Your home is a living space, not a storage space

Imagine waking up to make a cuppa coffee to start the day. You walk into the kitchen, instead of smelling the rich caffeine, you smell last nights meatballs, next to a sticky pot with tomato stains on the counter, while befriending some flies. Let me guess, what could have been an energizing morning just turned into a growl of a vacuum machine and a delayed cup of coffee.  Am I the only one who feels like channeling my inner mom when this happens?

A clean house is the only thing that keeps me sane. When I wake up I do not want to be surrounded by the previous day’s problems. I feel that it is a part of my morning ritual to walk barefoot into a clean kitchen, no muddy footprints of the previous day, no dishes from last nights supper and no flies to befriend me. A clear space equals a clear mind which equals a successful day!

How you spend the first hour of the day, is what sets your attitude for the rest of the day.

Make tidying up a habit, instead of a chore. I would suggest the easiest way, is to keep hidden cleaning supplies in the home. A good example would be to have a cloth and spray bottle of cleaning supplies in the bathroom cupboard to quickly swipe the sink after brushing your teeth, I promise it won’t take more than 1 minute.

Here are my 10 tips

  1. Put the toothpaste cap on after using it and rinse the sink after use.
  2. Make your bed. This will set the tone for your day ahead, perhaps it could even feel as if you have accomplished your first task of the day. Puff up your pillows and open your windows.
  3.  Clean up as you go, do not put your towels over the bathroom door, hang them up (I am guilty of this one)
  4. Don’t leave the dishes for the next day, if it demands a lot of time, ask your roommate or partner to give a hand. Chances are better if you ask for the help, rather than imagining they will offer.
  5. Put your shoes or jackets in the cupboard when you take them off. I promise it is easier and quicker than you think.
  6. Get rid of “the chair” or “the counter” mentality. Yes, we all have the famous “the chair” that everything gets placed on, sort it out, everything has a home.
  7. Multi-task. When the food is in the oven, do the dishes. When you soak the pot, sweep the floor. Make small changes to save time.
  8. Before you leave the kitchen each night, take one last look before climbing into bed, ask yourself, “Am I satisfied with this? Is there anything I can do to make it a tad more eye-pleasing?”.
  9. When cooking, have a trash bowl, simply add veggie of cuts in the bowl and throw it away altogether when you’re done, that way there will be no crumbs on the floor.
  10. Do something small every day, whether it is wiping the windows, or giving the dog a bath.

You might not have the daily time frame to master these tips, but try to choose whichever one or two, something that is manageable and sustainable. It is the small things (habits) that will save your day!

Perhaps you could add one habit a week and journal. Let me know in the comments if you want me to start a 10 day to cleanliness challenge?

 

 

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