How can I be tidier?!?

Question

I'm sick of my home constantly being a mess. It's clean and hygienic, just untidy.

I always have unfolded clothes on the floor, piles of dishes to wash. Magazines and letters all over the floor etc.

I work a LONG day. I get up at 5.30 to get into work at 7am. I get home at 5.30pm and all I want to go is sit down and have something simple to eat. It's so hard to motivate myself when I'm so tired out.

Any tips?

Answer 1

Touch once.

Mail is looked at once and sorted into baskets (bills, financial stuff, catalogues, etc.) or the trash, never set back down or allowed on the floor.

Laundry is folded as it's pulled from the dryer, touched once. (Although I let myself fold while watching TV.)

Clothes you decided not to wear must go back on the hanger or in the drawer before you pull out the next possibility, not set on the bed or dropped to the floor to be touched a second time as you have a whole pile to deal with.

After serving dinner, put the pans to soak before eating. After eating, quickly wash the pans and your dishes, which are effectively touched once. That's ten minutes' work.

Buy a few baskets for the messiest rooms. After dinner, tidy for 7 minutes of every half hour. (That's during the ads.) Clutter that needs to go to a specific room (or upstairs) goes in a single basket. Somehow clutter in a basket is nicer to look at than regular mess. In an evening of taking it easy, you can clear tables and counters, the floor, and leave several rooms in pretty decent shape.

Answer 2

I know what you mean. Don't worry there is a thin line between living in a mess and being OCD!! The only thing you can do is break these chores down into smaller jobs and don't put them off...it means you are constantly staying on top of them though...such as washing up dishes before they pile up too much. Don't be afraid to put your mags into the recycle bin. And get a big carrycase file for letters etc, keep letter on a four month turn over (such as bills and bank statements) other wise you will end up with a file bursting at the seam.

I set aside a day a week to do a big clean, and I incorportate the boyfriend. It's a lot easier when you have help.

If you put a morning aside to do this then the rest of the week you just haev to maintain it. And it's nice to come home knowing you only have to wash up dinner stuff (try to wash up breakfast bowl after using it).

Answer 3

I can sympathize: I've worked days when by the time I could go home I just wanted to curl up and die.

It is a lot easier to do chores when they need to be done instead of letting them pile up. For instance, the laundry: When that's dry, fold and put it away immediately rather than let it pile up until it's scary.

You mentioned something simple to eat. I do have a suggestion for that: Invest in a crock pot if you haven't already. With a crock pot, you can use leftovers and a few other things to make a delicious, nutritious soup that can simmer during the day and be ready for you to eat in the evening.

Good luck!

Answer 4

I hate mess as well. The best thing to do is give your self some free time to sort everything out, maybe on the weekend. Keep a place for everything so its organised and anything you don't use, throw away! as its a waste of space. Clear floor space by putting shelves on the walls and keep a daily routine of cluttering so its manageable.

Answer 5

Have "Your Time" when you get home for a few minutes. Putting on Your songs and maybe some wine . Do you have others in the house? THEN deligate!! If no, get help . Taking items directly to their rooms and then one room @ a time. Maybe there is too much "stuff" in the home...Downsize. Don't forget to put recycle mags or other items in a certain container in a certain corner, then donate.

Answer 6

I've seen very similar questions posted before, perhaps you could check the answers.....

My suggestion is always this: when you have something in your hand, don't put it down where you sit/stand - put it where it belongs. If you do this with everything you pick up, everything will wind up where it's supposed to be.

Answer 7

This really helped motivate me:

http://flylady.net/

Her first advice is to start small. If you worry about tackling everything at once, you'll lose all your motivation. Start with the kitchen and make that your goal to tackle day #1, then go from there.

Answer 8

Use baskets for magazines and mail. Don't put anything on the floor. You have to make a decision to be neat.

Answer 9

Hire somebody to do a good spring clean.
Keeping a place clean is easier than getting it clean.

Answer 10

set yourself a table out of what needs to be done each day and attach it to your fridge? put goals on it so like on certain days if you get all your task done you get to reward yourself? just an idea? :)