The Daily Listby Susan LottNow that you have a weekly framework, think about your everyday tasks and create a daily list. Don't think about what you want to do, or what you think you should be doing. I'm talking about the actual daily grind, things like doing the dishes and wiping off the high chair. So-called mundane daily tasks are important! They are the center of the engine that keeps your home running smoothly. I used to have a bad habit of expecting myself to accomplish about fifty impossible tasks per day (clean entire house in an hour, teach 6-month-old son advanced quantum theory, patch ozone layer, etc). Eventually, I depressed myself into hysterics by agonizing over everything that didn't get done. With the help of my husband, I learned to respect and acknowledge the actual work I was doing each day.
Make a Daily Chore ListEvery morning, I take a few minutes to write down the day's tasks on a small whiteboard. I put the list on the fridge and cross off items as I go. This simple formula helped me to break the habit of overworking myself:List 10 things you MUST do today In the MUST-do category, list your tasks of the day as determined by your weekly schedule. Next, list core daily tasks like washing the dishes, etc. I shamelessly list all multiple laundry and dishwasher loads separately! Add any other tasks that need attention. Let items overflow into the SHOULD-do and BONUS categories until your list is full. Stop listing things when the list is full. Really, stop listing things. Items left undone are promoted to a higher category the next day.
Bonus TasksSometimes my list will include bonus items. Friday’s list may have a bonus item like working ahead to Saturday's task (apple pie). BONUS items are exactly that – a bonus. If I can accomplish everything on my entire list, I announce it to the entire household and reward myself. I blatantly and frequently reward myself with food, no matter that it's socially taboo. Another favorite reward is $10 to my vacation fund. Often, I ask my husband to take our little guy on an outing so I can have some personal time.Take 5 minutes to: Make a list for tomorrow's chores (or today's if you have time). Remember, you must stop at 20 items! Forgive yourself for not being superwoman and move on. Tidying TacticsIf you feel so overwhelmed by a messy room that you can't begin, try my approach. I go into the front room. On the floor is a mixture of toys, jackets, shoes, dishes, trash, books, and clothing (because toddlers undress wherever). I sort everything into piles by category – all the clothes into one pile, shoes in another pile, dishes into the kitchen sink, etc. I fill a basket with things that go elsewhere in the house. Then I put away or clean up each pile. In 10 minutes tops, the room is tidy.Another approach is to work in fits and stars. I do this when I'm feeling depressed or particularly unmotivated. I read or relax for half an hour, then I spend 10 minutes cleaning like mad. Take 5 minutes to: See how much you can tidy in this short time – ready, GO! Let go of the need to make it all perfect at once, a little bit will do for now. You're done! You have your daily list ready to begin today or tomorrow. If you can stick to the daily list system for a month, it will become a habit. Be patient with yourself, it's like learning to sing a new song. You'll get better at it, faster, and more comfortable as you go along. Go back to the Housekeeping Page
|
