6 ways to motivate yourself to clean up

Here are a few ways to get motivated to clean up

Cleaning the house is a never-ending project but it can be made enjoyable if you use a few motivational tips and tricks to get into it. If the monitor at your workplace is framed with layers of post-it reminders and desktop is hidden under stacks of papers, then it’s time to give it a new makeover by adopting some smart strategies. As compiled from allwomenstalk.com, greatist.com, cleanmyspace.com and Forbes, here are a few ways to get motivated to clean.

1. Put on music

A good soundtrack can make almost anything more bearable and get you in the mood for cleaning. Choose something that makes you feel like dancing, so that you feel like engaging yourself physically to do the cleaning that’s required.

2. Make DIY cleaning products

Cleaning can be way more fun if you make your own natural cleaning products. Basic ingredients, such as vinegar, lemon juice and essential oils are kinder to the environment and smell so much nicer than the artificial fragrances in commercial products. Due to its acidity, vinegar helps remove grease, scum and grime. Natural lemon juice eliminates mildew, cuts through grease and makes hard surfaces shine. Essential oils make a great scent addition to homemade cleaning products.

3. Reward yourself

A lot of times, we accomplish things without giving much credit to ourselves or celebrating the achievement of it.  Perhaps, a good way to encourage yourself to keep your workplace and house clean is to reward yourself. For instance, you can go out for lunch or spend some time watching a movie after tidying up your living room.

4. Deal with cleaning straight away

Get up and get started. Make it your priority to clean as soon as it’s necessary, so that it’s dealt with quickly and easily. Clean spillage while it’s fresh as it’ll be much easier to remove than if it has time to set or dry.

5. Set a weekly appointment

It’s likely that co-workers will associate a messy office with your organisation skills and assume their project or proposal will get lost in the landfill that’s your desk, says Jennie Dede, vice president of recruiting for Adecco. She recommends setting a reoccurring reminder on your calendar to tidy up your workspace for 15 minutes once a week. Toss any trash or items you no longer need, gather personal items that need to be taken home and sort loose paperwork.

6. Don’t make piles, set limits

Don’t fool yourself into thinking that making piles reduces clutter. Peter Walsh, author of Lighten Up: Love What You Have, Have What You Need, Be Happier with Less, says, “The issue isn’t space; it’s too much stuff.” He recommends establishing zones in your office for different functions: a workspace for your computer, a library area for your books, a storage area for supplies and a filing area for your archives. Give everything a place and then set limits on the amount of items in each.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 7^th, 2015.

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