Friday, March 29, 2024

Making Spring Chores Fun

May 28, 2013  
Filed under Blog

Spring Projects Overwhelming?

Here are so me tips for making your “to do” list “to do-able” (and more fun).
 
Does it seem like someone flipped the “on” switch for spring?  All of a sudden you have a million things to do and they all need to get done right now!  It’s easy to see the whole list as a giant never ending chore list.
 
Here are some simple and practical tips to help you manage these tasks, have fun doing them, and still have some enjoyment time left in your spring and summer.
 
Make it fun (and it gets done). Why is it that we get so serious around chores? What if, like a young child, we could turn the task into a game? Here are some ideas for games you could play:
 
Beat the clock

Set a timer (with a buzzer) for 15 minutes. Chose a task and see how far you can get in 15 minutes. Decide in advance what prize you will get when the timer goes off whether or not the chore is actually finished!
 
Once you’ve completed the first 15 minutes and collected your prize, you can set the timer again or move on to something different.  Don’t be alarmed if, in 15 minutes you made a big dent in the work or you actually finished it!
 
 Wheel (or Jar) of Fortune
 
Make a list of all of the tasks you need to accomplish in the next week or so. Write each one on a slip of paper along with 3 or 4 fun things like “take a walk” or “relax with a cold drink for 15 minutes” – whatever would be fun for you. When it’s time to get started draw ONE slip of paper out of the jar. No cheating and putting it back! Whatever it says, that’s what you have to do.  
 
You can combine this with the timer if you like for extra fun!
 
Circus Cookies – How Can You Eat the Elephant?

Just how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. A big job can be broken down into smaller parts. If, for example you were going to plant a raised bed garden you could break it down into parts: 

  •  Measuring
  •  Purchasing supplies based upon the measurements
  • Clearing the area
  • Assembling the walls of the garden
  •  Laying the weed barrier
  • Pouring and mixing in the soil
  • Erecting the fence
  • Choosing what to plant
  • Planting
  • Watering
  • Fertilizing

Sure it’s quite a few steps, but each one gets you closer to completion. How to make it fun? You could:

  • Take pictures of each step
  • Celebrate the completion of each step by doing something you enjoy
  • Reward yourself by hiring someone else to do some of the tasks you REALLY don’t want to do around the house

Imagine how fun it would be to have that deck repaired – as if by magic?? OR

  • That motion detector light you’ve always meant to install
  • That door that doesn’t quite close right
  • That (fill in the blank) fixed

You get the idea. Sometimes the best gift you can give yourself is the gift of time! Let me help you with that.Remember our May Special is available to help you get that spring list out of your way so you can enjoy the summer weather! Click here for our special May offer.

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