A GON Reader Asks

I have a basic weekly program for maintaining my house. However, l also work full time and find that l usually run out of energy to do the tasks. Do you have any idea or suggestions for me?

This Fabulous Reader Tip was submitted by:

Andrea DiGioia
Bronx, New York

Married, husband is retired. l love to read books and listen to music and have just turned 70! I work full time. Just run out of energy to keep house too!


Maria Gracia responds...

Hi Andrea,

First off, happy belated birthday! Hope you had a nice celebration and wishing you joy every moment ahead!

For anyone who works full time, no matter what age, finding the energy to clean and maintain one's house before or after work (or on weekends) can be challenging sometimes. After 40 hours of working at a job, we all need that rest and rejuvenation time. So, the trick is being able to get those household chores and tasks done quickly and easily, so there's time (and energy) that we can use for ourselves doing things we truly enjoy.

Here are some ideas for you:

1) Get rid of as much clutter as possible. It's a LOT easier to dust, vacuum, wipe counters, etc. when you don't have to move things around to do so. The less you have in your home, the easier it is to clean.

2) Clean as you go. When you're done getting ready for work, for instance, be sure you put all toiletries and makeup away before you leave, place your pajamas in the laundry sorter, and don't leave any dirty dishes in the sink. When you clean as you go, you're not leaving yourself extra cleaning jobs for later.

3) Get a TO DO done first thing. Wake up 5 minutes earlier in the morning, and do one 5-minute cleaning project, like dusting off the bedroom nightstands, vacuuming the living room, cleaning off one shelf in the fridge...you get the idea. It's amazing how much time you can save yourself by doing this...and you'll always feel that, if nothing else, you had time to clean at least one thing in any given day.

4) Don't go overboard. Each day after work, right after dinner (or while dinner is cooking if you don't have to watch whatever is on the stove), do a 15- minute cleaning or maintenance project, like vacuuming or dusting one or two rooms, cleaning a few mirrors, wiping down some appliances, paying your household bills, or decluttering one of your kitchen cabinets. Set the timer and do whatever you can in 15 minutes. In doing so, you're not using your entire evening cleaning, you're done before you run out of energy, and you're maintaining the cleanliness of your home each day.

In addition:

a) Keep cleaning supplies in a caddy so you can transport them easily from room to room, and don't go overboard on cleaning products.

b) Set an alarm to sound so you know when you should stop cleaning, organizing, etc. Don't worry if you can't get whatever it is done...unless it's a wine stain on your carpet, you can probably continue tomorrow.

c) Consider getting yourself a lightweight manual sweeper for quickly cleaning carpeting and hard floors. It takes less energy to tidy up small areas quickly, rather than pulling out the full-size vacuum each time.

d) If it's within your budget, consider hiring a cleaning service in your area. Even if they just come in twice per month to do some heavy-duty cleaning, you'll only have light daily maintenance.

Hope some of these ideas help.

Maria

To fast forward to The Cat Language Bible, visit:

getorganizednow.com/rd-cat-bible.html

Yes, meow means something

What does it mean, you ask?

Good question. It's about the same as aloha in Hawaiian.

The meaning changes.

Context matters hugely. Is it a mean meow, or a friendly one?

What about the cat's body action? Is he facing towards you, or away? Is the tail curled, or lying flat against the floor?

Depending on these points, 'meow' could mean 'let's watch a movie together' or 'boy am I thirsty right now.'

So getting the tone and body language right is critical.

Finally, there's a quick guide on the essentials of cat communication to open your ears (and your heart) into the fascinating world of feline communication, both verbal and nonverbal.

This guide, written by a PhD animal communications expert Dr Jonas Jurgella, is the missing link that allows you to bond with your own feline friend as if he was a human child.

That's the power of true and honest communication, vs the primitive 'animal baby talk' that so many pet owners unfortunately relegate themselves to.

Learn more about 'The Cat Language Bible' here: getorganizednow.com/rd-cat-bible.html

P.S. Your cat will be most appreciative...and you'll feel great knowing that you truly understand your cat's needs and wants.

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* The Cat Care Guide
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GON Cleaning Secrets When you're cleaning your windows, don't forget this...
getorganizednow.com/cleaning-secret-cleaning-windows-forget.html


GON Dirty Little Secrets Searching for hidden storage? Have you thought about doing this?
getorganizednow.com/dirty-little-secret-searching-hidden-storage.html


In ADDITION, on my home page, you'll also find lots of NEW and featured STUFF including...

Social Media Feature Food expiration dates.are you throwing good food away? Find out.

Respect is our featured theme of the week, and the two quotes on my home page reflect this theme. Be inspired.

Are your windows in serious need of being cleaned? If so, you'll love our featured comic strip

Featured Web Poll How much time do you spend sitting each day? Take our poll and let us know.

June Checklist A productive summer with time to relax and enjoy? Yes, please! Follow our June Organizing Checklist, but don't look back. Start from today and go forward.

June Weekly Mini Challenges For each week of June, our challenges are focused on Home Projects. Focus on the mini challenge for WEEK TWO this week.


Access all of the above on my home page. Visit:
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'The longer I live, the more beautiful life becomes.' --Frank Lloyd Wright

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And remember...Being organized creates a happier, healthier, more fulfilling life!

Warmly,

Maria Gracia
Get Organized Now!

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