music, turn on the radio , upbeat music help give you energy to get up and go.

That's funny you mentioned that. One of my sewing projects is an apron with a pocket on the chest I can put my MP3 player in. I can't really play music on my stereo, because it bothers people, but if I could wear my MP3 player so I don't have to hold it, that might help me a lot. :)

Hop over to the "organization" thread and you'll get some ideas.

The forum is called "Organizing the House".

I am getting along in years and I have found 'motivation' has always been my biggest problem, for half a century. I really, really dislike thing that must be done only to be done again and then again. Dusting blinds has no lasting benefit, one just has to do it again sometime in the future.

I use very detailed check-off lists. Most are actually charts, either daily or weekly (cleaning the bathroom sink is daily, but cleaning the blinds is a weekly chore.) A checkmark indicates the item was done. It takes -maximum- about 2 minutes to go through the chart/s each evening, but you go to bed *knowing* you accomplished something.

I deliberately designed the daily chart to be easy to accomplish in less than two hours, and then I do one or two of the rotating weekly chores and maybe a monthly chore. Any chore which is likely to take more than an hour to finish, is divided into smaller sections.

If you want frequent motivation, you might like the Flylady at FlyLady.net.

We differ in that she cleans by area [all of the bathroom, all of the entryway, etc.] and I clean by type [all the windows, all the dusting, all the tile, etc.]. One thing I do agree wholeheartedly with her is to "always keep your sinks shiny." Dunno why, but if your sinks are grungy they cast a depressing pall over everything else.

Here is a link that might be useful: flylady to motivate

On days where I just can't get myself going, I'll set the timer for 15 minutes and see how much I can get done. Then I set it for another 15 minutes and relax with a book or something. I had to laugh when I found out my mother used to do the same thing while we were at school.

For long hauls of serious cleaning, I bring out the big guns and put Elvis in the CD player.

Invite people over! LOL. Nothing motivates me like knowing that people are coming to visit.

I also use the kitchen timer set for 15 mins. I go really fast and try to beat the clock. It works. Before this method I would take my time and get involved in something else and then go back to cleaning, etc. I find if I try to do it fast it really works for me. I see results and then want to move on through the rest of the house.