Disorganized people are easily bored with the tedium of housework. We, and I include myself in the midst of this group, enthusiastically pull out equipment and supplies for an exciting project. We become energized by the creativity and vision of what we are producing. We are building, cooking, painting, or working on any one of a hundred other possible projects that capable people such as ourselves may get caught up in.
But then -- then comes the time to clean up, to put away, to tidy (sigh) up. With our energy spent and with nothing more to create, we mentally turn away from that project and move on to something else exciting, leaving the residue of now abandoned materials behind. Cleaning up seems just too tiresome. We tell ourselves that we will get to it later, hopefully. Now we have an area of clutter.
I have found that reframing the tiresome cleanup process works to my good. The key is to stay on top of the it by putting things back as you work. Use the words SCOOP and SWOOP to make it more fun. “Scoop” what you got out back into place as soon as you are done with it. “Swoop” this thing or that into its rightful storage spot (or into the trash) while you are in the working process.
If you do that, when the job is done and you look around, you will amaze yourself at how little you have left to do in order to finish things up and leave the work area in good condition. What is even better is that your supplies will be in the correct place the next time you need them.
We who are disorganized by nature not clean up easily. What we can do successfully is SWOOP and SCOOP so consistently that we avoid tedious housework.
Warmly,
Sandra Felton
THE ORGANIZER LADY®
Founder, Messies Anonymous
Author: NEW! Organizing Your Day
www.messies.com
But then -- then comes the time to clean up, to put away, to tidy (sigh) up. With our energy spent and with nothing more to create, we mentally turn away from that project and move on to something else exciting, leaving the residue of now abandoned materials behind. Cleaning up seems just too tiresome. We tell ourselves that we will get to it later, hopefully. Now we have an area of clutter.
I have found that reframing the tiresome cleanup process works to my good. The key is to stay on top of the it by putting things back as you work. Use the words SCOOP and SWOOP to make it more fun. “Scoop” what you got out back into place as soon as you are done with it. “Swoop” this thing or that into its rightful storage spot (or into the trash) while you are in the working process.
If you do that, when the job is done and you look around, you will amaze yourself at how little you have left to do in order to finish things up and leave the work area in good condition. What is even better is that your supplies will be in the correct place the next time you need them.
We who are disorganized by nature not clean up easily. What we can do successfully is SWOOP and SCOOP so consistently that we avoid tedious housework.
Warmly,
Sandra Felton
THE ORGANIZER LADY®
Founder, Messies Anonymous
Author: NEW! Organizing Your Day
www.messies.com
