9 Ways to Skyrocket your Spring Cleaning Motivation

Are you struggling to find spring cleaning motivation? Girl, I know how you feel!  I hate cleaning and can always think of a hundred other things I would much rather be doing.

There have been many years where I’ve skipped the spring cleaning altogether, usually from lack of motivation.  But I can tell you from experience that if you take the time to get some of your deep cleaning done now, you’ll be saving yourself the trouble at the end of the summer. You will also save time during your regular cleaning sessions if you go ahead and get that deep cleaning out of the way in the early spring.

So how can you get motivated to clean when you would rather watch Netflix? I’ve compiled a list of 9 motivation strategies that are specific to cleaning and decluttering. By following the motivation tips in this post, you will be able to jumpstart that motivation booty and get to work!

So let’s get right into some actionable tips that will help you find some spring cleaning motivation!

#1 – LET YOURSELF OFF THE HOOK

It can be disheartening to see all those Instagram posts where people are showcasing their spring cleaning projects.

Try to remember that isn’t always what real life is like.

Sure, they might have a clean house every other day in their IG posts or stories, but there’s no way to tell what’s going on behind the scenes.

They could have a nanny come in 5 days a week to help with their kids.  That would give them ample time to get some cleaning done.

Or they could have a cleaning service help with their regular cleaning.  (And there is no shame in using a cleaning service!  But it’s definitely one of those things that not all of us have the budget for.)

SO DON’t create such high expectations for yourself.

If your house is a mess and you’re wanting to get some basic spring cleaning done, don’t create such high expectations.  There are no rules that say your house has to be spotless before you start deep cleaning.

It might be easier to vacuum under the couch when it isn’t covered in laundry.  But if you set the bar too high, there’s a possibility you’ll fail.  And then you might lose any spring cleaning motivation that you had.

So do your best not to compare yourself to others.  This is your home and your journey!

Related Post:  Want to keep a Clean House?  Do These 6 Things!

#2 – FIND A PURPOSE TO MOTIVATE YOU

I don’t know about you, but I’m usually not motivated to do any cleaning when I know I’m the only one that has to look at it.

But on the other hand, if I know there are people coming over, you can bet that I’ll be getting up at 5am on a Saturday so I can clean the entire house from top to bottom!

You can invite people over for an Easter BBQ and an egg hunt.  If you start cleaning at the end of February, that will give you about a month to get most of your house finished.

But maybe you don’t know anyone in your area?  Or maybe you’re practicing social distance regulations because of COVID.

If so, I recommend finding a way to get interested in having a clean house! For example, you can think of the positive benefits that will come from having a sparking clean home once winter is over.

Just recently, I found myself thinking, “Gosh, I can’t wait until spring when I can open the doors and have the sun shine through. I’m going to make sure my house is sparkling before then.”

And guess what? That thought alone gave me the motivation to get started! I ran to the dollar store and bought a handful of Magic Erasers. Every day, I spend a little bit of time using them to clean off old food splatters on my walls.

So, find a specific purpose to motivate you, or find a way to get interested in the end result. When you’re looking forward to the outcome, you’ll be a hell of a lot more motivated.

#3 – BUILD ANTICIPATION

Usually, when we resolve to do something, we’re ready to jump in and start right away.  But with that over-excitement comes burn out.

So try building anticipation by setting a date sometime in the future.  Whether it’s a week or a month, just choose a date and add it to your calendar.

Between now and then, think about it daily and focus on the benefits.

Instead of thinking about how hard it will be, focus on how you will feel when you’re done.  Happy, productive, energized…

I like to tell myself, “By spring cleaning some overlooked areas of my home, we’ll have less dust and fewer germs.  It will also lower my stress levels, improve my mood, and help me sleep better. And I’ll feel pretty damn proud of how my house looks!”

After repeating this phrase for a few weeks, I’m usually ready to jump in and get it done!

#4 – FOCUS ON ONE GOAL AT A TIME

If the thought of spring cleaning is overwhelming to you, you can bet it’s probably because you’re trying to do too much at one time.

So decide to focus on just one space at a time.  Here’s how:

• Start by making a list of all the areas of your house you want to clean this spring.

• Then, go through your list and rate each space on a scale of 1-5.  With one being the most important and 5 being the least important.

• From there, choose one space to start with and forget about the rest (for now).  Clean that area from start to finish, and then move on to the next on your list.

This way, if and when you don’t get to every area in your home, you will still feel accomplished knowing that you tackled the most important areas.

As a bonus, when you see the transformation from having cleaned one room, you will be motivated to keep going so you can achieve that same result throughout the rest of your household.

#5 – BREAK THE LARGE TASKS DOWN INTO small JOBS

Committing to spring cleaning your entire home is a little overwhelming.

But if you break down your goal into manageable tasks, your overwhelming project will suddenly become something that you can work on in 15-minute chunks of time!

Working from the previous tip, it can be super helpful to make a list of all the areas that need cleaned and list them by order of importance.

Then you can take each space and break it down by room.  Or you can break it down even farther.

Let’s say I was starting in my master bedroom (this is the area that gets the least attention in my home).  I would break down each area of the room:

• Dust ceiling fan
• Declutter dresser drawers
• Clean blinds and windows
• Clean and flip the mattress
• Vacuum under furniture

And you can certainly break some of those tasks down even more!  For example, you could work through one dresser drawer at a time.

#6 – FIND A SUPPORT SYSTEM

By finding someone to hold you accountable, you will be much more likely to follow through.  Sometimes just talking it through will give you the spring cleaning motivation that you need!

So find someone you are close to that you trust; a parent, a partner, siblings, adult children, or a friend.

Let them know that you’re wanting to do “x, y, or z” but you’re really unmotivated and are looking for some help to get over your slump.

Or you could always join my email list and reach out for support.  I will be happy to lend an ear and offer advice!

#7 – WRITE IT DOWN

You’ve probably heard me mention before how satisfying it can be to cross off tasks or to-dos.  That’s because it actually boosts your endorphins (the happy hormone) when you check something off.

If you follow along with the previous tips of prioritizing the spaces in your home and then breaking those down into bite-sized jobs, you will have already done half the work of writing it down.

All you’ll have left to do is start cleaning your most important space.  And once you’re done, simply check or cross it off your list.

Since increased endorphins help you feel happy, they could, in turn, help you feel motivated.  And before you know it, you’ll have worked through half your spring cleaning list.

Being proud of yourself is a powerful thing!

#8 – REWARD YOURSELF

Rewarding yourself is a great way to boost your spring cleaning motivation!

Think of something small but mighty, something that you love to do.  Then tell yourself that you can enjoy it only after you’ve completed 1-2 spaces on your spring cleaning list.

It could be something small like a bubble bath, a nap, a pedicure, or your favorite movie.  Or something bigger like a new pair of shoes you’ve been eyeing or even a night out with your spouse.

Personally, I like to reward myself with things that I’m already doing throughout the week.  Competing against myself gives me that little boost of motivation and encouragement to get things done.

For example, once I drop my kids off at school, I usually sit on the couch and start working. I truly love working on this blog, so I really look forward to it.

I could work all day and totally ignore all of my cleaning duties if I let myself. But I know that if I get my cleaning done first thing in the morning, I won’t have to think about it again.  So I tell myself that I can’t sit down to work on my computer until after I have cleaned something small, like the bathroom.  Sometimes I’ll even go so far as to turn my computer off or hide the TV remote in another room.

This works for me because relaxing on the couch and working on my blog is something that I enjoy.

So be sure to choose something that you’ve actually been looking forward to.  Don’t choose a superficial reward that you aren’t excited about because then you won’t be motivated to work for it.

#9 – AND FINALLY, RECOGNIZE SMALL WINS

Sometimes it’s hard to get motivated before you actually accomplish anything.

As moms, we have a tendency to be too hard on ourselves.  Which makes it hard to remember that we are capable of doing something worthwhile.

In order to overcome this, try focusing on small wins.

Start by keeping a daily log of all your wins.  Like making your bed, putting the clean laundry away, or cleaning the kitchen.  Nothing is too big or too small; write it ALL down!

By paying attention to all of your small wins, you’ll be motivated to keep working towards bigger wins.

Alternatively, you could start with 10-minute cleaning sessions.

Choose one small area to clean, like your kitchen counters.  Commit to wiping down your kitchen counters every day for a week.  After a few days have passed, you might just find that you’re motivated to keep cleaning.

Maybe you’re encouraged by your small wins or maybe you’re developing a new cleaning habit…  Either way, give it a try because it works!

YOUR TURN

It can be hard to find spring cleaning motivation.  But if you follow the tips in this post, cleaning motivation will come much more easily to you!

If you’re really struggling to find the motivation you need, think about this quote for a minute:

“It’s not really about motivation as it is dedication.  You can be motivated to read this post, but are you dedicated enough to put these tips into action?  The truth is, it all comes down to you.”

– Jordan Page, Fun Cheap or Free

If you’re struggling to keep a clean house, be sure to sign up for my email list below. You’ll receive a free daily tidying routine and a cleaning checklist! 👇

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