Nobody likes cleaning up. In fact we all tend to go to bed hoping that when we wake up, everything will be in it’s place, not a single swipe of grime nor a towel out of place. The fact is cleaning takes time. Once we get into actually doing it, it leads from one thing to another. For example, you’re sweeping the floor then you look up and think, hmm, might as well get the ceiling fans wiped as well and then the bathroom is next with the kitchen sink in line. By the time you’re done, most of the day has passed and there goes your day. For some, we see cleaning as a tiring, troublesome yet necessary activity, for others it is therapeutic.
Here’s how you can turn cleaning into a fun activity rather than something you choose to avoid. Remember, nobody likes to date a slob plus you get to keep a whole lot of germs outta the house! Plus your mums will be thankful that you’re lending a hand in keeping the house clean, after all it is yours as much as it is theirs.
Don’t let your mess pile up for days or gasp, weeks before you start picking up the broom. By then, you’ll be frustrated at the amount of work to be done and will end up spending a whole day cleaning. Though we may have other priorities such as work, take a minute or two to clean up rather than let it pile up. Alternatively, have a timetable, Mondays for doing laundry, Tuesdays for washing the bathroom, Wednesdays for gardening and so on.
Get the cleaning groove on with upbeat music you like dancing to! Fast music increases efficacy and metabolisme, which will make you work faster and put you in a good mood at the same time. You could also listen to an audio book and catch up on your ‘reading’. Talk about multitasking.
It’s important to clean up the clutter every once in awhile. One of the reasons why we find furniture stores like Ikea so appealing is because everything’s always so neat and tidy without stacks of magazines, pamphlets or random junk lying around. Every once in awhile, take a look at your room and ask yourself what is important to you and if you will need it within the next few months. If the answer is no, best to get rid of it or donate it to charity because chances are you won’t miss it if it’s gone. Don’t hoard things you don’t need like old clothes, sachets of ketchup or hotel toiletries which you know you’re never going to use. Like our parents would say, a cluttered room reflects a cluttered mind.
Turn your housework into a workout. You don’t have to hit the gym for a workout when you can also lose calories with 30 minutes of these simple house chores such as vacuuming (125 calories), mowing the lawn (225 calories), scrubbing the bathrooms (340 calories) or even cooking a meal (50 calories). Just make sure to do it consistently every week.
Humans heavily rely on our 5 senses to know what is good or bad. We want to see a clean house, relax on clean sheets and a dust free couch, and smell the roses, literally. Put on some aromatherapy after a successful cleaning session to reward yourself both physically and emotionally. The scent will help you relax and wind down after a long day of cleaning.
If you’re living with someone else, get them to play their part and share the task of cleaning the household. Never take the burden completely onto yourself. Besides cleaning up together can be a bonding experience be it with your mum, your spouse, your kids or your housemate, depending on which stage of life you’re in. Always picture the end result and you’ll enjoy the cleaning process so much more.
Regardless of your techniques or methods when it comes to cleaning, don’t get frustrated and give up halfway. Complete the task you set out to do and reward yourself with a meal out or a movie after you’re done as a little incentive. Now go on and tidy up!
