Letting your guard down can quickly turn a well-kept household into chaos. Perhaps your work or commitments to your children mean you have minimal time for cleaning up. Alternatively, it could simply be a matter of not feeling up to the task. Whatever the cause, living in a space filled with clutter can lead to stress and disrupt your peace of mind. Keeping your space clean is a smart move, but if you’re already behind, there’s no reason to worry. We have several suggestions ready to inspire you and help bring back order to your home.
Key Points
- The first step is to work on your motivation. Why do you want to declutter?
- Instead of trying to declutter your entire house in one day, choose one small area to work on.
- Don’t get sidetracked—finish your first task before moving on the next one.
- After you finish decluttering an area, pat yourself on the back and take before and after photos for extra satisfaction.
- Set a reasonable goal for your next cleaning task then ask for help if needed.
1. Work on Your Decluttering Motivation
Before you can even think about cleaning, you need to declutter. A cluttered house is a breeding ground for dust, dirt, and grime. The first step is to work on your motivation. Why do you want to declutter? Is it because you’re sick of trip over things? Is it because you want to create a more peaceful environment? Once you know your “why,” it will be easier to get started.
Pro Tip: Make it a game! See how quickly you can declutter each room. time yourself and see if you can beat your previous time.
2. Choose a Small Area to Work on
Trying to declutter your entire house in one day is an impossible—and unwise—task. You’ll quickly become overwhelmed and discouraged. Instead, choose one small area to work on. Start with a closet, or even just a dresser drawer. Once that area is decluttered, move on to the next one.
- Closets: Remove all items from your closet and put them in a pile. Sort through the pile and keep only the items you love and use regularly. If you haven’t worn something in a year, chances are you never will. Donate or sell items that are in good condition but you no longer want.
- Kitchen: Start by decluttering your fridge and pantry. Toss out any expired food, and donate or sell non-perishables that you don’t use. Wipe down the shelves and vacuum the floors.
3. Don’t Get Sidetracked—Finish Your First Task
It’s easy to get sidetracked when you’re decluttering. Suddenly, you remember that there’s a stain on the couch cushions or that there’s dust on the ceiling fan blades. But resist the urge! Once you start cleaning one thing, it’s hard to stop. Finish decluttering the area you’ve chosen before moving on to another task.
Another way to stay on track is to set a timer. Give yourself 30 minutes to declutter the living room. Once the timer goes off, move on to another task.
Pro Tip: Create a cleaning schedule and stick to it. Dedicate certain days of the week to decluttering and cleaning specific areas of your house.
4. Pat Yourself on the Back for a Job Well Done
After you finish decluttering an area, take a step back and admire your handiwork! Give yourself a pat on the back—you deserve it! This positive reinforcement will help motivate you to keep going until the entire house is decluttered. For extra motivation, take before and after photos of the area you decluttered. Seeing the physical transformation can be very satisfying!
5. Set Your Next Reasonable Cleaning or Decluttering Goal
Now that you’ve finished one area, it’s time to set your next goal. But don’t bite off more than you can chew! Set a reasonable goal that you know you can accomplish without too much difficulty. For example, if you just finished decluttering your closet, your next goal could be cleaning out under the bed or dusting all of the surfaces in the living room.
6. Don’t Hesitate to Ask for Help
If at any point during the process you feel like you can’t do it alone, don’t hesitate to ask for help! You can always hire a professional cleaning service to come in and do a deep clean of your house. This is because some people simply don’t have the time or energy to declutter and clean their entire house. If that’s the case, there’s no shame in admitting it and asking for help.
FAQs about Motivate Yourself to Clean a Messy House
Now that we’ve gone over how to motivate yourself to clean a messy house, let’s answer some frequently asked questions about the topic.
How do I stay motivated to keep my house clean?
The best way to stay motivated is to set small, achievable goals. For example, Dedicate certain days of the week to decluttering and cleaning specific areas of your house. And be sure to give yourself a pat on the back when you accomplish a goal! This positive reinforcement will help motivate you to keep going.
What are some tips for decluttering my house?
When decluttering your house, it’s important to start small. Choose one area to work on, and don’t move on to another area until you’ve finished decluttering the first one. It’s also important to set a timer so you don’t get sidetracked. And finally, be sure to pat yourself on the back for a job well done!
When is the best time to declutter my house?
There is no “perfect” time to declutter your house. However, some people find it helpful to declutter at the beginning of the year so they can start fresh. Others prefer to declutter during the spring cleaning season. And still others find it helpful to declutter right before a big event, like a family reunion or holiday party. Ultimately, the best time to declutter is whenever you feel motivated to do so!
How often should I declutter my house?
How often you declutter your house depends on how messy it is and how much time you have to dedicate to decluttering. If your house is very messy, you may need to declutter on a weekly basis. However, if your house is only moderately messy, you may only need to declutter every few weeks or even once a month.
Conclusion
In conclusion, decluttering and cleaning a messy house can be a daunting task. But it’s important to remember that you can do it! Just take it one step at a time, and be sure to give yourself a pat on the back when you accomplish a goal. These small pieces of positive reinforcement will help motivate you to keep going until the entire house is decluttered and clean. Now get out there and declutter that house!