One of my tips for clients who are facing a task they don’t want to do is to use a timer. Pick a time, say 20 minutes, set the timer, and get to it! When the timer goes off, STOP! It helps break a daunting, boring, or overwhelming task into manageable pieces, makes people feel like they’ve accomplished something, and prevents burn out. This trick works on everything from cleaning to filing to folding laundry to yardwork.

Don’t have a timer? Don’t worry! TV commercials can act as great “timers” for getting things done quickly while limiting the time a task will take.

During a commercial, here are 10 things you can get done:

1. Dust the den or living room (TIP: Keep preloaded wipes in the room in a basket or drawer!)
2. Have a treasure hunt with your kids by having them pick up items that don’t belong in the room. Whoever puts the most stuff in the treasure chest (aka, an empty box in the closet) wins!
3. Do sit ups, push ups, or lunges
4. Cuddle with the kids or your spouse
5. Make a grocery list
6. Send a thank you note
7. Call a friend to touch base quickly
8. Clean out the fridge
9. Throw in some laundry
10. Fold or put away clothes

These quick hits will prevent having to schedule big clean ups because messes never get the chance to accumulate or become overwhelming, which is why most people procrastinate. Try it and let me know how it works for you!