I Actually Look Forward To Cleaning After I Started Doing THIS
I used to spend my entire Sunday dreading the moment I had to pick up a vacuum. Cleaning felt like a punishment for all the fun I'd had living in my own house. I would procrastinate until the mess was overwhelming and then rage clean in silence while feeling sorry for myself. But recently, I realized that the problem was not the cleaning itself but how bored I was doing it. I decided to pair the work with things I actually enjoy, and it completely changed my mindset. This is how I started to enjoy cleaning, and you can too.
Getting Lost In A Story
I used to clean in total silence and it made every minute feel like an hour. Now I put on a true crime podcast or a really engaging audiobook before I even touch a sponge. I get so absorbed in the mystery or the drama that I honestly forget I am scrubbing the toilet. It turns the time into entertainment rather than labor. I actually find myself looking for more things to wipe down just so I can finish the chapter.
Invite A Friend
Inviting a friend over just to help you clean sounds weird, but it works wonders. You do not even have to talk the whole time. Just having another human being in the room keeps you accountable and stops you from getting distracted by your phone. Me and my friends usually order pizza afterwards as a reward. If you cannot have someone over physically, even staying on a video call with your mom while you both do dishes helps make the time pass quickly.
Blasting The Embarrassing Playlist
Everyone needs to have a playlist that is a little embarrassing to admit you love. I am talking about high school throwbacks or cheesy pop songs that make you want to dance. If you are singing into the mop handle, you are not thinking about the dirt on the floor. It brings your energy up when you feel too tired to clean. I honestly get a little cardio workout in while I clean because I end up dancing around the kitchen. It is hard to be grumpy when your favorite song is blasting.
Make It A Game
Sometimes, I play a game with myself where I set a timer on my stove for exactly twenty minutes. I tell myself I only have to clean until the alarm goes off. It tricks my brain into starting because twenty minutes feels manageable. I race against the clock to see how much I can get done before the beep. Usually when the timer goes off, I have built up enough momentum to keep going anyway because seeing the progress I’m making feels so good.
The Long Catch Up Call
Laundry used to be the bane of my existence until I started calling my grandmother during it. Folding clothes is a mindless task that leaves your brain free to chat. I save all my long catch up calls for Sunday laundry day now. I associate warm towels and fresh sheets with hearing my family's voices. It distracts me from the boredom and helps me stay connected with people I love but do not see enough during the busy work week.
Put On A Comfort Show
We all have that one TV show we have seen a million times but could watch a million more. Put it on in the background while you tidy the living room. You do not need to watch the screen to know what is happening so you can move around freely. It provides a comforting background noise that makes the house feel less empty. It feels like hanging out with old friends instead of working. I get excited to clean just so I can restart my favorite series for the tenth time.
A Fancy Drink Reward
Sometimes, as a little bribe, I make myself a really nice iced coffee or pour a glass of wine before I start cleaning. It feels like a treat rather than a punishment. I take a sip every time I finish a task or clear a surface. It gives me a little dopamine hit that keeps me motivated to move to the next room. It turns the cleaning session into a little self care ritual. You are taking care of your home and yourself at the same time.
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Cleaning is never going to be a vacation, but it does not have to be miserable. By combining it with things that make you happy, you retrain your brain to stop hating it. You might even find yourself looking forward to that hour of alone time where you can just listen to your book and zone out. It turns a chore into a surprisingly peaceful part of your week. Give one of these a try and see if it helps.
Bliss Donahue-Power
