, room, or surface.
Just focus on the ones that matter most to you. Use a note-taking app on your phone, write it out by hand, and post it on the fridge. Refer back to it when you’re feeling overwhelmed. Are these tasks done? If not, pick one and start there.
2. Create a Cleaning Playlist
Getting your favorite tunes in the background may help you push through your to-do list. Make a playlist of songs that get you pumped up, or look for cleaning-themed playlists on Spotify, Apple Music, or Amazon Music Unlimited.
If you’d rather have something to listen to that requires a little more mental engagement, try catching up on a popular podcast or listening to an audiobook while you work. Sometimes your brain just needs a distraction to get into the cleaning groove.
3. Know When to Seek Professional Help
When you’re feeling overwhelmed by having to keep your home clean and tidy at all times, remember that messes happen, and there’s no need to apologize for it. As Marie Kondo says, “The objective of cleaning is not just to clean but to feel happiness living within that environment.”
Ask yourself if the tasks on your cleaning list are things that need to be done for the health, safety, and happiness of you and your family, and if so, could they be delegated to a professional cleaning expert?
Conclusion
The feeling of being overwhelmed by your to-do list is normal, but you can use it to your advantage to stay productive and organized. If you keep it simple, you’ll feel less stressed and more in control of your tasks.
Chosen Maids provides professional house cleaning services across the Denver Metro Area. We provide various house cleaning options that fit your needs and budget and treat your home like ours. We take pride in providing affordable home cleaning while maintaining high-quality services. Got a busy and stressful schedule with no time to clean? No worries! Leave it to us professionals! Get in touch with us for house cleaning services in Denver!