Be Productive: Maid Sailors’ Motivation Builder

Finding The Motivation

A wise man once said, “Everybody wants to be a gangster until its time to do gangster things.” While this quote isn’t directly applicable here, we can apply some valuable insights that can ultimately make you more productive at home. After all, isn’t it true that when it comes to doing something in your apartment, like maintenance work or cleaning, suddenly something else comes up (e.g. Netflix)? Everything else suddenly seems like an emergency and needs your undivided attention (“OMG, did they really go to brunch without me?”). What about the work you had to do? Well, you can do it tomorrow, or the weekend, or better yet on Monday.

Don’t worry, if this is the case – it’s the reality for many people. We all have problems finding the motivation to clean and take care of our apartment, which is why there are reliable services and various other avenues for fixing your leaky sink or replacing your faucets. However, if hiring help is out of the question given your budgetary constraints, it is time to get motivated.

Finding the motivation to “do stuff” often comes down to changing small habits, which can be done rather easily with some minimal daily dedication. Here are some general guidelines that you can implement in order to get stuff done.

• Develop a routine – This may sound impossible, with your busy schedule and all that, but the truth is that having an established routine will help you not only with cleaning and other jobs around the house but also with everyday activities. Imagine this scenario – you come back every day from work, you have dinner and you put the dishes into “that pile in the sink” till the pile becomes a bacterial Mt. Everest. How do you possibly find the motivation to clean them all now? When all you want to do after dinner is watch Orange Is The New Black? If you devoted just 3 minutes to wash the dishes after every meal each day they’d end up in your cabinets by the end of the week. Sounds easy, doesn’t it? Try to squeeze in 3-5 minute routines during the earlier parts of the week to make life easier when the weekend rolls around. You’ll find that it’s easier to convince yourself to complete tasks when they aren’t gargantuan in the first place.

• Start small – Building on the previous point, doing one simple task at a time can also help bolster motivation and prevent tasks from taking up your day. It is OK if you cannot climb the mountain on the first day (and you shouldn’t expect to). Instead, stand at its base and figure out how to make the first step. It will be super effective to write down a plan and stick to it (e.g. I will do X first, Y second and Z third). This method is especially helpful when it comes to domestic cleaning, where tasks can be numerous and unrelated. Start with one chore at a time. And eventually, it will all be done by the end of the day.

• Make it fun – It is true that almost nobody likes mild cleaning, but it must be done. Thus, why not make it fun? Create a cleaning playlist, and unleash your inner Michael Jackson with the vacuum cleaner or mop. Time will pass quickly and the idea of cleaning won’t conjure negative associations within your brain. Prepare some treats or a drink you enjoy. Promise yourself will consume them only when you are done with your tasks (which you’ve written down). Instant Nutella.
• Remember, you’re doing God’s work – Tidying up your place has real, tangible benefits that you can see, and even those you can’t. Small adjustments keep your apartment fresh and well sanitized. Once your place looks clean, you’ll probably feel more comfortable inviting friends over or sitting down to do some work. If you’re truly overwhelmed and you’ve let things spiral out of control, you can always call Maid Sailors and we’ll show you how it’s done.

Remember

You can apply these tenets to the workplace, or other areas of your busy life. Motivation is like a muscle. It can be a powerful tool but needs to be regularly challenged and “built” over time. Be patient, prioritize properly, start small and watch the results.