RePost from my first blog: Make Peace with Housework
– for any creatives with a house to keep…
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I know I am fashionably late but I have spent the last few weeks busily converting this entire blog into an ebook format, for your reading pleasure. During this process, I was struck by how many useful ideas I’ve stumbled across over the last year or two. Despite the fact that I’ve relayed them to you on this blog, even I had forgotten some of them, or at least forget to implement on a regular basis.
So in the spirit of new decade reviews, (can I still get away with that?), I thought I’d offer you a quick reminder of the best of the best from the last year of MPWH.
In other words, My Top Ten Twenty-Ten Tip Top Top Tips! (Apologies for the abundant alliteration, it’s a hopelessly helpless habit….)
Speaking of which….
THE MPWH Top Ten Twenty-Ten Tip Top Top Tips
1. Habits
Anything you adopt as a habit, will be very helpfully dealt with by your subconscious mind – without any conscious angst, resentment or frustration for you. So for calmer domestic karma, try to turn any particularly loathsome chore into a habit. Unless, of course, you can avoid doing it altogether- which brings me nicely on to…
2. Delegation
A job may very well need doing, but it doesn’t necessarily follow that you must always be the one to do it. Aside from hired help, there are many other avenues of delegation you may want to explore, ranging from family members to domestic appliances to internet services. Seek and ye shall undoubtedly find some ways of getting a little more help around the place.
3. Re-educate
One of my highlights last year was appearing on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour show with Jenni Murray. Here I discussed how it can be a great idea to research the most efficient ways to do whatever must be done. It makes real sense to scour the internet for tips and tricks. Read books that show you time-saving short-cuts. Grill any willing Domestic Goddess friends for their insider secrets. Do whatever it takes to find out how to make your tasks easier and your workload lighter. In exchange for a bit of digging and researching, you could shave hours, days, even weeks off your housework schedule. Time well spent, no?
4 Use music
This is a simple but powerful one. Whether you need something lively to get you moving mop-wards, or something soothing to stop the mad resentment-fuelled racing – choose some tunes to help you. You can find more on this here or here but I’m sure you know best what you need. Taking a moment to do this before you start any chore can work wonders for in battling housework blues.
5. Plan ahead
Just a little lazy pondering, in advance, about what needs to be done kickstarts some magical processes in your mind where things just seem to turn out better. Life running a little bit more smoothly? Sounds like a good plan to me.
6. Learn feng shui
It is much more difficult to avoid essential housework with the threat of Bad Chi lurking at the back of your mind.
7. Find the fun
Do whatever it takes to inject a little fun into the proceedings. Have happy snaps about the place. Buy gadgets that make you smile. Wear fur-trimmed marigolds if that floats your boat. Pepper your housework routine with elements of folly and jolly. Housework may be mundane, but it doesn’t have to be miserable.
8. Embrace the Housework-out
When your exercise of choice is vigorous housework, not only will you look good and feel good – your home will be lovely plus you’ll free up some extra time to enjoy it. It’s a win-win-win-win!
9. Consider the angst:procrastination ratio
Obviously, it can be very tempting to leave certain jobs (all jobs?) until some other day (preferably the twelfth of never…) But, how will that make you feel in the long run? If the stress/guilt/worry of not doing it is worse than the trauma of facing it, you may be better off just biting the bullet. As unappealing as it may seem, sometimes it is easier to just do it.
10. Treat yourself. Regularly
The debate rages on about how much women ought to be paid for all the stuff we do within the home. However, whilst we’re waiting for a government to recognise our efforts by way of some cold hard cash, why don’t we take it upon ourselves to dish out our own recompense? Consider all the wonderful work you do and choose a relevant reward. In the words of the ad men – you’re worth it.
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There you go! Some of my favourite tips from the last year. I hope you enjoy them and find they will stand you in good stead for the domestic battles of 2011. Let me know how you get on!
Danielle
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