How do you motivate yourself to do the dazily chores and how do you do big clear-outs with children around?

[Countingthegreyhairs]

I don't need help with routines just with motivating myself to stick to them. (An adaptation of flylady works well for me when I can stick to it - but I get too easily demotivated.)

Do you have to really force yourself yourself to do the housekeeping chores or does it come naturally to you?

If the former, what incentives do you give yourself to get the housekeeping chores done, day after day? With me, it's all or nothing and I want to break this habit and motivate myself to use my time more evenly and effectively.

Also, I need to do some huge de-cluttering exercises in various rooms in the house. How do you do this when you have children around? (I mean clearing out dirty dusty roof type jobs - ones you have to wear all-in-one overalls for - not projects you can plug away at for an hour a day.)

Here is a wee poem for you, read it when you are feeling swamped! It's called A Mothers Wish!
I HOPE MY CHILD LOOKS BACK ON TODAY, AND SEES A PARENT WHO HAD TIME TO PLAY, THERE WILL BE YEARS FOR CLEANING AND COOKING, BUT CHILDREN GROW UP WHEN YOU'RE NOT LOOKING, SO SETTLE DOWN COBWEBS - DUST GO TO SLEEP, I'M CUDDLING MY BABY, AND BABIES DON'T KEEP.

nice

I have one day a week to do my thorough clean, and that's a Friday - my day off work, so to speak.

I start at 5.00am and finish at around 1.00pm, and that doesn't include rooms like the dining room or spare bedroom that don't get used every day.

Yes, it takes about 8 hours but I find that if I put the radio on, and just get stuck in I can work until I've finished. Then it's time for ironing, cleaning the dustbin (Friday is bin day) and doing some gardening should the weather allow.

I try and get all that done before my boys get home from school at 3.30 - oh, and also I try and pull in a trip to Sainsbury's if I can, but that doesn't always work.

My main motivation is the fact that I just want to get it done! Luckily I don't mind housework, so that's a big help.

thxs for the verse Jebelmum (my own - not so uplifting - contribution follows)

Waycat I admire your discipline!! A similar method was practised by a friend of my mother's who used to get up very early 3 mornings a week before the family and clean for England. She said her motivation was she could then pretend she hadn't done it (if that makes any sense)...

A Mumsnetter's lament to her untidy house ...

So I've girded my norkage
And donned my Spanx
I'll try and do chores
But won't receive thanks
There are toys on the parquet
And crumbs in the bed
I'll listen to a podcast
To calm thoughts in my head:
"You must weave lentils for tea
And wash dd's socks
You must starch your thongs
And polish your Crocs
And then when you're done
And the dc are a-bed
Do it all again
'Cos your grey matter's dead."

This Flylady's crashed
And burned on the floor
She's drowning in chaos**
And yet there is more ...

When she could be sorting
And dusting
And sending Boden returns
Here she sits (horror emoticon)
... Mumsnetting while Rome burns ....!!!!

* Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome (from Flylady)

OK, so I'm no poet but give me credit for advanced procrastination ....

meant to say Chefswife, that your sculpture sounds amazing ...

... I know it sounds like yet another excuse but I think because I do so many things in the day that I don't want to do (I'm the creative/artistic type too (although you wouldn't know it from the poem )) but I rarely do anything creative or artistic, apart from coordinate crafts at dd's school) that I find the rest of the stuff so difficult and perhaps it's that that lowers motivation all around ..

.. and yes, the ongoing renovation doesn't help ...

Hey ho, time to face the week methinks and start counting my blessings instead of complaining ....

Great poem!

Thanks Mme P ; so let's summarise everyone's words of wisdom (in no partic. order):

• do little and often and keep at it every day
• monitor and cut down on how much time wasted watching telly and at computer
• don't sit down at end of day until majority of chores done
• balance your activities between, work, chores and your own interests to avoid mood slumps
• ring-fence regular times for cleaning
• start early as possible in the day
• listen to podcasts while cleaning or use the time to think of other more interesting things
• clean in short sharp busts interspersed with planned breaks and mini-treats
• make sure you have something else horrid to do which makes cleaning look more attractive option!!
• try and ensure you have enough storage and get rid of clutter on regular basis
• enlist the help of friends for 'clean swap' mornings
• invite friends and family around often and tell everyone it's ok to drop by unannounced!!
• keep a journal at end of day titled "achievements"
• look at interior magazines for inspiration
• force yourself to clean and tidy on a regular basis UNTIL it becomes natural
• and LucieMule's v. good suggestion which I missed out early on is "adopt mind-set of doing a professional job and pretend you are doing it for someone else"
• bear in mind time spent playing with children more important than dusting

OK, OK, so I'm sloping off now to put money where my mouth is ....

I find that if I spend a few days solidly MNing guilt takes over and motivates me.

Yes, Flylady is good Hoochie M (aside from evangelical wierdo parts) but the problem is I keep falling off the wagon (if that's the correct expression). I know it makes sense ... if only I could be consistent ...

Solid days Foxy???? Crikey, I thought I had problems but yes, in my case (Catholic) guilt always gets you in the end ....