This literally just happened to me this week. I have been sick for 2 weeks, and the house was demanding my attention in so many different areas. As I started getting my energy back, I was overwhelmed, and I heard your voice saying, "Do the dishes first". This helped me to have one thing done, and to realize that I did not need to catch up on everything in one day. I did several 5-minute pick ups the next day. My house is slowly getting straightened up. Thank you so much for these videos, and I listen to your podcast, as well!

Instead of feeling like a loser when you didn't accomplish every task on your to do list; don't write a list. Wait until night time when everyone else is doing anything that distract you while you are enjoying your quiet time. Make a Look What I Did today list. Enter EVERY task you did that day. EVERYTHING! Did the dishes? Deep cleaned kitchen counters, stovetop, and threw out science projects from the refrigerator? Write in detail everything you did in each room. Writing cleaned kitchen does no justice for the amount of tasks you actually accomplished. Cleaned bathroom doesn't emit the same bells and whistles as going in to details like PICKED UP CLOTHES FOR (X) AMOUNT OF PEOPLE. DECLUTTERED BATHROOM COUNTER. CLEANED SAID COUNTER AND SINK, So, no matter what you accomplished that day, write it all day. It is delicious to marvel at the feats you tackled that day. Go get yourself a journal you like and use it only for making a Look at what I did today. ✌️💖🙏🤜

Another basic habit that's really helpful: empty your handbag or tote every time you get home. Leave nothing in it except a comb, a pen, & maybe a couple folded-up plastic bags. If you do this automatically, you will never again leave a piece of cheese in it for 48 hrs, or forget the VISA payment is still waiting to be mailed, & the bag will be lighter b/c you're not carrying a lot of unexamined detritus. I like to switch among several bags, so I keep a cosmetic-size zippered case containing money, keys, transit fare card, credit card, ID, & occasionally a library card, the absolute bare minimum, and simply move that case from one bag to another so I never leave the essentials home.

I'm a do-list person, and checking things off motivates me. That said, I now abbreviate my essential routines into " E15, M15, L15" my early in the day, middle of the day, and late in the day routines that all take less than 15 minutes and all begin with "First, do the dishes." As I said, I find checking things off a reward. But with my abbreviations, my daily plan is no longer cluttered with daily minutia.

My husband's aunt was an Iowa farm wife and teacher. Her daughter told us that, "Mama would make a to do list with enough work to last for 3 days and then be upset with herself because at the end of the day she would only have done 2 days worth." She was a wonderful lady. 🥰

On the days where depression is overwhelming me, making a list that says "feed the dog twice, walk the dog twice, feed me three meals, drink water, take my medications twice" really helps. I can tick off what I've done (the dog helps me not to forget about him!) and see the rest as achievable. And then throwing that piece of paper from the reams of paper in the house helps too, as I feel I've decluttered one thing. And one thing is better than no thing.

Haha! I loved the part about losing the list. It reminded me of the “frog and toad” story in which toad loses his list and is totally stuck the rest of the story because he has no list to tell him what to do.

I've been following your method for a few years now, and it amazes me how easy it is to get swept away in idealism and how "other people" manage their home. But every time I listen to your videos, reread parts of your books, or listen to the podcast, I am reminded of how necessary the daily non-negotiable tasks are. I followed your 28 day task builder and it helped me build the habit of washing my dishes everyday. (I fell prey to the adding too much to my list and then burnt out, so i didnt build the habit for the other tasks. )I also wash and dry a load (fold and put away days are a "project") and make my bed (it gives me an inviting place to relax in the afternoon) everyday. But I know that tidying the bathrooms, 5 minute pickups and sweeping the kitchen will change my home even more. That's my goal to build those habits over the next couple months. Thank you Dana!

Loved Reading through the 28 days! I have health issues and was way behind on dishes, so I'm making it a 4 month project. I did write those 28 days down, and I finally realized that I'd been trying to catch up dishes for more than 7 days already. Since I started working on dishes hardcore at the end of February, my stamina has gone from 5 minutes once a day to 10 minutes 3 or 4 times during the day

Why is it that when you say very obvious things, like these 4 daily tasks, it sounds so revolutionary? Thank you for telling me stuff I should already know, Dana! (I need to buy a broom just for my kitchen so it’s handy. 🙄 I know…)

As a fellow over-thinker, I have numerous long lists. Something that helps me is a daily "top 3" list of most important things such as financial, bills, appointments, etc. It gives me a sense of accomplishment to do those items. Of course I always do the dishes as well, thanks to you!

I recently finished your book "how to manage your home without losing your mind." It was a Monday afternoon so my Day 1 of "doing the dishes" was that day, ran the dishwasher twice and finished emptying it the next day (had some big pieces from my grill/air fryer). Today is day 4 and I found myself rinsing utensils and plates off as I used them so the food wouldn't dry on them and make them harder to rinse (I have a really old d/w and I have to rinse). I do live alone, and intermittent fast, so I don't have many dishes. So I will probably only have to run the dishwasher once or twice a week since sometimes all I put in it is a single cup or a plate and a utensil. But it's great b/c I'm doing it every day! And it does become more natural the longer you do it. thanks!!

I read your book Decluttering at the Speed of Life and it literally changed my life. I am a big thrift shopper and I went too far. I have since cut that way back and stick to actual needs or true wants. I have gotten rid of a fair amount of stuff and continue to do so. I trash actual trash (broken stuff, stuff no one would want). I do agree with kitchen being cleaned first and 5 minute pickup. To do lists do work for me, though, really helps with motivation and accountability. I try to keep them to just daily tasks. I don’t get discouraged if I don’t complete them. I have a couple of master lists for home repairs, big projects, but since I don’t look at or think of them daily they don’t overwhelm me. You are great ❤️ and all your ideas really are good. In the book you repeated concepts often which probably helped me most of all as I think I am OCD and a little attention deficit.

I get satisfaction from checking things off on a list. So, I laminated my daily routine list. Now I get to check off completed items with an erasable marker, but don't waste time writing out routine items everyday.

Pre-made decisions ftw! Agreed. Life changed when I committed to making small changes. I don't like emptying the dishwasher every morning and starting it every night, but I am cranky and out of sorts when I choose not to do it.

If I could convince my family members, who are like you, to do one thing, it would be to "do it now." Your "Take it there now" principle works with everything. If you or whoever dumped the dog food into the container had finished the job by taking the bag to the trash you wouldn't have to deal with the clutter of it later. Whenever you finish using something/anything put it away, which could mean put it in the drawer, cupboard, etc, including trash/recycling. That one habit alone has kept my house tidy for the past 35 years. Even while raising and homeschooling five children. It's often difficult to get into that habit, but it actually saves time and mind. You have done a fabulous job teaching others to get organized and decluttered. I've even learned from you--those two questions you ask when decluttering are priceless. Thanks for being real and sharing all you've learned.

When I feel like sitting something down anywhere, I hear Dana's voice. "Take it there now". And I DO! I have my places established. My house is really under control thanks to these 3 ladies (Dana, Dawn and Cass), but I can get complacent when things are really nice (it's just this one little thing, I'll do it later). Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I love all your videos and help and books - but I also love the comments by you and your editor at the end. I hope he is having a good year and look forward to hearing about it when you make videos with him again. Good luck Reid (and Dana!)!!

Hi Dana ! You are absolutely right about habit forming. When the dishes, floors,bathrooms and 5 minute pick up become a habit, you can do them on autopilot etc & all the rest of the stuff starts to fall into place. I think this is true in many other aspects of life eg. dieting & losing weight. It may take longer to get to your destination but it will be sustainable. So many people want to cut corners & find the fastest way only to fall back into their old habits because they haven’t taken the time to make new ones.

I have only recently discovered Dana and I love her!! I just finished reading her 1st book and I'm going to start the 28 days on Monday! I found that her advice to start with dishes and start with one thing at a time and slowly build similar to some things I read in "Atomic Habits" by James Clear. When trying to make a change in habits a big mistake people often make is to try to do too much as first and they end up burning out before a good habit it formed. I was always kind of middle of the road when it came to messiness and clutter; not crazy messy but not super organized either. Having kids and moving around made my "clutter threshold" much lower. Thanks goodness for Dana and her advice!

Hi Dana, It's all right to not do a daily to do list if you live alone. However, when there's a group of people (such as family) having a list on the refrigerator is a good idea to remind others what needs to be done, then they can share the work and YOU don't have to do it all. You can also post a weekly routine of tasks to be done and they can share in the load then, too.

Very helpful. Thank you. I am feeling the truth in what you are saying because ever since I started doing my dishes daily after I did your 14 days to guests coming over, during the last holiday, my life has been different since I do my dishes everyday and I used to be the kind of person who had such huge stacks of dishes in my sink that I would take pictures and put them on Facebook for a laugh and people would be astounded at the condition of my sink but that's what it was always like.. and now I never have any dishes since I started and completed your 14 days to guess coming over. You are very good at emphasizing the importance of doing the dishes and I listened and it has made a difference. Now I'm trying to be a person who folds all the clothes as soon as they come out of the dryer. Your laundry tutorial was very helpful as well. That was another tough one for me and so I'm just trying to get that under control and it's March now so I totally understand about you saying to get used to one thing before you get used to the next thing. I got used to dishes last holiday and now I'm getting used to folding the clothes in March. That is a huge difference in time between tasks. I just want to add that the two other things that I do daily is to make sure that my kitchen counter and table has no clutter. More than a five-minute pick up, those were the two worse spots in my house because I use my kitchen table for everything. I've set up a paper station that's not at my kitchen table but it's still in my kitchen. The other thing besides making sure there's no clutter on my table, is that I want to try to use my vacuum everyday because I have a cat and it really does the trick. I got one of those Dyson vacuums with that cat hair attachment and it has been a life-changer. Other people like Cass from Clutterbug uses their Roomba everyday but that's what I would do. Thanks for changing my life. I tell everyone about you. You have really taught an old lady how to finally be neat and I really appreciate it

I love you so much Dana!! I have major health issues & "the List" always made me feel worse when some days getting myself fed & doing the dishes was like a huge mountain. On the good days I would actually make myself sicker by running around madly trying to keep up with "the list." I read all your books as they came out & it made so much sense. Now I know what the "basics" are for each day & I can Add to the basics if I feel up to it. I actually get so much more done & my house is kept up so that "surprise" visitors can show up anytime. THANK YOU!

I did the 28 days as prescribed and it was MAGIC! I don’t understand how it works… just that it DOES! Thank you Dana 🥰

Here is my pre-made decisions that had helped me. Each night I start the dishwasher and wipe the countertops. I take out the trash. In the morning I empty the dishwasher and load breakfast dishes back in. I make the bed. And I take laundry to the next step. I never do all the laundry at the same time. It is too much. Also if I am getting behind I will do a “plus one” job. This has helped me tremendously.

lol I literally rewatched about 10 (or more) of your videos yesterday that I thought contained this information but couldn't find it. Believe it or not, this is an answer to an unspoken prayer for you to post these things today. Thank you Dana!!!!!

I really love the scrolling messages at the end of your videos - they always make me laugh.

I really enjoy the printed comments your son puts on the end of your videos. Gives me a reason to laugh. Also enjoyed the video.

I have mastered the detail to do’s, but I do have a ($ store) planner, and writhing down the extra things: Dr appts, pick up at pharmacy, a 15 minute project that I procrastinate on, etc, anything out of the ordinary. This keeps my life in order. No details, just a verb and a noun with a box around it. Some days there is only one, some days there are three…. Some days I get everything done, some days I draw an arrow to move to the next day! Greatest satisfaction is crossing it off!

I am struggling right now with my cleaning and decluttering. But my dishes get done every day. Doing the dishes every day was instilled in me at a young age. The dishes get done even If nothing else gets done. Thanks for the vlogs! They inspire me to do better!

I started my cleaner home journey with the fly lady system. I stopped because the amount of stuff she wants you to do is just overwhelming for me. However I did like that she has you start with just one habit at a time. So now that's what I do. I have combined your system of doing a habit until it's natural, but I still do some of hers like swish and swipe. The daily tasks I do are 1) dishes 2) make my bed 3) swish and swipe 4) sweep These four things keep my home clean enough and I'm not mortified if someone drops in on me😂

With my home I do a ten minute tidy first because my livingroom is the first thing someone sees when I open the front door. Then doing the dishes is so smart. It is truly helping my home get better. Every morning I make my bed, swish and Swipe the bathroom, and do the ten minute tidy. Then breakfast and dishes. Also, premade other meals. Then teach little ones.

Agree 100%. It's all about basic homemaking. Life is so fluid, and to be quite honest, I don't have time to sit, work on a pretty journal, and write down a list of "to do's" for each day. For those that it works for, great! But I do a simple prayer journal, and then my day begins in earnest. Lists have a time and place, but not daily for me.

You are so real! I appreciate your train of thought. It seems like common sense ideas. And it is doable. I needed this video.

That used to be me - making extremely detailed lists every day and then feeling paralyzed by them, not doing anything (at least after having kids). I have a white board monthly calendar on the fridge - absolute game changer for me. There is not alot of space, so it helps me to stick to writing down appointments and absolutely urgent items. Helped me from stopping to write these pages long lists. On the top, the calendar has an empty field where you're supposed to write the month - but of course, I know the month we have. So I put in there "do the dishes" 😆 in case of overwhelm, one glance at the calendar reminds me of the only thing that needs to be done in that moment

This is great, thanks! I kept making to-do lists but it just got out of hand until they had 150+ tasks on them. 🤣🤣 I do the dishes naturally out of habit now, just before making dinner every night. I always have this thing though, that I don't do ALL the dishes, I leave some undone. It was driving my husband nuts until I finally realised it's the same thing I always did at work -- I deliberately left some work undone so I had something to do the next day, and it made me feel more secure in my job. Well, I was doing that at home, too! Still working on that, lol, but I'm more forgiving of myself. Happy day to you Dana and everyone watching! 💕

Dana, you explained this so well, here! Great video! Reid, you are so funny! 😂

Dana, your tips are SO HELPFUL for me and other adults with ADHD! The more and more you explain things I’m like wow we are so similar in the way we think!! The super detailed hyperfocus sessions, perfectionism, procrastination, and the needing to do things right now (or else it is not now, and not now means never haha) is so relatable to common ADHD struggles. Thank you for all of your help!!! 💙💙💙

Thank you. You are such an inspiration. I listen to you nearly every day on either your videos on you tube or audible books or podcasts. I use to get so overwhelmed with everything and now i just make sure i do the dishes dishes and the 5 minute pick up even if nothing else gets done. 😊😊😊

Lol! Dana, your son (editor) is hilarious! Bet I know where he gets his sense of humor! 😉❤

I started to do the dishes before I found your channel/book. I do them while I am brewing my coffee. Sometimes, since I make one cup at a time, I do the dishes in stages, BUT, they get done every day. It was the best thing I have ever done for keeping my house clean.

I love the idea of Do the dishes every day..I even know it works. My problem is, Do the dishes looks different when you don't have a dishwasher and I have 6 people in my house who all eat at different times...all through the day. There are literally dishes in my sink all day every day.

My house was overwhelming just a few days ago. Life happened, as it so often does. So I did the dishes. Now the laundry is still sitting there in big piles and the childrens playroom is not tidy, but we are managing so far to have "normal" back in our lives. ❤

I find lists helpful when I’m afraid I’m going to forget something, especially if there are a lot of little details and a deadline, like if I’m leaving town I can list all the things I need to pack in the same place I list the household tasks and errands I need to do before I leave, and it’s helpful because instead of thinking “wait did I pack underwear?” And checking 4 times I can just look at my list and it’s crossed off (also helpful: writing how many days and nights I’m packing for on the list so when I’m deciding how much to bring I don’t have to check the calendar and do math: it’s already done) Trying to do a daily to do list stresses me out SO MUCH because I do so much, there are so many little things that seeing them all written out makes me feel overwhelmed and makes it hard to relax until they’re all handled, and not finishing the list makes me feel awful. Maybe it’s the adhd, but I’ve never felt any sense of relief or accomplishment ticking something off a list, my brain doesn’t give me dopamine for that, if I’m looking at the list-even if it’s to cross a task off- I’m worried about the list. The purpose of crossing something off a list for me is so I can check the list as a reminder I’ve done it, rather than unpacking my bag to find my swimsuit and then 40 minutes later doing it again.

I have the four habits (which are a super blessing in my life) written down on TWO separate lists..a daily one and a long List for two weeks🤗 I have some mental revamping to do!!! Thank you Dana for this video.

I love your ending comments from you and your husband! So witty and cute! I totally agree with making these things automatic! It becomes a system-a way of life. Just like the nightly 5 minute reset.

Although I *am* a list person, this helps me understand why it might not work for everyone! And, for me, these tasks would not be on a list because they become routine.

This is awesome. I've been doing the dishes for 3 days. And today, after I watched a long video of you helping a lady, and me, putting several things where I would look for them, and seeing.. ahh!! I have space to put away this and that! I reached a point where there were no dishes, my entryway (kitchen) was pretty under control, and I had my eye on sweeping the floor!! So I was naturally working on this method without realizing it 👏🌹🙏

I agree making the to do list is oddly fun and satisfying but rarely leads to getting things done

I really needed to hear this AGAIN. I've been doing a mega decluttering for weeks and letting the daily things go. my house doesn't look or feel much better because my dishes aren't done daily. I feel like I'm always behind. I need that reminder. Thanks

Love the comments at the end!! I don’t do lists unless I’m planning an event or really need something when shopping. I don’t do planners either- I so want to be that organized person and it lasts a week maybe 2 and then collects dust!

I’m proud of myself for doing daily chores and resets, including dishes!

Omg I also lost a to-do list. I also add too much stuff onto a list and will add things as I go. It's really easy for me to get overwhelmed by a list and then get demotivated by all the tasks on the list and do none of them or only a couple of easy things.

Thank you for this video and your others. You have helped me so much and you’re my go-to when I feel stuck and overwhelmed. You make it so simple and helpful!!

Dana You are a dream come true for Adults with Attention Deficit!!! R Writing notes become an obsession and when done, I am too exhausted and overwhelmed to even beginning to move

sweeping my kitchen is the big one that works for me. turns out that most of the time I sweep it I already took care of dishes and counter. Its also the way we all enter the house so its the first thing I notice when I walk in. everything looks better when one enters. Now to teach the rest of those walking in.

I use the Bullet Journal method. I don’t decorate it. Just the basics. I don’t list daily things that I do every day anyway. But for things I tend to put off, like watering the plants, cleaning the aquarium. Also appointments. I get a little dopamine hit every time I get to check things off. I’m much more productive. On the days I don’t bother with my Bullet Journal, I tend to goof off all day and get next to nothing done.

Love this! I’ve learned so much practical advice from you that has changed my home & my family’s life. Thank you!

I love my bujo because of this. I can make a daily list or weekly list or any other time. I tend to overload my list and feel defeated because I’m aiming way too high! But I’m learning. Sounds like habits are in place of a list, I like both but definitely don’t need to write down • wash dishes. Although I for sure need a list for some cleaning.

Omgosh this is me ✍️ 📝 Doing it wrong 🤔 since 6th grade 😮🙁 I think I always needed the list was idealistic incredibly detailed just as you say & yep I would lose it and spend a lot of time looking for it. Crazy All the things that should be done 😮. Now I have to detox from making a list which has not been working all these years. Thank you thank you thank you. I just love you Dana. God is using you in such an amazing way in helping so many of us.

Dana, My kitchen looks SO GOOD, because of YOU. Also, I did ALL my laundry last Saturday, and have not given dirty laundry a 2nd thought throughout the week. Amazing!! The bedroom (where all the hampers are) looks great!! I will do all the laundry again tomorrow, and I can tell, it's nowhere near as much as it was. YAY!

You are right. I love lists. It’s a leftover from my job where projects varied and had deadlines. Now I’m retired, I need to not be detailed on things I already do automatically. It will cut down on over-organizing and get me moving. 👍

I love your videos but my favorite part is the end where your son adds his comments. I love it! His humor reminds me so much of my own son.

I love making to do lists, BUT daily lists create so much anxiety that I can't look at them. I used to feel like a housekeeping failure after trying FL and others and achieving nothing but increased anxiety and an even more untidy home until I gave in and purchased your first book 🎉 so liberating and gradually my house is becoming a home I want to be in - thank Dana. My household planner no longer has long to do lists that don't get done, instead has reminders of appointments and routine changes (eg laundry day ❤ which I love, needs to be split over a few evenings because of events on this weekend only, next week I'm back to routines and don't need reminding) - so liberating. I knew I found my 'pack' when I read my house is not a project (I love and use GTD but it wasn't working at home and I couldn't figure out know why) ❤

I just watched this for the first time, and I love this message❣️❣️❣️

I have my lists on my phone notes. I can delete the items as I do them until the list is gone. Very satisfying. I also have short term goals and long term lists for when I have extra energy and time.

Fully agree with both getting into the habit of these pre-made decisions AND what some commenters said about making a detailed list of alllll the things you did in a day just to CELEBRATE what you did in retrospect! It is SO easy for forget what we do in a day and just feel tossed around in so many directions and wonder why we’re so tired. I think doing both that basic automatic habits without a list and the “pay yourself in the back” list at the end of the day is a great combination for the self esteem 😄👍🏼

I love all your videos! I listen as I'm working, but at the end of each video, I MUST stop what I'm doing to read the scrolling text at the end! ❤😂

I will say that having a standing visual list where I check off the day I did it helps me a lot. It is separate from my to-do list and its mostly a tracking system to help me recognize a pattern and help me feel accomplished when my brain otherwise feels no "reward" from the task. Im also Autistic and ADHD, so that "credit" probably is a big contributing factor for why I need this. I do not write down the reoccurring chores down on a regular to-do list.

Just want you to know what a positive impact your methods have had on my home & mind. Thank you!

lol! I love the comments that scroll at the end of the video! I’m going to try your suggestion starting today and see how it goes. Thanks Dana! I love your videos.

The onscreen editor comments at the end made me laugh out loud! 😂

Can you please make a video on how to do a “to-do list “ the right way? Not a daily to do list, but a to do list the way you would do it. I am interested to get your perspective on this.

Love your passion makes so much sense. Now I will take 1,2 make it a habit

This even works for me now that I have a broken arm. Now function wise someone else has to sweep. Seems keeping this list in mind has kept me from being overwhelmed.

I’am so glad you say don’t use a planner

That’s my kind of system! I’m in for 2024! I think my list often substitutes for getting things done!!!

I like the habits idea. I don’t do list. I know what I need to do daily.

Girl, love you and you've made a huge difference in my life. So please take this with a gentle heart - You need a new camera! The one you have doesn't keep a focus on you. Either get a new one or see if there is a setting on your current one to focus on your face. In this video, everything behind you is in focus vs. you. Have you heard of the Mevo cameras on Amazon? They are relatively inexpensive and you control the camera with an app on your phone. It's perfect for you for pre-records and streaming. They are made by Logitech, a company that complies with the Buy American Act so those products can be used by the US government. You can trust the security of these cameras.

Thanks Dana. Just what I needed. Off to buy the book!

When vacation is over, and I’m packing up, I put a ribbon on the piece of luggage that has the laundry 🧺 in it. I bring the suitcase 🧳 in through the garage. Throw the bags of laundry 🧺 down to the basement. And I go down, and I start the laundry 🧺 - even if it’s 3 AM!

Ha! I clicked 'like' then 'unlike' then 'like' again in the span of this video -- because my daily to-do lists, which I also lose! include much more than housework. Job-related tasks; various financial household tasks, shopping, reach-outs to friends, family; volunteer commitments. And then it hit me. Why can't I build some of these tasks into the same structure that Dana recommends for sweeping the floor? I know I have to submit a time sheet on the first of the month -- why not start my month with preparing my timesheet? So it was back to 'like'.

Oh dear those credits are 🎯 🤣

Loved the topic! Been working on eradicating to-do lists and almost any lists and also any note-writing for several years. So reassuring to hear you talking about it! And Reid's credits were extra extra funny this time!!! 😂😂😂

For this ADHD person, I was always leaving dishes all over the counter. Once I added dishes as priority, it changed everything.

Good reminder. I'm doing ok with the dishes and do the pickup but over the course of the day. Not yet at the kitchen or bathroom level.

Great tips. Thanks. Perhaps you could stand or sit in front of a fixed point so the camera can focus on you. That would make it easier for us to focus on your message. Best regards for 2023!

I love your content and message. My daily goal is to do the dishes and this has helped me tremendously! I have a really hard time watching the videos though because you go out of focus and it throws me off. My attention is no longer on your words but the background. 😂

As always, I appreciate your common sense advice and how you break it down to the basics. Thanks!

I keep a bullet journal, and make a daily list in there. The next day i review what didnt get done and move it to the next day. I actually dont want to push things off so i try to limit them to what I actually think i can get done. I don't include everything that needs done in general.

The fact that right before you said it I was thinking ok, so just make a permanent list that I can see every day... noooooo!!! Habit building, not list following for the daily basics!! Thank you for being you. You're my brain twin!❤❤😂

The editor's comments at the end is my favorite part.

I do the dishes everyday, first thing... I also have started to use a "touch it once" strategy, like my purse, when I get home, I put it where it goes...that way I don't have to touch it again.

I’m a detail person. I have standing routine checklists. They’re fairly detailed. These are regular, practiced routines now. They started small (ala FlyLady) and I’ve added things to them over time. Tasks I wanted to build into habits. NOW - I check through my routine checklist. This means - I’ve mostly done the tasks already and now I sit down with coffee and “check through” my list to see if I missed anything.

When I had to be "perfect" I made lists of what I had accomplished each day. It's bass-ackwards to what anyone else does but it worked for me 😂.

I’m like you. Can’t do to do lists daily. Only for packing for a trip or having a big family meal.

I only do lists when it’s out of the ordinary and needs to be more ASAP. Every day: Feed/water animals (outside as well) COFFEE 😂 (dump grounds, rinse filter cup, etc) Cat boxes Feed myself Spot sweep Tidy Check for other cat messes (like puke 😂😂) Dishes for me only has to be like every other day, but I DO pay attention to daily kitchen tidy and “clean enough kitchen to function” each day. Lol. (Prob Bcuz no human kids now. Empty nest). Idk if I’m clever or just lazy lol, but I have this round DT bucket thing I use for when I can’t deal with washing all the dishes at once. I Chuck most of it in the bucket for a short while and put it to the side on the floor next to the trash can. It’s out of the way and all in one place and doesn’t “feel” like a big mess or chaotic to me that way. I usually give it half a rinse or such first tho. My goal is really just keep the sink mostly clear so I can use it for other things all day long. And don’t have “crud.” My main problem area is cooking, meals, meal planning so I have started to list a few things out to plan to eat and/or cook at least. It helps me to not always wind up stressing and getting decision fatigue over the constant “omg. What to eat today?” Just take a few minutes the night before and jot down a few meal ideas and stick it on the fridge for when I wake up. Weekly meal planning fries my brain so I kinda have to stay on it more often and keep it very short and simple.

It actually worked for me. I was stuck and tired and it looks like progress. So much more to do but….

I always love the funny credits at the end. 😅

Great video! Lol I love checking off lists, I have dishes almost always done daily. The others you mentioned: lightbulb moment! I made a list with ( yes I did😂) with time allotments for each 5 minutes, etc. then I’ll set my timer as I start. Looks like 30 minutes should get a lot accomplished!! I set my timer for 5 empty dw, 5 fill DW etc