I find it somewhat ironic (and perhaps a teeny bit frightening) that I decided to make Friday my big day for dishing out advice, seeing that I am not an authority or leading expert on anything (except for my own personal dysfunction). I haven’t lived long enough nor have I collected nearly enough life experiences to fill your weeks with deep insights and ”you ought to’s”. Quite honestly, I feel a little pretentious as I sit here conjuring up this week’s free advice, scratching my head as to what possessed me to declare that Friday’s were going to be my “free advice” days in the first place. What was I thinking? Yet, I got this snowball started, so I guess I need to continue rolling away until I make it down the mountain (not even sure if that makes sense).
Today’s “free advice”: Do a little every day (housecleaning, that is).
Because I “have it all together” and feel compelled to pass on these snippits of wisdom and knowledge, I have also come to realize that much of what I am advising is what I am personally feeling challenged to do, practice, and change in my own life. Take, for example, housecleaning. There was a time, in the not-so-distant past, when I practiced the art of doing a little cleaning throughout the week so that by the end of the week I wasn’t facing 1550 square feet of dirt, grime and laundry. I was doing pretty well for a while, and then I started adding more to my life (another child included in that), and suddenly found myself pushing off the cleaning – procrastinating myself into a giant, filthy mess.
Last Saturday I literally spent the entire day cleaning, scrubbing, cooking, grocery shopping, vacuuming and washing multiple loads of laundry (which subsequently needed to be folded afterwards). I was exhausted and ready to hit the hay by 7pm. I wanted to kick myself for waiting to do it all in one day. I realized I needed to start going back to what has worked for me in the past: taking on a little bit each day.
It kind of looks like this:
Monday – dusting and vacuuming
Tuesday – laundering clothes and vacuuming
Wednesday – laundering towels and vacuuming
Thursday – free day (which I desperately need) and, of course, vacuuming
Friday – bathrooms, laundering of washrags and kitchen towels and vacuuming
Saturday – groceries, laundering clothes and bed linens, kitchen, wash hardwood floors…and vacuuming
(As you can see, vacuuming is a daily chore at my house…and desperately needed.)
By breaking it up throughout the week I find that I am not so weary. Some days are easier than others, but at least I’m not taking it all on in one day…that’s just unnecessary, especially with three young children running around.
What about you? Have you tapped in to your inner housecleaning diva? Do you have any tricks of the trade? Please feel free to share your pearls of wisdom with the rest of us!
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