A few days ago on the blog that I write for Know More Media, Work From Home Momma, I posted about the importance of delegating chores in order to get all the housework done.
I think that one of the biggest stressors to face working moms is the attitude of trying to wear two hats full-time –Â the homemaker hat and the worker hat.
I thought I’d throw the housework question out to my readers here at WritingThoughts.
How do you handle housework with deadlines looming? Do you do everything yourself or do you assign tasks to others in your family? Leave a comment and let me know.
Contents (c) Copyright 2007, Laura Spencer. All rights reserved.
13 responses so far ↓
1 Keli // Aug 1, 2007 at
Your post is very timely as I just got finished cleaning the entire house, and sat down at the computer. As to the first question: At one time, I had a cleaning lady come in once per week – that was wonderful as it gave me the free time I needed. I wrote; she cleaned. Now that we’ve just purchased a bigger home, for a bigger price, I am using my original cleaning lady: me. I do a little bit at a time (divide and conquer), meaning one day just the kitchen, another day, just the living room and so forth.
As to your second question, about once a month, my husband and willing (yeah, right) sons join me for more in-depth housework. Also, I’ve delegated bathrooms to my hubby, thank goodness! You may be wondering, why then did I, myself, just clean the entire house this morning? Because last week, I had lots of deadlines and ignored anything that resembled housework. Today, I made up for it, in one swoop. Sometimes that works best.
2 Laura // Aug 1, 2007 at
Hi Keli! You’re right, sometimes it is easier to do it yourself. I’m a big fan of the divide and conquer method–it definitely works.
3 Vivienne Quek // Aug 2, 2007 at
My friends called me crazy as I actually found houseworks or cleaning up jobs therapeutic. Just before I read your post, I was talking with a client on the phone but at the same time cleaning the obstinate coffee stain off my table. An in depth discussion can be very draining, I felt more stressful sitting still, staring at the computer screen or at the ceiling. So while I’m thinking, strategizing and talking on the phone, I’ll do some cleaning up works that made absolutely no noise and can be done without any brain juice engaged. Sometimes, I didn’t even realized I have done the chores as I’m too engrossed thinking and talking.
4 Tammi // Aug 2, 2007 at
I use a chore chart. I have certain “jobs” that need to be done on certain days. It’s a way of approaching my day like a workday. The chores are part of my job. I love the chart. It’s very rewarding to scratch off the “to do” items.
Another approach is more psychological. I convince myself that I have company coming over any minute. This prompts me to keep things neat.
Staggering housework with writing is nice because after an hour or so of sitting at the computer, I’m ready to move around.
I use chore time as playtime with my daughter, too. Peek-a-boo when changing sheets. Chasing around the house while dusting…
Keep a big basket with a handle handy. It’s a great tool for quick toy pick-up.
Every two weeks, my husband spends the day with our daughter so I can complete “deep cleaning” chores around the house.
Just think of housework as part of your job. When I was a bartender, I used to have everything in its place by the end of my shift. I can do the same for my own home.
5 Laura // Aug 2, 2007 at
Hi Vivienne! I’ve heard of people who find housework relaxing. One of my close friends does gardening to relax.
Hi Tammi! A chore chart is a great idea. We’ve used one ourselves.
6 Lori // Aug 3, 2007 at
Housework?? Do people still DO that? ;)) Honestly, housework comes in dead last. I vacuum on weekends occasionally. I dust when I’m on the phone. I push my Swiffer around when I’m on the phone. I don’t sweat the way the house looks. I’ll worry about weeds in the garden before I worry about the house. Can you tell how much I LOVE housework? :)) My kids are older. They clean up after themselves under the threat of maiming or eviction. My husband cleans the kitchen (it’s a bit of an obsession for him). I like tidy bathrooms. Somehow, we manage to live in a relatively clean house without stressing about it. Go figure!
7 eve // Aug 3, 2007 at
I keep everything picked up and dusted, but hubby is in charge of the kitchen, all of it! We made that deal long ago! I think I have the easier job, I HATE cleaning the kitchen!
8 Charisse // Aug 4, 2007 at
My husband helps tremendously with housework. Other than that, I just help him out when I have time (in between jobs). However,I’ve always found washing dishes to be relaxing- maybe even therapeutic-but I think that is as long as I have a nice window above the sink. I prefer washing dishes to dishwashers too. By the time I have a dish “primed” for the dishwasher, it’s already clean.
9 Laura // Aug 4, 2007 at
Hi Lori, Eve, and Charisse!
Lori, I had to laugh when I read your post! I love Swiffer, don’t you? I don’t know what I would have done without it.
Eve, It sounds like you have a good division of labor worked out.
Hi Charisse! Do you want to come and wash my dishes? (Just kidding…) Thanks for your visit.
10 Jeanne Dininni // Aug 5, 2007 at
I ignore it, of course! But, seriously, it’s very, very easy to let the housework go when you’ve got writing or editing projects (with looming deadlines) to work on, blog posts to research and/or write, comments to reply to on your own blog, other blogs to visit, read, and leave comments on, and last but not least, memes and group writing projects to enter!
And it can be doubly tough when you have a day job, as well! The way around it seems to be to tackle one housekeeping chore at a time, between writing tasks, and determine not to worry about the rest!
Happy juggling!
Jeanne
11 Laura // Aug 8, 2007 at
Hi Jeanne! I think the key to your comment is: “The way around it seems to be to tackle one housekeeping chore at a time …:
If I let it go then I just get overwhelmed.
12 Nikki // Aug 8, 2007 at
Right now I should be doing a million things… and every one of them is housework related. I feel good that I got 3 baskets of laundry folded today! It’s a rarity that I get that far. Unfortunately the kids are just now learning what it means when I say “mommy’s working” so I am trying not to throw too much at them at once. They do have some chores but I spend more time reminding/nagging/argueing that it seems easier to just get to them myself. We used to have a chore chart and I think that it might be time to implement it again.
13 Laura // Aug 10, 2007 at
Hi Nikki!
I’m sorry that you have so much housework to do. Maybe the chore chart will help.