motivation tips

hello, dear friends, and welcome back to the fairy hollow!

so. cleaning. i’ve never enjoyed cleaning in any form, aside from organizing, which is very satisfying. but, we are in the midst of spring, and people all over the world are doing their spring cleaning, in varying capicities.

it can be hard to find the motivation to get off the couch and do some tidying. i know i struggle with motivation all the time. but i’ve decided to share some things that have helped me push through the procrastination and get right down to it!

1. make a specific checklist

i don’t know about you, but i love checking things off of a list. it’s just so satisfying to have that thing behind you. but the thing about checklists is that sometimes they can be overwhelming. so, don’t put “clean the kitchen” on your list, just like that. break it down into simpler tasks like “wipe the counter” or “load the dishwasher”. you’ll have more things to check off and your to-do list won’t be as overwhelming.

2. break a big project down into smaller parts

this builds off of the last point, but seriously. it’s so helpful to break a big task into bite-sized pieces. don’t focus on how messy your room is. focus on what’s making it messy. is it the baskets of laundry piled in the corner? is it the stationery scattered around the floor? training yourself to see the smaller components to a mess will be a huge help in the long run.

3. don’t hoard

i know, i know. this is painful to hear. but you really don’t need every notebook Walmart sells. if there’s a massive pile of something that’s taking up valuable space, ask yourself, “am i going to use this in the immediate future?” if the answer is no, pull it out and get rid of it. and you don’t have to throw it away. you can donate it or give it to your little cousin. once you get rid of stuff that’s just taking up space, you’ll feel so much better.

4. take a picture of your clean room

it can be hard to find the motivation you need when you’ve been living in a disaster for a few weeks. if you take a picture of your room when it’s clean and look at it when you’re feeling unmotivated, it will be a great reminder of what you’re working toward. are you more productive in a clean room? will your mom stop nagging you to clean it? will your roommate be pleased that you put all your stuff away for once? have an end goal in mind and imagine how wonderful it will be to achieve.

5. reward yourself!

cleaning is hard work! though there are a select few that enjoy the act of cleaning, most people don’t. so when you finish a big cleaning project, reward yourself! buy those shoes you’ve been wanting. go out with your friends. or just sit around and watch YouTube the rest of the afternoon. a reward is so much more satisfying when it’s well-earned!

what do you think?

well, those are my tips for finding joy in cleaning! these are things that i’ve found are a huge help to me, so i hope this list helps you in the same way it’s helped me!

what are some things that have helped you when it comes to motivation? are you doing any spring cleaning this season?

have a lovely day, friend (: