How to Stick to a Cleaning Schedule Even When You Don’t Have Time to Clean
When you’ve finished work, taken care of your kids’ chores, put away dinner, and completed any of the other seemingly endless daily tasks, what’s the last thing you probably want to do? For me—and probably for you—it’s cleaning. When all you have to do is sit down, finding the motivation to clean and stick to a routine is difficult, which is why there are so many books and techniques out there telling you how to do it. You can read all the best-selling books on a topic that interests you, but none of it matters if you don’t have a schedule and find a way to stick to it. This is really the key to preventing your little troubles from turning into big ones – and you definitely don’t have time to deal with it.
First Step: Choose a Cleaning Approach
You have options when it comes to cleaning. Decide on a predetermined cleaning and/or organizing method and commit to sticking to it. To start scheduling your daily cleaning time, I recommend micro-decluttering or the calendar method , as they are already based on a step-by-step methodology that is ideal for pre-planned cleaning. With micro-decluttering, you designate a small space, such as one drawer or nightstand, and then decorate it. That’s all. Instead of trying to treat the entire room, you focus on something small, get the motivational reward of doing something even when you’re tired, and slowly work towards the overall cleanliness of the space. The calendar method is similar, but you look at the date and then discard or put away the corresponding number of items. Since today is the 26th, I would throw away or put away 26 things. Things get overwhelming towards the end of the month, but the days at the beginning of the month are a welcome respite before the numbers rise again.
Basically, set a schedule for this. The first week of the month could be dedicated to your kitchen, the second week to the bathroom, the third to the bedroom, and so on. Even just a general guide as to which room you should focus on will help you when cleaning time approaches each day, so you don’t get overwhelmed trying to decide what to take on. Then choose a time and stick to it as best you can. If you get home from work every day at 5, choose a cleaning time of 5:45. You won’t always be able to do this, but try to tidy up a little every day. Even on days when I have a lot to do, I try to tidy up something small before bed. Sometimes all I can do is clean the sink or tidy up the kitchen counter. And yet it is enough. I go to bed feeling like I at least accomplished something, and the feeling of accomplishment helps motivate me to do it again the next day, ideally a little more intensely.
Step Two: Consider a Planner or App
There are quite a few apps that can help you get organized and stay on track. Most of them send push notifications and tell you exactly what to focus on during the day. If you need that kind of direction, try them. Personally, I like to choose what and when to clean up after a long day. That’s why I like to use a planner or just take notes on my phone.
Use a simple, inexpensive planner to mark down which rooms you’ll take on in a given week and schedule the time you’ll set aside for cleaning. If necessary, set an alarm on your phone so you remember to clean up at the same time every day.
Optional third step: Use a reward system.
I’m very motivated by rewards, so I constantly download and recommend apps that give me something in exchange for using them. This is true in every aspect of my life, even my cleaning schedule. For me, there is no intrinsic reward for cleaning; Some people feel good during or after cleaning, but I’m just not one of them. If I work for the sake of work, I hate it. However, if I work hard trying to earn something, I am the hardest worker you will ever meet. The reward I give myself for sticking to a cleaning schedule is to hire a professional cleaner to come in once a month. I work on cleaning to make the place livable and beautiful, and then allow myself to let a true craftsman add the deeper, finishing touches to my apartment. Plus, knowing that a real clean freak is on the way motivates me to clean more without the professional being overwhelmed and, frankly, judging me.
A professional cleaner may be a little expensive, depending on where you live, or you may not need one if you clean fairly thoroughly yourself during your scheduled tidying time. If this is the case, consider another reward that suits you. For example, if you clean your entire bedroom over the course of a week, you might earn a new throw pillow for your bed or a large ice cream cone. You can even use the weekend as a reward. Clean at the same time Monday through Friday and take Saturday and Sunday off, but only if you stick to your schedule and make progress. This is where a planner comes in: write down what you do, when you do it, and how much progress you’ve made each day so that at the end of the week you can look back and determine whether you can achieve your goal. pillow, weekend, or whatever else floats your boat.
Overall, the goal here is to make it into manageable chunks. In fact, cleaning one area of the house only takes 15-20 minutes a day, and if you stick to this schedule, you won’t feel overwhelmed like you would if you were looking at a huge mess. Even if you ‘re faced with a huge mess, count on your schedule to take it one step at a time so you don’t burn out. Over time it will be done and you will be more motivated to do it.