I've tried the Marie Kondo method (you can read about it) and kinda lost my desire to keep up with it over time. I toyed with the idea of trying to feng shui my way to a tidier home, but I guess my chi is messed up. :/ So, I decided to design a cleaning challenge for myself that is a bit more, shall we say, "Lazy" paced.
A bit of backstory to those who may not have been reading since I started the WordPress version of this blog, back in 2010. I've never been a neat person, and neither has my mother. My brother is weird and somehow came out a clean freak (but he's still "boy" messy). So, I've cleaned when needed and it's been ok. Then when I started to live alone and in a city without many friends, I began to spiral into living in a trash dump. I realized that I couldn't wait for company to come to force me to clean, so I started this blog. I posted photos and videos of my disgusting mess and of my much cleaner victories over it. Fast forward and now I am happily married and live with my husband and three fat, fur babies. He is not a fan of living in mess but he's just about as lazy about it as I am. However, the difference is that he'll actually get up and clean because he's bored. Who does that? When I'm bored I read a book, play a game or sleep. Cleaning never crosses my mind.
This has lead to a few disagreements (which you can also read about). So, I've been trying to be better and Mr. LL has agreed to put up with my methods because they are what I need to do in order to be productive (i.e.-lists). It's been working out, but with the side hustle and our day jobs and just life in general, it's starting to become a struggle to keep up with the cleaning. We are in a pretty good spot now, meaning that if someone calls to say they are on their way over a quick run through of the house will make it company ready with minimal "crap" hiding (which is mainly clothes).
With ALL that said, I created this challenge and the name, I think, is very fitting:
The Baby-Steps Cleaning Challenge
Each week, I'm adding a new "to-do" to my cleaning list. Now, keep in mind that these tasks are on top of the divided chores of dishes and laundry that Mr. LL and I share and alternate doing. Also, we both clean up after the animals multiple times a day. I would also ask you to know that these weekly challenges are meant to help me develop long-term habits that will add to the overall happiness and sanity of my household. Enough of that, on to the first challenge!
• WEEK ONE: Make the bed EVERY morning. Including weekends.
We never make the bed unless we cleaning the sheets or know a day in advance of company coming over. However, it makes the whole bedroom just feel "neater" when it is done. Plus, I can't go to bed without making it first, but it's kinda dumb to make it right before you get into it, IMO.
• WEEK TWO: 15 Minute Pick-Up.
• WEEK THREE: Put away clean clothes.
• WEEK FOUR: Deep clean 3 "things".
