In my last post, about National Novel Writing Month, I said I have no problem writing every day, or almost every day. My problem is the opposite. I can’t make myself quit writing long enough to do the house cleaning I should do. My friend Kasie suggested a better goal for us would be to have a National House Cleaning Month (NaHoCleMo) and Tricia said count her in, so—you guessed it—we’re doing it!
I’ve set my goal for 5,000 minutes of house cleaning for the month of November. If you’re a clean freak—or maybe just normal—you probably fainted at the idea that should have to be a goal. (I’ll bet you’re signed up for NaNoWriMo.) In any case, that’s a true goal for me. Feel free to set a goal that’s a challenge, but in line with your own situation. The point is to pry our fingers off these keyboards and get us clearing out the clutter and grime that in our non-fiction worlds. You know it nags you!
Through the month of November, you’ll see my little progress meter to the right, tracking my progress. To get your meter widget, just click here.
So, if you’re obsessed with writing to the point that your dust bunnies look more like dust hippos—join us!
NaHoCleMo rules:
Every minute of cleaning counts towards your goal of 5,000 for the month. In addition to the usual things like dusting, vacuuming, toilet and shower scrubbing, you may also count:
You may not include in total minutes:
)If you’re in, let me know!
I can state -- almost unequivocally -- that the title of this blog does not refer to my mental state. It refers to my writing, which does, of course, flow out of my mind. Sometimes the process of writing is messy, sometimes weird, sometimes beautiful -- and always harder than I wish, but I love it. As I wander back into the real world from time to time, I hope to entertain you with my musings.
Wahoo! I’m so ready for my house to be clean. In fact, I’m looking at it today going, hmmm, maybe I just won’t do any cleaning today so that I can count it towards my minutes tomorrow.
I have a feeling my house is going to be cleaner than it has been in a long time this month. This will be a good distraction for me because I’ll be going out on submission soon.
I soooo need this, especially with the holidays coming up. My husband will be amazed!
Going out on submission???
This is a great idea! I love it that you guys are actually doing it. I’d join if I wasn’t already so committed this month…
I’m hoping this will become a habit, but knowing me, I’ll go back to my old ways by the new year. I might have to make this more than a once a year challenge.
Since your post got me to sign up for NaNoWriMo on a whim, I’m kind of out of luck on the house cleaning.
Have fun, you’ll probably be flooded with ideas as you scrub.
Now, wouldn’t that be a wonderful side benefit … as long as I don’t drop everything and run to the computer to write it all down.
I’m in!! But for half the time. 2500 mins is enough for me. LOL!
You probably only need half the time to get your house in order. It did occur to me that by the end of the month, I might have very little to do each day, but that would be great!
I moved to a retirement home so I don’t have anything to do but write, walk, eat, and sleep. All one continual treat for this work avodiance phobia that I claim. Smiles
There is definitely something to be said for downsizing. I’ve long been a packrat, but the older I get, the more I’m able to let go. And by the end of this month, I may decide I would rather get rid of a lot more rather than have to dust it!
House cleaning, eh? LMAO! Okay, you’ve got to be my favorite blog on here so far!
Oh, wow! I’m somebody’s favorite blog!!!!
Yep, housework is more of a challenge than writing to me.
Although I’ll need longer than 5000 minutes to get my house company ready, I’ll have to be realistic and commit to half that.
I bet you’ll reach your goal by the middle of the month!
You have now officially lost your mind : )
And I was laughing out loud at the fact that cleaning food off the keyboard would count!
Hey, I’ll take my cleaning minutes wherever I find them!
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I am so not doing this, BUT I did spend 18 straight hours unburying my office two weeks ago (does that count?) and we’re having the whole family for my son’s bar mitzvah on Thanksgiving weekend, so I will probably meet and pass your goal, but I’m not devoting myself to it on purpose.
I imagine it would take that long to get my office in order too. I have two closets in here: one for office supplies and the other for craft and art supplies. For months, I’ve been shoving things in both and slamming the doors.
This is just what I need. I don’t know you, yet, but I love you.
I’m glad you’ve been inspired. Obviously, I’ve fallen behind on my minute count, but right now … really … I’m stepping away from this keyboard and starting on this long-deglected office. Is there still a desk under all this clutter?
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This is a fabulous idea. I won’t set any more large goals this month, but I think I’ll track my cleaning time to get an estimate of how difficult NaHoCleMo might be in December. By the way… do you think yard pickup should count?
Well, I had so much clutter built up, it should be a cinch to do 5,000 minutes in a month. But I wasn’t counting on actually doing the work! I hate this. I’m going to slap a bumper sticker on my back that says, “I’d rather be writing!”
And yes, as far as I’m concerned you can count cleaning your yard too.
Oh, Linda, I love the bar that shows your NaHoCleMo minutes! I should have joined, but for a different reason – I prefer writing to cleaning.
Ha ha, I love writing more too, that’s why I had to do the NaHoCleMo thing.
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I missed this one. Does time spent having a garage sale count? I purged the cupboards in the laundry room, found some things I had forgotten we owned. sheesh. : )
I always get the cleanies this time of year, I want the whole house de-stashed before New Years Eve. No idea where I get that from. All the same, I cleaned out my clothes closet yesterday. Shame to get it all cleaned up only to bring in a tree. (don’t tell my kids I said that. ) : )
I’d certainly count the time it took to gather everything for a sale because you’d be cleaning out closets, cupboards, the garage, etc. to do that. There won’t be as much cleaning to do to get ready this year, but I am having a hard time getting in the Christmas mood.