I recently read a blog post, which was a response to the question, "How do you get motivated to do the chores you hate?"
The author's response? (I'm paraphrasing here) "I just decide to like my chores. Even if I don't feel like doing them, I just get up and do them anyway!"
So THAT'S what I've been doing wrong! I'm just supposed to decide to like my chores, and then everything will be OK!
I'm sorry, I know that I sound a bit snarky, but this response just makes me roll my eyes. Apparently my illness is making me more irritable and less tolerant, because I actually got a little bit mad when I read this post. For most of us, it's just not that simple.
Here are some ways that I get motivated to work, and none of them involve liking toilet cleaning, or sink scrubbing, or poopy diaper washing:
1) I pray. I ask God to give me the energy and motivation to do my work. Sometimes, I offer completion of hated chores to God as thanks for His many blessings.
2) I set a timer. I allow only 30 minutes in each room, and challenge myself to get as much done as possible during that time.
3) I put on some upbeat music. It cheers me up, and makes the time go by faster.
4) I promise myself a reward, like some reading time, or some chocolate.
5) I visit this web site. Sometimes just looking at the pictures is motivation enough for me to get off my butt and get cleaning.
6) Truthfully, I do sometimes have to force myself to do my chores. I give myself a little pep talk first, and psych myself up. I tell myself that I'm doing these things for my family, and if I just do them, I'll feel so much better about myself.
How do you get motivated to do your work? Seriously, I would love to know.
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20 comments:
Usually like you mentioned. I just make myself do it. I have been doing this just today. I have caught the "crud" from sweet toddler girl. And I feel like Poo-Poo with a capital POO. But, since I know I have company coming this weekend, I cannot afford to do nothing today. So i have been taking 15 minutes and just getting as much done in that room as I can. Its not easy. And I have some other thoughts that I have been thinking about this topic and it would require a seperate email due to space. sorry so long. :)
Hi Heather, First of all, I hope you are feeling at least a bit better. I'm continuing to pray.:)
Well...I really have to say that when I don't like a chore, I try to reward myself for doing it. For instance, I hate weeding the flower beds. So, I tell myself that if I do it, I will get a small reward. Sometimes, I plan to go to the movies with Dh or something as simple as spending longer than usual reading a good book.
I like playing upbeat music too and sometime...I eat chocolate while I work.:) Good thing there isn't very many things I really don't like doing.
Joyce
I hope the doc can do something to make you feel better. Any idea how they'll fix you? You're not snarky not you no way! No one likes chores its just somthing that needs to be done. I like the way you do it though music always helps me too
Usually I use tactics yours, but in my pre-baby days (when I had time to watch TV at night) I would do 'commercial cleaning.' I could sit and watch the show, but during commercials I was up running around getting chores done. Now I just set aside time on Monday mornings to do the things I really don't want to do and definitely don't want to have to think about all week.
I like to race myself...try to get it done in so amount of time.
I don't like doing it, but I feel real good about the end result!
I really have no good answer for you...I feel like I wrote our post! I feel exactly like you do!! I also pray and put upbeat music on. I think that I will try using a timer as you said...that is a great idea!
How did you ever find that website? What I do is watch a show called How Clean is Your House? We have a station on our cable which is called BBC in America where the shows are from England. These two women go to different homes and show just how horrible the conditions are and then they proceed to clean (with a cleaning crew of course). I think that I am so interested in the show because when I see just how bad the homes are, I feel better about my own and become motivated!
I wish that I had some advice for you, but you and I have the exact same problem:) If I lived near you, we would never get anything done (HA HA):)
Janel
How do I get motivated? Some things just have to be done. So, like you, I allot 15 minutes and then rest or go on to something else. Breaking daunting projects into small segments works for me.
I use to never like house work. Then I got on a schedule and by not letting it get out of control seems to help with my willingness to do things. I know I won't have to spend hours cleaning.. I use flylady and a little each day works. After seeing this happen I started applying in to the rest of my life - planning menus, taking out food to defrost early in the day, keeping a calender for events, CHECKING the calendar, planning my shopping, errands, etc.
And there are days I dont feel like doing things. And ya know what.. I DON'T DO THEM. We eat off paper plates so fewer dishes... I skip dusting for the week.. I skip a day of laundry... I don't sweep. Then it seems I cannot stand the mess it's making so that gives me the motivation to do it.
I was tired like you from severe iron-deficiency anemia. I just could not get up. I just took it slow... did it in spurts.. and rested. It's not easy, but it all got done eventually.
I do like to listen to music when I clean, take frequent breaks and then relax and enjoy the reward of a clean house.
My house is not spotless every day - I live in the real world. I don't put expectations on myself that I cannot keep. I do my best.. I enjoy LIFE :)
Hope you feel better soon.
Meatballs? OMGOSH! Another great recipe, Heather! I have some heating for our lunch and MMMM smells delish!
I kinda stink at home keeping. I just usually invite someone over and then I have to do stuff.
And that's the lazy truth of it.
I hope you get to feeling better soon Heather!
I have two main motivators for cleaning. The first is my husband. He's is gone nearly 75 hours most weeks, and I hate for him to come home to a messy, dirty house after working so hard. I clean up so we can relax together when he's home. Second is so I know where things are and that my kids can't get into anything they shouldn't be. If it's clean and organized I can be a little more sane.
Naptime is the best time for me to get things done: half is for cleaning & half is for me!
I don't know if I really motivate myself by this, but this tip does help my attitude. At this time in my life, my work is to be a wife and mommy. As Christians, we are commanded to do our work as unto the Lord and not unto man (Colossians 3: 23-24). Therefore, the work I do is not for myself, or even for my family, but rather my work is for God. God has done so much for me, the least I can do is clean my toilet for Him! If you want some real inspiration, try reading Brother Lawrence's "The Practice of the Presence of God." You can find it online for free.
As scary as it sounds...I love housecleaning, just not my own. I clean a few houses to help make ends meet around here and usually use your timer trick and play fun music. I have a sitter for my baby when I clean the other homes...so I kinda see it as free time too! I also tell myself that I am burning a few extra calories.
I hope you get to feeling better...I am praying for you and your doctors.
Housework - my pet hate. I am good sometimes & just do it & othertimes I can't be bothered. I wish I could have a great way to motivate myself, but sometimes I have to invite someone over so I have an excuse to give the house a thorough clean. Hope you're feeling better.
The "decide to like it" irks me to, and I'm not sick, just terminally cranky. Motivation? Not my strong suit. For stuff that must get done, like yesterday, I promise myself an equal amount of reading time. That seems to work pretty well. Of course, so does making DQ do it as one of three weekend chores! Bad Mommy!
I wish I was motivated to do my chores too. Usually it takes knowing someone is coming over to get me motivated. I wish just liking housework was enough.
I am sorry that you aren't well and I feel for you, it's so hard to keep up with life when it seems like your body is letting you down.
After years and years of over-abundance, I am learning that the less I have, the easier it is to keep clean and organized. When things are easy to do, I am more inclined to get them done! For me, this means keeping my fridge sorted out and my kitchen counters free of clutter, including small appliances.
A few years ago I was in a terrible car accident. I now live with a great deal of chronic pain. On the days that are good, I do what I can and Thank God that I am pain free that day.
I appreciate the fact that I have a free laundry room across the hall and don't have to heat up water and use a wash board! Or make my own soap. And that I have been blessed to have all these clothes in the first place. My clothes are simple and functional, easy to launder and hang up to dry.
On the pain filled days, maybe all I can get done is a swish of the toilet, empty the garbage and clean the sink. I use paper plates to cut down on the washing up, as standing by the sink makes my back ache even more. I have some quick and easy meals ready to microwave or have toast and soup for dinner.
Another idea, if you are able, is to ask for help. Maybe there is a local person that you could hire to help you for a couple of hours a week to reduce some of your burden?
God Bless and hugs, if you want one,
Julie Andrea
sundayschild1966(at)yahoo(dot)com
I also listen to music and promise myself a reward when I'm done. I usually melt a delicious smelling tart when I'm finished and relax and enjoy it. Or I will save a new magazine to devour after I'm done. Whatever works!
I hope you are beginning to feel better. Still praying for you. :)
housework stinks. I can't motivate myself to do it. (Again, you've seen my laundry pile ;) )
I wish there was something I could do to help ... oh! I know...I'll tag you for something fun!. *grin* Head on over to my blog and you'll see what I'm talkin' about.
Thinking of you...
I had to laugh when I saw your post. I know where you referencing because I have that blog bookmarked too.
I go through spurts...most of the time my house is passable/presentable and sometimes I get the cleaning bug and just go to town.
When I read "I just decide to like it!" I wanted to chuck something at her. (Something like my bucket of dirty diapers, so I could say, "Fine! Since you've DECIDED to like it, help yourself!")
I found your advice to be much more helpful :)
If it's non essentials which don't need to be done that day then I tend to leave them for another day but if it's essentials then I ask myself whether I have a good enough reason to ask my husband to do it when he comes in from work (the answer is always no unless I am really ill or something). I usually find that helps motivate me to get stuff done rather than leaving it.
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