Motivation for Housework

Reposting from a year ago to start a series on motivation for moms.





Motivation for housework. Get motivated daily!


Finding motivation for doing housework can sometimes be difficult.
It can seem like a thankless job, that just repeats itself over and over and over and...you get the drift. In fact, a wise man once said, "Housework is what a woman does that nobody notices unless she hasn't done it." Ain't that the truth?

We all love a clean, orderly home. But, we don't all love the getting there and as the mom, the job falls on us, whether we stay home or not. Here are some of my tips for finding joy in the chores...if you have to do them, you might as well enjoy the process.

Declutter~
Nothing makes a house seem messier and smaller than a lot of clutter. It also makes it harder to clean. So, the very first thing you need to do is get rid of the junk. I don't know about you, but just tossing stuff out makes me feel better and less frazzled. Make sure everything has a place..this makes it easier for kids to help.

Rearrange your furniture~
This makes your house and your furniture feel new. You can also move around your decorative objects in order to freshen the rooms without spending any money. Moving furniture also forces you to clean under and around things that haven't moved in a while.

Make an idea book~
I have a notebook for decorating ideas. When I see something I like in a magazine, I cut it out and glue it in the book for inspiration. Pinterest makes this so easy. There are some great decorating ideas on Pinterest.

Invite over some friends~
Nothing gives you motivation to clean up the place than people coming over! Invite a friend for coffee or tea. Have a playdate at your house. Host a book club. You will quickly get your house clean with that kind of motivation.

Make small goals for yourself~
Every week make a housekeeping goal. Goals are easier to meet if they are broken into small pieces and if they are measurable. So, don't make a resolution to keep your house clean this year. Make a weekly or monthly resolution to do certain jobs. For instance, this month my goal was to wash windows on Mondays. Once I do it for all of January, hopefully, it will be more of a habit and I will continue.

Treat staying home like a job~
I am so blessed to have the opportunity to stay home with my kids. Since this is my job in this season of my life, I try to treat it like a job. I get up and get ready. Staying in pj's all day makes you lazy. I make a list every morning of the things I need to do and get the satisfaction of crossing them off. There is joy in a job well done.

Play music~
Playing music makes me work faster. Music is a mood lifter.

Take pride in your home~
It might be small, it might be old, it might not be what you want at all. However, it is your family's home and if you take pride in its appearance that will filter down to you kids. I always admire my grandma for this. Her home is small and old, but it is always sparkling clean and she takes great pride in it.

Create a new attitude~
Make a goal to get up with a positive attitude. Enlist your kids in helping with the chores. The sooner you start, the sooner you finish and you can all go and play. Imagine the afternoon..a clean house and a good book. Reward yourself for all your hard work!