How to Get Motivated to Clean When Overwhelmed by Mess: 7 Hacks for Busy Mums

Are you a busy mum who feels overwhelmed by mess? Does the thought of cleaning your house fill you with dread? Don’t worry lovely mummy, you’re not alone.

Just remember that even small steps can make a big difference.

Don’t be afraid to start small and work your way up! So go grab your rubber gloves and let’s get started. You got this, mama!

Bonus FREE Printable at the end of this post!

How to Get Motivated to Clean When Overwhelmed by Mess: 7 Steps for Busy Mums

1. Imagine how you want your home to look
2. Make a List of the areas in your home that need to be cleaned
3. Break down the tasks required to clean each area into small, manageable steps
4. Set a timer and start cleaning one area at a time
5. Declutter as you clean
6. Listen to upbeat music while you clean
7. Create a cleaning schedule

Step 1: Imagine How You Want Your Home to Look

Finding the motivation to clean when you’re overwhelmed by mess seems impossible. Especially when you look around your house and see stuff everywhere. And what makes it worse is that you probably spend hours cleaning, but your home doesn’t seem to look any cleaner.

Been there, got the t-shirt. And then lost the t-shirt under a pile of laundry!

One secret to finding the motivation to clean when overwhelmed by mess is to imagine how your house would look if it was decluttered and organised.

Hacks to Imagining How You Want Your Home to Look

• Stop comparing your home to all the pictures you’ve seen of other people’s homes on Instagram and Pinterest. Social media is very much an edited version of life – it’s not true representation of everyday reality. Plus, comparisonitis will definitely leave you feeling like crap and demotivated!
• Imagine your clean, tidy and organised home while you’ve got the time and energy to do something about it. There’s little point in having the motivation to clean at 8:35 on a Monday morning when you’ve got to get the kids to school and then head off for a 9 hour shift at work.

Step 2: Make a List of the Areas in Your Home that Need to be Cleaned

Getting motivated to clean is very much a matter of mindset. You have to choose to want to clean your home.

Once you’ve decided that you want to find the motivation to clean, make a list of all the areas in your home that need attention. This will help you see how much needs to be done and also ensure that you don’t forget anything.

Hacks to Making a List of the Areas in Your Home That Need to be Cleaned

• Start with the areas that are most visible and work your way down to those less visible nooks and crannies.
• Go from room to room as you make the list, so you can see what you’re dealing with rather than trying to do it from memory (we often imagine things are worse than they really are!)

Step 3: Break Down the Tasks Required to Clean Each Area into Small, Manageable Steps

Once you’ve got your list of areas that need cleaning, it’s time to break down the tasks into small, manageable steps. This will make the whole process seem less daunting and more achievable.

For example, if you’re cleaning the kitchen, your list of tasks might look something like this:

– Wipe down all surfaces

– Clean the hob

– Put away the dishes

– Mop the floor

Hacks to Breaking Down Tasks Into Small, Manageable Steps

• Focus on one task at a time and don’t move on to the next until you’ve finished the first. This will help you see results faster and feel motivated to keep going.
• If a task seems too big or overwhelming, break it down into smaller sub-tasks. Trying to do too much at once will only leave you feeling overwhelmed and demotivated.

Step 4: Set a Timer and Start Cleaning One Area at a Time

The key to getting motivated to clean when you’re overwhelmed by mess is to take it one step at a time. Trying to everthing at once will only leave you feeling stressed and like you’ve accomplished nothing.

Hello feeling of overwhelm!

Set a timer for 30 minutes and focus on cleaning one area of your home using steps 2 and 3 above. Once the timer goes off, take a break and then move on to the next area. (Probably have a cup of tea first!)

Hacks for Setting a Timer and Cleaning One Area at a Time

• Set a specific goal for each 30 minute session. For example, your goal might be to clean the kitchen worktops or mop the floor. Having a specific goal will help you stay focused and motivated.
• Focus on one room at a time rather than trying to clean the whole house all at once. This will help you feel like you’re making progress and not getting overwhelmed.
• Start with the areas that are most visible and work your way down to those less visible nooks and crannies.

Step 5: Declutter as You Clean

Do you want to know the real reason you’re overwhelmed by mess? I mean do you really want to know? The honest answer is that you’re got too much stuff! And how do I know? Because I live in a house with too much stuff in it too!

Most of the time I spend cleaning, I’m actually just moving stuff from one place to another. It’s time-consuming and it’s unnecessarily stressful. No wonder we’re overwhelmed by mess. So the secret to a clean home is to declutter, often.

Hacks to Declutter as You Clean

• If something doesn’t have a place, get rid of it! This is one of my favourite decluttering tips. If something doesn’t have a specific place to go, chances are you don’t need it.
• Be ruthless when decluttering. The more stuff you get rid of, the less there is to clean. Simple!
• And remember, decluttering doesn’t have to be a huge, time-consuming task. You can do it little by little as you go about your daily cleaning routine.

Step 6: Listen to Upbeat Music While You Clean

Cleaning doesn’t have to be a chore if you make it fun. One of the best ways to do this is to listen to upbeat music while you clean. This will help you stay motivated and get the job done faster.

It’ll also help you burn off some extra calories without even trying! Slice of cake anyone?!

Hacks for Listening to Music While You Clean

• Create a cleaning playlist on Spotify or another music streaming service.
• If you prefer, you can listen to podcasts or audiobooks while you clean.
• Make sure to wear headphones so you can really get into the zone and tune out any distractions.

Step 7: Create a Cleaning Schedule (and Stick to It)

One of the best ways to stay on top of your cleaning and avoid feeling overwhelmed by mess is to create a cleaning schedule. This will help you stay organised and ensure that you’re not forgetting any important tasks.

And if you need a little help creating a cleaning schedule, I’ve got you covered lovely mummy. Download my FREE printable daily cleaning schedule below.

Hacks for Creating a Cleaning Schedule

• Make sure your cleaning schedule is realistic. If you’re working full-time and have young children, you’re not going to be able to deep-clean every day.
• Block out time in your calendar for cleaning just like you would any other important appointment. This will help you to stick to your schedule.
• Delegate tasks to other members of your household. This will take some of the pressure off you and make sure that everyone is pitching in.

How to Get Motivated to Clean When Overwhelmed by Mess: Concluding Thoughts

So there you have it! Seven tried and tested tips to help you get motivated to clean your house when overwhelmed by mess.

And if you’re feeling really stuck, or need some extra motivation, remember that a clean house not only looks good but feels great too.

By following these simple steps, you’ll be on your way to a clean and clutter-free home in no time! And once you get into the habit of cleaning regularly, it’ll become second nature.

Trust me, I know from experience! Knowing that everything is tidy and in its place can be really reassuring, especially when life gets hectic.

So what are you waiting for? Get cleaning!

Do you have any favourite tips for staying motivated to clean when overwhelmed by mess? Leave them in the comments below – I’d love to hear from you.

Check back soon for:

– How to Organize Your Home in Less Than an Hour

– The Best Way to Store Stuff You Don’t Use Regularly

– 20 Ideas for Decluttering Your Home Quickly and Easily

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