If you're anything like me, working from home has almost made it harder to tackle all of those household chores than it was when I was commuting. Here are some ways I've worked housework into my day.
Enlist your spouse/roommate/kids to help. Whether they're starting the dishwasher so you can unload it later or switching the laundry from the washer to the dryer, having someone else pitch in with part of the task helps you get more done.
Break tasks down into smaller chunks. Chances are, you don't have a solid two-hour block to play Suzy Homemaker. So use the time you do have to whittle away at what needs to get done. You don't have to clean the whole living room in one shot. Take a few minutes here to take everything that doesn't belong there to the room where it does belong. Take a few minutes there to dust your surfaces. Take another few minutes to vacuum.
Try not to make things harder for yourself throughout the day. Clean up your little messes along the way. Sort the mail over the trash can so you're not accumulating junk mail. Take your dishes to the sink after you work through lunch (which you shouldn't do, by the way).
Use mid-day breaks to cross things off your to-do list. Especially if you're sitting in front of the computer all day, you need to take some breaks throughout the day to get your blood moving and give your eyes a chance to focus on something else. Use that time to vacuum one room, fold one basket of laundry, or sweep the porch. 4 breaks = 60 minutes of housework!
Take advantage of tools that make your life easier. I save real mopping for every other month or so and keep up with the floors by using my beloved Swiffer. I also use the Swiffer duster rather than busting out the dust cloth and oil every time I want to make the furniture look nice. They're huge time savers, and they're great for ongoing maintenance.
Unless you can afford to hire help, housework is never going to go away. But by using these 5 tips, you can at least make it a little easier.
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