[twoplustwo]

I am not naturally messy . . . but one thing that helped me when I had a baby and a toddler was to think in chunks. NEver ALL that needs to be done.

Is laundry being done? If yes, THEN go to the next, If not do a load of laundry. Give myself a minute to feel accomplishment. Deep breath - it's ok, you have laundry going.

Are dishes done? If Yes go to the next, if no do dishes. Deep breath - if nothing else the laundry is going and dishes are done! That counts! Good job!



I divided my home into areas. I cleaned only the first area. Then if the next day I didn't clean the next area if the first area was clean. So basically main living areas might get cleaned 3 times while bedrooms were ignored. It seems crazy but otherwise I never had a clean house. Plus it BUILT habits. I could manage keeping a third of my home clean, then it stayed clean. Once it stayed clean I could start on keeping part of the next area clean. Plus if you can keep the main area clean then people can stop by and drop off food / this item / whatever and your home looks clean even if it;s not.



I actually still do this now. Except with tween/teen children I am much more advanced. Also I am no longer a SAHM so dh helps. But I still use the but FIRST mentality to keep from get feeling overwhelmed when we get busy. I still ignore the mess in the art / craft room if the rest of the house isn't clean first. . .

Also, I tried Fly Lady and I definitely got some good tips and sometimes made me feel really good but I was a little advanced for her. Like Id get the message - go to your bedroom right now and pick up all the trash on the floor and I'd be why would there be trash on my bedroom floor? <- this is what I mean by naturally messy. But the biggest take away is the "hot spot" - I had this and I was able to overcome it with her help.