Activity Bundling – The Fun of Cleaning Up

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“You can’t compete with someone who is having fun.” – unknown

Up until last week I had cobwebs in my kitchen. They were higher than I could reach without a ladder or tool. I’d notice them but always on my way to getting something else done so they persisted.

It was the same with rehanging the hooks in the hallway that pulled away from the wall, the fascia board in my bathroom that came off when the kids climbed on the counter one too many times, peeling off the stickers Mr D applied to the cabinets when he was three-years-old, replacing two of the six light bulbs in the bathroom that used non-standard light bulbs, and on and on.

Because we rented out our house as an AirBnB, we’ve been chipping away at this list of little projects that I constantly noticed but never got done. Our first booking is in mid-June.

The whole project started because we have friends that have lived in France for three years. We wanted to visit them before they move in August. But every time I went to book the airfare this spring, the price jumped because of oil prices and I couldn’t afford them.

I’d been entertaining the idea of listing my house on AirBnB during the World Cup games here in Seattle but it seemed like so much work. But then I read The Fun Habit by Mike Rucker, PhD and his concept of activity bundling brought it all together for me. By combining the adventure of getting to see our friends in Europe with the work of getting the house ready, we could make the whole thing fun. [If you haven’t yet listened to the podcast with Mike, I found our conversation to be as inspiring as his book.]

I figured it was worth a try. Even if we didn’t get any bookings, at least we’d get a fixed-up house.

But then we did get bookings. Now I’ve booked our tickets because we have to be gone and we are madly finishing all these little projects. Michelle from the BoomerEcoCrusader blog is 100% right – decluttering feels great. Mr. D wants to know why we go to the donation center every week with a car loads of clothes, toys and books. Because we’ve had all that stuff pile up too much over the years.

Every night I fall into bed exhausted. But I also feel lighter. Like all those little projects were weighing me down in a way that I didn’t even realize. We’re earning this adventure one step at a time – with the bonus of coming home to a house that has all (or most) of the little things done.

(featured photo is one of our bedrooms after an extensive decluttering!)

Quote is from EnlightenedMind622

You can find me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wynneleon/ and Instagram @wynneleon

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66 thoughts on “Activity Bundling – The Fun of Cleaning Up”

  2. Wow. Sounds like where our family is at. We have lived in this house for 30+ years and have a basement (and almost every other room) to prove it. Every summer I start with hopes that I’ll get all the little stuff done so we can tackle the big stuff. But, I start, then stumble, then stop. Maybe this will be the summer! Keep going, you are building memories and habits. Peace.

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    1. I totally hear you, Clay! It’s so hard to tackle some of these things – especially when we are busy making memories. I’m not sure I would have chosen to do it so quickly but wow, it’s working. 🙂 I hope you find your way of making it fun!

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    1. Wow, that is amazing, Eve Marie. No wonder your books are so good. I’m thinking of the quote from Marcus Aurelius: “Tranquility is nothing else than the good ordering of the mind.” Thanks for the great comment!

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  5. i absolutley love this approach! making it happen by making it happen. so much winning here! tomorrow my post is about an old word that has to do with cleaning for company, so this is that, but to the extreme and with an amazing outcome. the more you do, the closer you are to your adventure, and the busy work of the house is the case of killing two birds!

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    1. You said it perfectly, Beth! No doubt it’s keeping us busier!! And now I can’t wait for your post tomorrow. I’ve always like getting ready for parties because of the same reason — but you’re right, this is to the extreme! All for the good of an adventure. (And sometimes I sit up in the middle of the night and think, ‘are you really doing this?’ Fortunately I’m so tired I just go back to sleep. 🙂

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  10. An orderly clean house encourages good mental health and of course, physical health. A home is an ever evolving piece of family art. Kids are deconstructionists lol but it’s good to teach them how to keep their home and themselves, healthy. Making it fun was a very wise choice. I’m jealous of the France part lol

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  11. Wow, what a big undertaking under a tight schedule. I’m glad you are completing tasks that you will be able to enjoy once you return. We often wait and do those things at the end when we are trying to sell. I’m impressed that you are taking a big trip with the kids and that you are renting your house out. Talk about new experiences! Hope you have a nice relaxing time once all the work is done!

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    1. Gwen, something makes me think you are speaking from recent experience? 😉 Yes, I’d absolutely waited too long. But you’re right – the treat will be relaxing when we’re all done. Here’s to that! Thanks for the great comment!

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  12. A special trip is such great motivation to tidy and spruce things up. I love this approach, and I’m so happy you got the bookings and have the chance to visit friends abroad. Amazing!

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  13. It feels good to drop all that stuff off at the donation center, right? Not only are you clearing out your home, you’re helping others. I love looking at the space that all my clutter used to belong to!

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  16. What an exciting summer you will all enjoy together. The kids – and you – will not soon forget this because of the love and sweat you all poured into this. How amazing and exciting you’ll all be headed to France! I can’t wait to see all the updates and adventures that lie ahead!

    Where will Cooper and the cat be staying while you’re away?

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    1. The love and sweat — you said it, Ab!! 🙂 And you’re right, the memories will stick with us. I bet you all are feeling summer coming up fast too. Here’s to a great summer for all! ❤

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  18. When we moved after 28 years in our Palm Springs home, I made so many trips to a thrift shop. Fortunately, it was around the corner from us. It did feel good to lighten up our load. Although we still moved with too much stuff. Congrats on going to France on vacation and renting out your home!

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      1. It was a hard project for sure! So many things I moved like photo albums and drawings and stories by kids wrote when they were young. I finally went through things last summer, but still kept too much.

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  19. I have a friend in the Black Hills who rents her house out every year for the Sturgis Rally. It’s a great way for them to bring in some extra cash (quite a bit, actually) and also escape the madness that is Sturgis. Win/win, as you seem to be doing/doing, too!

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    1. Ah, thanks for the encouragement, my friend. Miss O said to me, “I’m really interested in what the food will be like.” And because she’s my “selective” eater, I said in a surprised tone, “Really?” She answered, “I said interested, not excited.” 🙂

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      1. You’re welcome, my friend. That response from Miss O was awesome. Well, if you are visiting Paris, I’m sure she is going to find many things interesting and exciting—especially once she sees the variety of food and desserts, of course.

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  21. Wow that’s fantastic Wynne! You had such a good idea about the AirB&B! And you could buy the tickets to France! That’s what I would call success! About donating stuff: we accumulate too much, I am always surprised when I go to charities to bring my stuff by the amount of things that they already have in their warehouses. It’s such a shame, I wouldn’t know how it was possible to manufacture all that!

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  24. Cleaning is one of those activities that doesn’t seem very glamorous, but the feeling of accompishment sand be so worth it. I’m about to stain the deck. I’ve given up a lot of jobs as I’ve gotten older, but I still do that one. Of course, it’s hard on my back and knees, but it feels so good afterward.

    What a fabulous opportunity to share with your kids!

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  25. You’re going to France!🤩 I love how the house and the trip are weaved in to each other- such a great idea with big wins all around. Sounds like you’ll be having an excellent summer, which you deserve after such a hard-working spring.😎😎 So exciting!!

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  26. You have the knack Wynne! Making it fun is the secret. Something I haven’t yet managed to do and we need to get rid of so much ‘hoarding of stuff’ over the years!! I can hear our family now … “what on earth were Mum and Dad doing to allow all of this to acumúlate?”!!
    I really don’t know 🤷🏻‍♀️
    Motivation seriously needed here but well done you 👏

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  27. What a fantastic idea Wynne, for you and your children to rent out your home. That trip to France will be so worth it. I can hardly wait to read about that trip!!

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  29. That is SO exciting that the trip to France is a go!!! Yea. Have you ever been there before? What part of France? do you speak any french? When I first heard about the possibility of your trip, I was in awe and excited for you all. When you’re done there, would you be interested in another decluttering gig? (Our place) 🙂

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