The pre tasks are a series of activities that you will need to complete to help you be ready and prepared for the 20 days, such as creating a routine you can follow during the 20 days and beyond, putting together a cleaning bucket so you have all products needed for each of the cleaning tasks etc.
ACCESSING LINKS AND DOWNLOADS
You will see throughout the challenge that I share additional links back to The Organised Housewife blog as well as downloadable printables. To open the link for more tips or to download the files simply click on the link and they will take you to view further information or to open downloads. These links are pink text like this.
WHAT TO EXPECT EACH DAY OF THE CHALLENGE?
Each day consists of the following tasks:
- Clean
- Organise
- Declutter
- New Habit
- 5 minutes only
The 5 minute only task doesn’t need to be completed each day. This task is for when you mmay beon the phone, or have a few spare minutes to tidy up an area. Please don’t spend too much time on this, 5 minutes max!!
WHAT IF I DON’T HAVE ENOUGH TIME?
I know that everybody has different aged or number of children, schedules or work commitments so please adapt these tasks around your time and family. If you are not able to complete one of them that is perfectly OK, it can be finished at a different time.
WHY 20 DAYS?
A 4 week period is a good starting block to get your home under control. I have set tasks for five out of the seven days each week. I don’t believe in cleaning every single day, we need to take time out (weekends or a days of your choice) to spend time with family and enjoying the outdoors. Please do not feel pressured to complete all the day’s task in the one day, if you can’t that’s fine, push this 20 days to 40 days if you need. Make this challenge work around your schedule.
176 comments
I have just lost my Mum too and I feel the same way as you, Kat. I really need to clean my house and get rid of the clutter. Many people dump stuff at my house and leave it here, so I need to get rid of it all. I am looking forward to the 20 week challenge!
Gwendalyn, maybe call or text those people and let them know your having a clean out and that you want everything gone by (give them a particular date). its your home, your allowed to put your foot down.
How can I add my under the house and garage into the challeng? It will be nice to tidy my cupboards , but it is those other areas that worry me most.
Marjorie perhaps you can make day 8 the day for under the house, I have this day dedicated to toy room or spare room??
Well, thanks to you I’m already somewhat organised, though there is always room for improvement in this area! I’m looking mostly forward to decluttering those piles that keep getting the … next week …. next week shoulder shrug! I’m also looking forward to getting into all the little areas that need cleaning and keep getting ignored … the grimy ones that you don’t see every day but you know are there! Thank you for your inspiration every day …. hope to be shinier and stress freeish on the flip side ?
That is what this is all about Kerry, to help you get through those kids of tasks and at the end to just maintain it 🙂
Oh I’m so excited to start this, I’m sick of a messy house and avoid having people over but I also want time with my almost 3 year old while also working full time.
can’t wait for you to finish the challenge and LOVE having people over Katherine!
I followed your challenge in early 2013 when I had a newborn and it was great! It really felt easy, and I cant wait to get on and do it again 🙂
pleased to see you back Louise 🙂
I’m nervous and excited – so hope this will be my turning point and I can get back the house that I love and not avoid visitors at all costs any more!!
That would be a wonderful feeling for you Amy. How are you going with the challenge so far?
Hi Kat,
I seriously considered signing up for your Challenge last year but didn’t. I was working and studying and thought I would wait until this year when my study would be finished and I could focus more on our home.
Well, so much for that plan! My father was hospitalised one week after I sat my final exam almost exactly a year ago today. From that time on I spent months visiting him in hospital as well as working full-time. He moved in with us in February this year.
Since then, I have become increasingly overwhelmed. I’ve known I needed help and support but I didn’t realise exactly how much until I signed up for the Challenge this morning. When I clicked through to this page and started reading your encouraging words, I had to fight back tears.
Thank you for being you and for being so supportive of other mums. I am looking forward to this journey.
God bless,
Sharon
Ooh Sharon, I want to reach through this screen and give you a huge hug, thank you for your kind words and I am so glad that you have been able to find some comfort and help within my challenge. Life can be hard and when it does it’s when we decide to let things go and it’s a huge struggle to find the energy to climb back up and find ourselves again, I get it, I have been there, but it’s possible. It’s the little things in life like a clean kitchen, decluttered bedroom that helps out mindset through this overwhelming period. Thinking of you xx
Thanks Kat. You’re an angel 🙂
I have joined and am feeling excited at the prospect of getting my house into a state I can be proud of and not constantly feeling like there is “so many things that need to be done”!
It can get very overwhelming not knowing where to start, how are you going so far Jane?
Finished pre-challenge tasks. I have been sick so just about to get started on challenge.
You’ve done well Christine to accomplish what you have even though you were sick. Hoping your feeling better now 😉
Round 2 for me. Done all pre tasks.
Ready to start.
Glad to see you back Michelle 🙂