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I maybe kinda sorta do not enjoy cleaning the house. . .or washing the dishes. . .or folding the laundry. Those things don’t fall into the realm of “fun” for me. Sure, I might get a little giddy about organizing a closet or throwing out a trash bag full of clutter, but even those tasks require energy that I often don’t have.
Most days, I have a million and one chores calling my name. And I have a million and two excuses ready to be used. I can always find a very good reason to accomplish absolutely nothing.
Whether you’re a stay-at-home mom, a working woman, or a work-from-home-wonder-woman, it can be hard to find motivation to do those tasks that you really don’t enjoy. The chores that need repeated day after day and week after week can completely drain you of your will to get things done.
Then, pile on the exhaustion and low-energy that usually accompanies a life of keeping house and caring for a family, and the To-Do List grows while the house gets dirtier and clutter becomes more annoying.
The solution to my I-hate-cleaning-but-it’s-got-to-be-done problem? A timer.
There is something motivating about working against the clock. Setting my timer for just fifteen minutes usually results in an afternoon full of productivity. Call me crazy (and you probably should), but my energy seems to multiply when my timer is ticking.
I honestly doubt that I would get anything done around the house if I didn’t use some sort of timer. Even when I don’t set an actual clock, I’m always trying to finish a task before my tea is done brewing or before my kid finishes his math problems.
And on those days when I feel like I’m dragging (so, basically every day!), a timer gets me up off my you-know-what and kicks me into action. I know – and have to remind myself – that if I will work for a short, concentrated burst, I will likely feel like tackling more than I could have imagined.
9 Reason to Use a Timer:
1. Limits our time.
The kids know we’ll be able to get them a snack when it beeps, and we know we can quit working on the annoying task once it stops ticking.
2. Efficiently uses small segments of time.
It gives us freedom to work on a chore, even if we don’t have all day to spend on it.
3. Keeps us focused.
There’s no time for distractions when we’re working to finish a job on time.
4. Pushes us to work quickly.
The countdown of the clock kicks us into power-cleaning mode. We have to work at hyper-speed to get the task done fast.
5. Gets the momentum rolling.
Committing to just a few minutes of work gets the energy flowing. It’s much easier to keep working after seeing the accomplishments of those first fifteen minutes.
6. Proves how easy most tasks are.
It’s amazing how quickly those procrastinated chores can be completed when there’s a timer pushing us along.
7. Helps our children cooperate.
The kids are more willing to participate in cleaning when they know there’s an end to the work time.
8. Gives us a feeling of accomplishment.
Even the craziest days feel productive if we complete a few minutes of homemaking tasks, and the timer makes this a measurable goal.
9. Lets good enough be good enough.
Setting a timer gives us permission to quit working on a project, even if the end result isn’t “perfect.”
So the next time you’re struggling to conquer the laundry pile or tackle the pile of mail that keeps growing and multiplying, try grabbing a timer and working for just fifteen minutes. You never know how much you’ll accomplish in a day once you get started!
Do you use a timer when working around the house?
I totally agree about the timer!!
Will you address decision making?? I tell myself im not lazy….. (probably an excuse) but it’s making the DECISIONS of what to throw, what to give, what to keep….
I can’t really clean until I GET RID OF LOTS OF CLUTTER!
Thank you for coming my way via Crystal Paine!
That was so kind of Crystal to point you my direction! 🙂 This post on How to Recognize Clutter that’s Hiding Right Under Your Nose might be helpful. It’s much easier to get rid of something once you finally admit that it’s nothing more than clutter in your life. You also might want to sign up for my 31 Days to an Everyday Clean Home challenge. I walk you through cleaning out and cleaning up your home with actionable, bite-size steps.