​10 Topical tips for the Big Passover Clean Up

Are you multi-tasking so much that you’re just not getting anything done? Who and what is draining your time and energy? 

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Best to start with a plan and think of the salami approach - one slice at a time, thus avoiding an "all or nothing" approach.  A glass of wine may also put you in the mood!

1. Create a plan. Walk through each room and and decide what areas need to be cleaned out. 

Plan what you want to accomplish each week, and then divide the list into days. The plan gives you a good overview of how the week/day will pan out. Your job for the day is to stick to the plan as best as possible. Stick up a list in each room

2. Highlight the smaller tasks like "desk drawer" rather than "home office." Estimated time: 15-30 minutes. 

Use these ideas for tackling smaller tasks in short bursts of time:

-Discard expired pantry items while you are waiting for vegetables to roast.

Clean out a kitchen drawer while you are waiting for coffee to brew.

-Sort through a stack of paper in the time it takes for your TV program to return from commercial break.

-Clean out your make-up drawer while you are waiting for the shower to get hot (and cleaning out unused or expired items from under your bathroom sink will only take 15 minutes.)

3. Use a calendar. 

Having a calendar is the most fundamental step to managing your daily activities. Once you have planned specific goals for each day, give each goal a time slot on your calendar. Keep these appointments. Replace overly optimistic (unrealistic) goals with specific and attainable goals. Cross each task off when you’ve completed it.

4. Peg a time limit to each task. 

Be clear that you need to finish X task by 10am, Y task by 3pm, and Z item by 5:30pm. This prevents your work from dragging on and eating into time reserved for other activities.

5. Know your deadlines. 

When do you need to finish your tasks? Mark the deadlines out clearly in your calendar and organizer so you know when you need to finish them.

6. Learn to say “No” 

Wherever you are in your Passover preparations, remember, it is NOT time to spring clean. In today’s ‘to-do’ list focused society, we sometimes forget to cultivate our ‘to-don’t’ lists. What do you for sure want to do? What do you want some-one else to do? Our lists will all be different. So don’t say yes to everything to do with Pesach, you might be paying too high a cost. Be kind, be generous and be aware. Your ‘do-don’t’ list needs cultivating too. Don’t take on more than you can handle. For the distractions that come in when you’re doing other things, give a firm no. Or defer it to a later period.

7. Focus. 

Focus on just one key task at one time, Block out distractions. What’s distracting you in your work? Instant messages? Phone ringing? Text messages popping in? Practice not answering the phone just because it's ringing and e-mails just because they show up.

8. Don’t fuss about unimportant details. 

You’re never get everything done in exactly the way you want. Trying to do so is being ineffective. Remember you can’t do everything, learn to prioritize the important and let go of the rest.

9. Delegate. 

Love and take care of yourself. If there are things that can be done by others or things that are not so important, consider delegating. This takes a load off and you can focus on the important tasks.

10. Take Breaks.

Take mini breaks when you need them during the day to recharge and refocus. Take lengthy breaks away from work at the weekend, in the evening to help you stay productive long term. 

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