A.D.D. Housekeeping

Okay, I'm ADD. . . as in Attention Deficit. Actually, whoever named the "disorder" is wrong. There's no deficit of attention. As a matter of fact there's a plethora of attention. An over-abundance even. I pay attention to EVERYTHING whether it needs it or not. I could see that fact as a detriment to housecleaning or an asset. I choose "B" for $50, Bob. It's certainly more interesting this way. And novel.

So, today (after working) I decided it was house cleaning day. We have a Writer's Room guest coming in a few days so I figured I'd better get to work now. I've figured out that I don't clean house in a nice linear fashion. It would be easier that way, but I'm not linear. My housecleaning pattern is more serpentine -- or worse -- it's more like a spirograph. I'm sure there's a pattern, but the pattern is so random it's hard to decipher. My gut says there's a pattern so it must be there somewhere.

I've learned to give way to the randomness. It keeps me from beating myself up and getting frustrated. Here's how it goes:

  1. drink coffee -- it keeps me in motion

  2. pick the easiest room possible (which is ALWAYS the living room)

  3. straighten and put things away-- no vacuuming or dusting at this point

  4. go do something other than clean -- FB, e-mail, walk outside, blog, watch the Dog Whisperer, SOMETHING
  5. pick another space to straighten up
  6. repeat step 4
  7. repeat step 5
  8. repeat step 4

  9. when I run out of step 5s, I go back to the beginning and vacuum and dust a room

10. repeat step 4
and so on . . .

By George there is a method to the madness! Eureka!

Eventually, I finish. Maybe today. Maybe tomorrow. Maybe . . . who knows? You just have to do it all over again so what's the rush? At some random point I call it a day. There's probably a pattern to that as well, but I haven't discovered it.

In any case, the best part is sitting down afterward with a good book or a fun movie and popcorn and enjoying what I DID accomplish (and ignoring what I didn't). For the most part, it works. I've  found the ONLY time I can do it all in one swell foop is when company is coming NOW!! I get motivated -- even without coffee. A sense of potential shame really works . . . it's similar to guilt but easier to come by -- and goes well with chocolate.

Okay, so now I get to go watch a movie and eat vegetarian chalupas. . . and hope this coffee wears off before I get the urge to clean some more. God forbid.

Ta ta!