Hey there, friend! Can we have a little heart-to-heart for a minute? If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably found yourself staring at the dishes in the sink, the Legos scattered across the floor, or that laundry pile that’s been making you cringe for days, wondering why you can’t just… get motivated to clean. I’ve been there sooooo many times, y’all.
First things first, though, and I need you to hear this loud and clear. There is nothing wrong with you. You’re not lazy. You’re not broken. You’re not bad at homemaking. You’re just stuck. And today, we’re going to change that because I’m about to share something with you that completely shifted the way I think about motivation and how I tackle my to-dos.
Are you ready?
Here it is: Motivation is garbage.
Wait, stay with me. I know that sounds harsh, but those aren’t even my words. Mel Robbins, an amazing speaker and author, said it first, and honestly? She’s spot on. When she says “motivation is garbage,” she doesn’t mean it isn’t real. Motivation exists, but it’s the flakiest thing in our lives.
Why You Can’t Count on Motivation to Clean
Motivation is like that friend who always promises to show up but is either late, forgets entirely, or bails on you at the last minute with some weak excuse. It’s just not reliable.
Most of us grew up believing that motivation comes first, like some magical bolt of lightning that strikes us and leaves us brimming with energy, ready to tackle our mess. But guess what? That’s not how it works.
Waiting for motivation is like sitting by a window on a gray, cloudy day, staring at your yard, hoping that lightning will strike a specific spot. Spoiler alert: it’s not going to happen. Motivation doesn’t show up before you start. Instead, it grows after you take the first tiny step.
And that’s exactly where we get stuck, isn’t it? We sit around waiting to feel like cleaning, hoping that spark will kick in so we can finally do the dishes, fold the laundry, or clear the chaos. But here’s the big secret you need to know: You don’t need motivation to start.
Momentum Over Motivation
What you need is something better, more reliable. You need momentum.
Momentum is born from that tiny action you take. It doesn’t matter how small. Maybe it’s picking up three toys. Maybe it’s unloading just the top rack of the dishwasher. Or maybe it’s folding one single towel. That one little step creates a ripple effect, and honestly, THAT’S where motivation starts to show TF up.
You know the feeling I’m talking about, right? When you fold one pile of laundry and suddenly think, “Huh, that wasn’t so bad,” so you fold another one. Or you clear the counter, and it looks so much better that you decide to wipe it down too. That’s momentum, and it feels sooo good.
It doesn’t kick in because you waited around for motivation. It kicks in because you showed up, even just a little, and got the ball rolling!
Tools to Help When You Don’t Know Where to Start
Now, I know what you’re thinking. “Okay, sure, momentum sounds great, but what about those days when I don’t even know where to begin? When the mess feels so overwhelming that the idea of starting feels impossible?”
Trust me, I get it. That’s why I created my Domestic Daydreams Cleaning Routine and my Domestic Daydreams Radio Membership. They’re specifically designed for days like that—for when motivation feels like a distant dream, and the clutter feels bigger than you.
Here’s how it works. The Domestic Darling Morning Routine is laid out step by step, so you don’t have to sit there spinning your wheels. (You can get my printable for it here) Instead of wondering, “What do I do first?” the plan is already made for you:
- Air the beds? Check.
- Toss in a load of laundry? Check.
- Unload the dishwasher? Check.
- Speed-tidy the living room clutter? Check.
It’s like having your morning homemaking “cheat sheet” in your back pocket.
And if you’re like me and prefer to listen to something while you clean, or you just want someone to keep you company while you do the tidying, that’s where Domestic Daydreams Radio comes in. You just press play on a cozy 1950s-style radio show and I guide you through your morning or evening cleaning routines step by step. All you have to do is follow along while I talk you through it. (You can try some of my free episodes here!)
Some days, the hardest part is just not feeling alone in the mess, you know? And that’s why I made these tools—to feel like a friend holding your hand when you don’t know where to start.
Discipline Is Your Secret Weapon
Alright, can we talk about one last thing? It’s not exactly a fun word, but it’s super important. Discipline.
Now, before you roll your eyes or start thinking about how you hate the sound of that word, hear me out. Discipline isn’t about being perfect. It’s not about waking up at 5 a.m. and deep-cleaning your entire house every single day. No one has time for that, and if they do, I demand to know their secret.
Instead, discipline is about showing up in little, consistent ways—even when you don’t feel like it. Just five minutes here, ten minutes there. It’s putting that podcast on and tackling the dishes when you’d rather scroll your phone. It’s wiping one counter when the whole kitchen feels overwhelming.
And the more you stretch that discipline “muscle,” the stronger it gets. It helps create habits, and those habits make life so much easier. Pair that with the right system or routine, and before you know it, you’re in a groove that gets things done almost on autopilot.
Just Start, Right Now
If nothing else sticks with you today, I want you to remember this, okay?
You don’t need cleaning motivation to get started. You don’t even need to wait until you feel less overwhelmed. You just need to start. Take one super small step. Anything.
That tiny action creates momentum. Momentum builds motivation. Motivation keeps you going. It’s this beautiful, magical cycle, and it really works—as long as you’re willing to take that first tiny leap.
Maybe today that looks like folding one blanket, or hitting play on a cleaning routine episode to keep you company, or just standing up and putting one plate into the dishwasher. You don’t have to tackle it all at once. You just have to start somewhere.
You’ve got this, friend. I believe in you. And on the days when you don’t quite believe in yourself yet? That’s okay, because I’m here to believe in you until you get there.
Now, go take a deep breath. Press play on one of my free cleaning routine episodes or knock out a five-minute task. Whatever you do is enough, because you’re doing better than you think. Keep going. You’ve got this.
Until next time!
