When we had our meeting this week, everyone had these great ideas for articles that they wanted to write, and I had pretty much nothing. I was so focused on every single task that I had to accomplish that evening that I didn’t have time to come prepared for discussion. But when two of my fellow Her Campus members mentioned that they wanted someone to write something about how to keep your room clean, I jumped at the opportunity without giving it a second thought.
Photo via Senjuti Kundu on Unsplash
Now, anyone who actually knows me might find this article humorous. Sure, back in the day, my OCD got the best of me and my room was in tip-top shape 24/7. But, as I sit here and write this article, I’m sitting criss-cross applesauce on my rug (because my desk is covered in dirty dishes & books) next to a pile of laundry that needs to be folded while eating peanut butter out of a jar with a spoon, wearing my Olaf fuzzy PJ pants So. Am I really the best person to write this article? Maybe not. But when I have the time, my room is organized, sanitized and cleaner than the homes of Whoville after the Grinch stole Christmas.
How do I keep up with having a clean room on top of being a member of a travel team, sorority, working 15-20 hours a week, and taking 19 credit hours worth of classes? Obviously, I don’t all the time, but here are a few tips that have helped me out majority of the time.
1. ) Make a Routine
My Monday’s & Wednesday’s, I start class at 8:00 am, but on Tuesday and Thursday, I don’t start work until 10:30 and class doesn’t begin until 12:30; however, I always get up around 6:30-7ish each day. Here’s why: keeping a routine is something that we as humans naturally crave. Our body is like clockwork and when we change things up, it doesn’t function as properly. If you make it a priority to wake up every morning and make your bed as soon as you get up, it’ll become a natural habit and won’t seem like a chore. It’ll be something that you just do to start your day.
2.) Make Your Room/Place a Frequent Stop
Have you ever heard of a mother who didn’t freak out on her family before guests arrived? Well, I know my mom spazzes over having every room in the house cleaned, even though 95% of the time, half of the house is only visible to our family during this time. If you think about it, though, do you really want some of the people that you hang out with to change their opinion on you because you left milk and cereal rotting in your sink instead of washing it? Whenever my ex boyfriend told me he was coming over, I made sure to clean my room every time because I didn’t want him to think I was as big of a slob as I know I can be. The more you have friends or family in your room, the more likely you’ll be to want to impress them or prove to them that you’re more organized than you think.
3.) Take Turns and Compromise
This is really only applicable to those who have roommates, but a majority of us college students do. If I’m being honest, I absolutely hate cleaning the bathroom. My roommate, on the other hand, does it almost every time. She doesn’t usually Swiffer, though, so I end up taking on that duty. We’ve come to the unspoken agreement that we don’t mind doing one chore as long as our roommate does the other. If keeping your room/place clean is a chore for both of you, make a list of chores that need to be completed that day or week and alternate who does what the following.
4.) Practice Time Management
As a college student, time management is something that I know I don’t struggle with alone. But, getting a planner, or even making a list to determine what you want cleaned that day can make that much more of a difference. For example, I got out of class early because I had an exam today. I decided that I was going to go back to my room and pig out before the next one, but when I still had time left over, I decided to put a bunch of my clothes on hangers while I watched a show in the background. Although my room is still a bit messy, I feel better knowing that I can check something off of my to-do list this week.
Photo via Estée Janssens on Unsplash
We are all around the age where many of us have been funded by our parents our entire lives. Now is the time that we show them that yes, we are financially struggling college kids, but that we know how to take responsibility for our actions and also respect for our stuff. It comes with adulting, something that I struggle with on occasion. For those of us in apartment complexes, this may be the first time that you’re purchasing furniture without any financial assistance from your family members. Doing stuff on your own is a rewarding experience. You should be proud of yourself for what you’ve accomplished in your life so far. So, why not make yourself feel a little bit better and more put together by keeping your room clean?
Thumbnail image via Tori Amia on Unsplash