OH! Organizing Hints: Mama Drama – A Chore War

Hello Geralin,

Help! I hate to sound dramatic, but no matter how hard I try, I can’t seem to get the housework finished, and often times, can’t even get started! It’s ruining my life. Housework is so boring, and there are so many other distractions, like being with my kids, that I never get anything done. Do you have any suggestions for organizing my “homework” or making housework more interesting — less of a chore?

Michelle

Dear Michelle,

Housework can be a yawn, so make a game of it!
Here are two ideas I use with clients:

1. Make-believe! Pretend your best friend is sick and in bed with the flu. She really needs some extra help around the house. Now, pretend you’re in your best friend’s house for 30 minutes (set a timer!) Do whatever it is that you would do for her. See dishes in the sink? Load them in the dishwasher. See a pile of clothes on the floor? Toss them in the hamper. You get the idea! With this game, you’ll also find that you notice the obvious clutter first, so your house will seem cleaner faster. So, do it “for her.” Treat yourself as you would your best friend!

2. Draw any card from a deck of playing cards. Your number might be 4. Go into any room of your home and do 4 things related to cleaning. For example, in your bathroom you might do these 4 tasks (keep count!): ONE: Put the caps on opened containers, such as toothpaste, shampoo, shave cream, medication; TWO: Pick up things, such as clothes, towels, brushes, hair dryer; THREE: Spray and wipe things clean, such as the toilet bowl, sink, tub, counters; FOUR: Empty the trash can.

Then, keep going! Draw another card and tackle another room, maybe the bedroom, the laundry room, the garage, etc.

If you’re feeling creative, you could assign a category of rooms to each suit. For example, Hearts could be bedrooms, Spades could be the kitchen, Clubs could be your living spaces, and Diamonds the bathrooms. Face cards could be outside areas, such as decks, porches, yard, or the garage or attic. Good luck!