Cleaning up your own S**T: The Toilet cleaning Hack
Listen, this is going to sound weird but I just need you to trust me. Picture this: me, you, and a sparkling toilet – yeah, you heard me right!
Before I even knew I had ADHD, I was on a mission to take charge of my life, especially for the sake of my daughter. I dug deep into self-help books, productivity tools, and time management wizardry. Time blocking, pomodoros, lists, planners – you name it! Though progress was creeping in, I still couldn't find the motivation to "do the thing." Instead, I found myself bouncing from tab to tab when I was trying to work or glitching like a drained SIMS character (IYKYK).
Then I stumbled upon a rather odd piece of advice- When you’re struggling to get started, spend 20 minutes cleaning your toilet.
Who would've thought that a toilet cleaning session could hold the key to unlocking productivity? Ok maybe that’s a bit dramatic but it did get me off the couch. Here’s your mission should you choose to accept it…Collect your supplies, head to the bathroom, set a timer for 20 minutes, & scrub. For 20 minutes. Even when it’s clean, look for what could use a little more attention until your time is up.That's it – your only mission for the next 20 minutes is to tackle that throne!
Now, I know what you're thinking – "Uh, cleaning the toilet? Seriously? I can't even throw out my garbage!" I get it; it seemed bizarre to me too. But I was desperate so I tried it. It worked! When my brain was as active as a snail on a Sunday, I found solace in the toilet-cleaning extravaganza. Desperate times call for desperate measures, right?
Sometimes, the momentum would even allow me to work on the task I’d actually hoped to accomplish. I haven’t thought about this in years until today. Now that I know what I know, I got curious about why it worked, and here is where I landed…
The Timer- This did 3 things; Gamified the task, gave my brain a promise that it would end, and encouraged me to double check when I thought I was finished instead of rushing away.
Mission: Super Specific! This was a clear and specific task that my brain could understand. The clarity of knowing exactly what I was expecting of myself reduced the overwhelm.
No Decision Drama! Often when we’re stuck, it’s because our brains are struggling to decide what to do next. With this tool in my pocket, I had no decisions to make. When I’m stuck, I clean the toilet.
Visual Return of Progress-Trust me; seeing the fruits of your labor in a sparkling toilet bowl is oddly satisfying. It's like leveling up in a video game, but with a cleaner loo! Maintaining momentum is so much easier when you can see that your efforts are paying off.
Fast forward to today, and I still use these 4 principles when I’m stuck. The only difference is that it no longer requires me to start with the cleaning my bathroom.
If you’re still reading this, you’re likely as desperate for change as I was so why not give it a try? What if it works? You’re not alone in this, remember that I've got your back every step of the way. Keep on keepin’ on friends, the journey continues!
