Day 11 - Using Your Personality Style

Yesterday I encouraged you to figure out your personality style by taking this free test (if you haven't taken it, what are you waiting for?!) I wanted you to do this so that you could better understand your strengths and weaknesses, and how you can use them in your cleaning/organization efforts.

Today we're going to look at the best ways to get and stay motivated for each personality style. Here we go!

The "D" Style

You are very results oriented and you like the bottom line. You're not into routine, and you want the fastest way possible to get your work done. You thrive on challenges, and you are also a great motivator. Let's use these qualities to get you moving!

Motivation: Challenge

You need to be challenged; so try giving yourself a challenge each day. Maybe it's one big challenge, or a few small ones. Either way, you will achieve real results if you meet your challenges. If, for example, you want to go to sleep in a clean bedroom each night, challenge yourself to spend 20 minutes a day straighting up your room and making your bed. Challenge yourself to do it during a particular time of the day until it becomes habit (say between 9 and 9:20am every morning). You need to see results or you will soon give up, so developing a habit for you is imperative! Heck, challenge yourself to form a new habit, just one, and give it all you've got!

The "I" Style

You would rather do practically anything than clean! You're super fun and very people oriented, so cleaning your home, with no one to really talk too but little ones, is extra hard on you. If only you could have someone over every day to talk and clean with you, this whole cleaning thing wouldn't be so bad!

Motivation: Positive Feedback/Fun

Here are some ways you can get motivated:

1. Reward yourself (or have someone reward you) for doing certain tasks. For example, if you keep your home in order and clean for a week, your husband takes you out to dinner (or some other fun thing). Work something out with your hubby where you are rewarded for your work - have tangible goals that you have to meet, but keep them small and realistic - you are not detail oriented!
2. Have fun with cleaning! Play your music loud, dance while you clean...just make it fun!
3. You dream of having a clean home, but you just don't think it's possible with your personality. It is! You can and will have a clean and welcoming home! Just think, if you can keep your home tidy, you will be more willing to have people over and be the fun hostess that you are!
4. Ask your husband/friends/kids to tell you when you are doing a good job - you need all the positivity you can get. Negative feedback just puts you in a slump!

The "S" Style

You are a sweetie! You S types are so friendly and soft, you make us D types melt! You are extremely loyal and supportive; you need security and stability. If someone is willing to gently guide you and teach you ways to be clean and organized, you will fair very well under their authority. In fact, you enjoy having someone guide you, you find comfort in it.

Motivation: Affirmation

You need to be affirmed in that what you're doing matters, and that you're doing a good job. Some tips to help you would be:

1. Ask you husband or kids to affirm you when you do a good job
2. Affirm yourself! This may be difficult for you, but when you complete a goal or give your best efforts at something, tell yourself, "good job!" Thank God that He is the ultimate provider of stability and security, and His promises will never fail.
3. Find a program that teaches and guides you - you can find plenty on the web, such as flylady (and of course, this series! :) )

The "C" Style

You are a super detailed person, and you love structure and quality. You are a natural organizer, but you can sometimes be critical and perfectionist, which can get in the way of the big picture. You seek facts, and you want to know the most systematic way to get things done.

Motivation: Structure

Make a schedule and get yourself into a routine. You won't have much trouble with this, but what you may have trouble with is how to do everything "right" and still relax to spend time with your husband or kiddos. You need to have realistic expectations - get what you need done, but don't expect perfection. Strive for excellence, but land in the softness of grace.


I hope all of this is helpful! I know for me, being an I/D type, that I need all the help I can get! I thrive on positive feedback from my hubby - when he compliments me, I feel like I could clean the world! I also like to clean when I have someone helping me or just talking with me as I do it. Anyone wanna come over and chat over dishes?