Spring Cleaning Meets Forced Motivation: Preparing for Home Sale Unlocks Domestic Productivity

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I’ve finally got round to fixing up my house – and it’s given me a radical idea

The mundane tasks that have cluttered the bottom of my fruit bowl for years – from tightening rusty screwdrivers, retrieving a Pikachu toy trapped in the depths of the drawer, replacing the shower curtn, and arranging other household nuisances – are now neatly organized. Why? It's because of the horrifying prospect of strangers being granted access to my private sanctuary.

There's an unusual, albeit specific, joy that accompanies preparing your home for sale; akin to waking up with perfect hr on the day before a hrdressing appointment or the time when my first boyfri gifted me roses right before our breakup. The ambiance seems almost ideal – the sunlight filtering through my dining table feels magical, the creaking floorboard above the strs is melodious and the ladder leading to the attic appears majestic. If only my mum could enjoy these moments instead of having to use a potty in her shed during visits; then she might truly appreciate our cozy living space.

The euphoria isn't driven by nostalgia or regret, but rather by the stark reality that after years of procrastination, we are finally tackling those tasks that have been crying out for attention since we first stepped inside: fixing the bathroom tap, clearing garden weeds, pnting the ceiling, and adding hinges to our wardrobe doors instead of leaving them haphazardly open. The sight of a dripping shower curtn see be a testament to this newfound vigor.

It makes me ponder whether those fortunate enough to have secure housing should just pret they're in constant motion every few years. Being forced to tidy up before hosting dinner guests could potentially push us into cleaning our kitchens; yet, the looming threat of strangers poking through our belongings serves as the sole motivator for action.

I often joke that inviting fris over is a strategy for cleaning my kitchen, but the pressure of anticipation can be just as effective in getting tasks done. Perhaps organizing a pseudo-open house every couple of decades might stimulate us into action. For someone as naturally curious about others' belongings as myself, catching glimpses of my neighbors’ bedding could be worth the effort of hiding dirty dishes for just a day.

I wanted to conclude with an inspiring quote from a revered thinker on change: Wherever you go, go with all your heart! – attributed to Confucius. However, I stumbled upon a section on moving-related sayings on a New York-based removals company website which included contributions from influential figures such as Richard Branson and Harriet Tubman. Thus, I'll instead share this: in matters of the heart, don't wt for change; bleach that grout in your shower today.

Nell Frizzell is an author who writes about her personal experiences with motherhood.

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