Motivation

I am not a native Californian. Shocker, right? My husband was relocated here four years ago to work for AAA in San Francisco. For the ten years prior to that we had lived in Arkansas and North Carolina, the Deep South where cultures and traditions were much different. There were many things to get used when we arrived here. There were things we instantly loved: the ocean, the weather, the beauty of San Francisco. And things we instantly hated: the traffic, the high cost of living, and the ugly houses. But, the most difficult thing for me to get used to as a stay at home mom was the loneliness and isolation.
In the South, someone drops by every day. Your neighbor comes by for a cup of coffee or you sit outside after school with friends while the kids play. You know all of your neighbors and you would not go a day without talking to a friend. I didn't realize how different it was here until someone told me that it was considered rude to just drop in on people....where I come from it would be rude to not offer your guest iced tea and a piece of cake!
So, I have been here four years now and I don't know the names of most of my neighbors, no one ever drops by for coffee and afternoons are spent alone while the kids nap. Weeks and sometimes months go by where I don't speak to another adult besides my husband. The kids will still say they miss playing at our old house where you didn't have to arrange that California thing called the "playdate,” where kids just went outside and played with a whole bunch of other kids anytime they wanted. I miss that, too!
Due to the utter isolation of being home all day with just my little ones, it can be hard to get motivated here. If you know someone is going to be dropping by at any point in the day, you are sure to get your house picked up first thing and make it something you are proud live in. You would also bake a little something just in case the need arose for a little snack with friends.
However, if you are certain that no one will be coming by, not now or frankly, ever, what is the point, right? You can certainly get into a slump where it seems downright pointless since no one is going to see it anyway.
But, there is a point to it all. A clean house is such a nicer place to spend the day. It is a nice place to come home to and everyone is less frazzled when not surrounded by clutter. Not only that, but it is so much healthier for your family to leave in a clean space. Dust mites, those nasty little allergens, love dirty sheets and dusty furniture. No one wants to get sick from their own dirty house!
We all want to live in beautiful, neat, organized spaces, but how do we get it that way? Here are my four steps for getting your house clean and finding motivation to keep it that way.
Recognize-
First, recognize the problem. What are the barriers keeping you from accomplishing all you want to do in a day? Are you just too tired, does it seem like too much to do; are you spending too much time online or watching TV? Recognize what is hindering you from getting motivated and tackling your to do list and write it down. For instance, "the thing keeping me from cleaning house and keeping it clean is spending too much time on the computer each day."
Now that you have recognized the problem, arrive at a solution, such as, "I will only read blogs and chat online for 1 hour each day. Or, "I will go to bed one hour earlier in order to be more rested each day." Write your solution down in a notebook or journal and stick to it.
Visualize-
Next, visualize what your house would look like clean and organized. How would it feel to sit in a room that is neat and peaceful? Take a stack of magazines and cut out pictures that will help motivate you. I like Better Homes and Gardens and Southern Living for house and garden ideas. Paste pictures of rooms that would appeal to you and ideas that you would like to copy and paste them into your journal. I call this my idea book.
Conceptualize-
Third, conceptualize. In your journal write down the steps it will take to get from where you are now to where you want to be. Do this for each room in your house. Do not put anything on your list that cannot be accomplished by you. For instance, if building new cabinets is beyond your expertise or budget, then don't write it down. Only write down steps that can actually be taken to get your house in order. Only include things that you actually have in your home or can afford to purchase. You can always move shelves, rugs, artwork, and furniture from room to room for a fresh look.
Prioritize the work so you start with the room that would make the most difference to you. The room you would like to sit in and read, knit, watch TV, etc.
Energize-
Finally, put on some good music, gather your supplies and get to work. Start in one room and set a time limit. Do not get bogged down in going through everything, just get busy cleaning it up. Save the boxes of things that you need to go through until after you are finished reclaiming your home.
Make it a goal to finish a nice space for you...a refuge spot. When it is clean fill a basket with some inspirational reading, a journal, a design book, and a pen. Now you have one beautiful space that belongs to you.
Focus on keeping that area clean and neat for yourself. This is your quiet place to think. Once you have one space you love, you will be motivated to get more areas looking this great.
Tomorrow add another room. As your house gets clean and organized you will find your spirits lifting and feel a little more inspired to keep it clean. It is depressing to live in clutter where you can’t find anything you need. As added motivation, reward yourself as each room gets done. New towels in the bathroom, new candles in the living room, some flowers in the kitchen.
Before you know it your house will be ready for company. Call me; I am always up for a drop in!