""I have a show on Netflix that I can only watch while I'm folding and putting away the laundry. It started when I would have three loads to put away, but now I do it every time there's a load, and it's really stopped me from letting it pile up. I've found that I'll even start another load earlier than needed so I can fold it later and finish an episode." - Sarah G., mom of four"
""A bra. It's my only trick. If I don't have a bra on, nothing's getting done. The minute I strap my t*ts into one is the minute my brain goes, 'OK, let's go clean the kitchen.'" - Tiffany L., mom of two "When I need to clean the house, I put on my gym shoes. It takes me out of 'I'm at home chilling' mode into 'I'm up and doing stuff' mode." - Katie M., mom of one"
""I used to try to get my to-do list done before I had a treat, but it made me feel irritated and resentful. So now I've kind of trained myself that when I make a special iced coffee, that's time to get started on my list." - Dana R., mom of two "I only listen to my true crime podcasts when I'm cleaning the kitchen. My kitchen is always so clean now." - Randi P., mom of two"
Small, specific rewards and simple environmental cues can shift motivation and make tasks feel easier to start and finish. Pairing a favored treat or media with a particular chore—such as watching a specific Netflix show only while folding laundry, saving a special iced coffee for task-starting, or listening to true crime podcasts only while cleaning—creates a reliable trigger. Physical changes in attire or footwear, like putting on a bra or gym shoes and changing out of pajamas, reframe the mind from relaxation to action. Portable snacks or energy bites also serve as quick psychological resets to begin workouts or household work.
Read at Scary Mommy
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