Things around here have been busy lately…well…that may be a fantastic understatement…but for today I will leave it at busy. Very busy. And while I feel like I am in over my head and drowning I can guarantee I am not the only one struggling…
I have been frustrated because in my dream world aside from being independently wealthy and stunningly beautiful I would also have a maid. Or at least have a schedule that would be conducive to a consistent weekly cleaning and errand running schedule. But the wealth, beauty, maid, and schedule aren’t coming and meanwhile the deadlines and the dirty laundry keep coming. So I’ve had to come up with a plan.
And easy and effective plan.
I’d like to say I invented the plan but I can’t take the credit. The credit goes to Daryl V. Hoole (my 1960’s homemaking idol). She says (among other things) give yourself 20 minutes to complete a task. Whether it be cleaning out the fridge or organizing a closet. Give yourself 20 minutes and only 20 minutes.
20 minutes is long enough to really get into a job and make progress but by setting a time limit you know that you will need to work quickly, effectively, and not get side tracked.
Great idea, right? Well, because I have had so many things going on I’ve taken this 20 minute idea and taken it one step farther. I give myself 20 minutes in the morning to “straighten the house”. I time myself and bustle around the house sorting laundry, cleaning up breakfast, vacuuming the rug, etc.
And then again right before my kids come home from school I give myself 20 more minutes for general house cleaning.
Since I began doing that there has been such a difference in my house! Really. I can not believe the amount of work you can accomplish in 20 minutes when that is all you focus on.
Right now I don’t have time to dwell on household chores the way I would like. But my 20 minutes a day keeps the house clean, the bathrooms clean, the floors clean, etc. It’s amazing, really it is. Who knew 20 minutes could make such a difference?
So from now until my life slows down I am sticking to the twenty minute plan and being happy that I read all about it in my thrift store homemaking book!
-liZ
I once had a 15 min plan. Where everyone ( well kids and I would run around and clean up the house and do as much as possible for 15 minutes. It was amazingly effective.
I love this, because I do the same thing. In the morning, I tidy up from the time I get back from dropping everyone off (around 8:35) until 9am. Once 9am hits, I am shocked at how much my house looks put together. Then at 5pm, everyone in the house has to “straighten” up, which means the kids go to their rooms and make their beds, pick up their floor, and I zoom around the house tidying up until 5:15. It works rather well, and has made a huge difference in how relaxed I feel.
I can’t relax in a messy house.
I’ve been strategizing along these same lines since our school year schedule picked up. I have learned over many years without a dishwasher (I have one now) that there is no amount of dishes I can’t do in 20 minutes!
Awesome idea! I do something similar… every time I sew I have a goal of what I am to accomplish with sewing (cutting all my fabric… ironing… piecing, etc) and then afterwards I have to do at least 5 minutes of something else around the house; whether it be switching out the laundry, putting it away, etc. Sometimes the time goes slightly longer to the 20 minutes, but it does get all of it done while I still get my free leisure time. On the weekends, when I first wake up I clean/pick up for 30 minutes with the deeper stuff (bathroom, mopping, vaccuuming all rooms with carpet, clean the sink, etc) and it then leaves not so much to do. Whenever I done with any of them, then I know all the remainder of the time is just for me! Both are great time savers! Thanks for sharing the tip! I may now start to limit myself to the 20 minutes at times. 🙂
Oooh I love that idea! I often find myself multi tasking, and getting nothing done, essentially.
To complete one task in 20 minutes would be fantastic!
This is such a wonderful idea! I do something similar – I am in school so it is extremely hard to find time to sew. I try to give myself 15 or 20 minutes to work on something whether it be tracing the pattern, cutting fabric, sewing. Once the time is up I put it away and get back to studying. I get some sewing time in without neglecting my studies! I should start using this for dishes – my roommates and I never seem to do our dishes and then they just pile up.
Lori,
It is effective…even with the kids…when I set a timer with them and do it it turns into a race so the complaints are minimized (not eliminated but minimized).
-liZ
Your times are almost exactly the same as mine!
And it does make me feel more relaxed and calm.
liZ
Michelle,
I know….I always think multitasking is a great idea but then I usually end up with a lot of jobs partially done….
-liZ