
Often in the mid-afternoon I am tempted to plop down on the couch with my phone instead of working through my to-do list. Everyone struggles with motivation at some point or another, and with household chores it can be especially hard to find the motivation for jobs that aren’t your favorite.
Here are three simple things you can do to push past the desire to be lazy and to instead, get things done!
#1 Set A Realistic Time Limit
Here’s an example of how this works for me: If it’s 1:20 and I have to sweep & mop the whole house, I’ll decide that I will work (without picking up my phone) until 2:00. At 2:00 I can stop whatever I’m doing and relax.
When I do this, I find that one of two things happen:
- I finish my tasks and gain the motivation to keep working! I lose the desire to chill and end up accomplishing more than just that one task.
- I finish my task in the time allotted – and then get to enjoy some down time.
Either way, it’s a win! It’s always better to do something than to do nothing.
Read More —> 3 Ways to Avoid Social Media Distraction and Get Stuff Done

#2 Take A Few Minutes For Yourself
I always have more motivation when I am presentable. I find that if I get ready for the day shortly after getting up, I’m much more productive. However, sometimes I end up hot and sweaty or just disheveled by mid-afternoon (this happens a lot in the summer!) and I don’t feel like doing anything.
If I take a couple minutes to change my clothes, freshen my makeup and pull my hair back, I always feel more motivated to keep working.

#3 Make It Fun
This might not be effective for everyone, but sometimes it helps to turn on music, a funny show or a podcast to keep you going. When I clean the bathrooms, I put my Airpods in and listen to a podcast to help me stay on task.
Read More —> I Can’t Do Everything, But I Can Do Something {Homemaking Encouragement}
Keeping our homes clean is definitely a never-ending task. It can feel like pointless work when we know that it’s just going to get dirty again, but it’s important to remember that there is profit in all hard work (Proverbs 14:23).
I hope one of these tips will be helpful for you as you seek to faithfully provide a peaceful home for your family. It is work that’s worth doing! ❤

I love watching/listening to YouTube home type videos when I clean.
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That’s a great idea!
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I am so impressed that even though you are now a family of 5 your home looks as lovely, peaceful, and tidy as ever. I use the tip about having a reward or break after a certain amount of time. I always look forward to your posts. Thanks, Whitney!
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Thank you, Judy! I work pretty hard to keep the main living areas of the house tidy – we have a small home and I think I would go nuts if I was constantly in a mess. 🙂
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Good tips! I find it much easier to clean with music or podcast on:)
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Thanks, Sue! Isn’t it amazing how much it helps to have something like that playing in the background?
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These are great practical tips! I totally agree with #2!! I’m a mom of 4 kids 6 and under, and I try hard every morning to get dressed nicely– no sweats or messy buns here! It totally affects how I treat people and how energetic I feel!
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Thanks, Laura! I totally agree – it’s amazing how much different we feel when we present ourselves well.
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