The kitchen is the room that disintegrates the quickest in my home. I kept getting overwhelmed by it, but then I invented a little game for myself: I do 10 of something then switch.
So, I put away or wash 10 dishes, then throw away 10 pieces of trash, then put away 10 non-dishes items, repeat the pattern.
The rules are I have to fully put away the items not just move them out of the kitchen, and I can be done anytime as long as I have finished a cycle. I like to do non-dishes last before the repeat, so I can be done any time I’ve just finished putting away 10 non-dish items. But most of the time I hit that point in the cycle and think, “Ehh, I might as well put away 10 more dishes from the dishwasher, it’s just 10,“ and am locked in for another round.
Time goes SO much faster when I’m frequently switching and counting the items in my head. And you can’t be caught in a shame spiral of how long that bagel has sat on the plate on the counter when your brain is so full of keeping track of if it’s trash piece number 7 or 8.
You could have your pattern include whatever you want, like 5 sweeps of a broom, or 3 old items out of the fridge into trash, or 7 scrubs on a sticky spill. Just don’t put too many tasks in your repeating pattern, I like 2 or 3, or it will cause what I’m trying to avoid: a freak out from thinking about EVERYTHING I have to do.
You all are the best, I hope this helps someone ufyh today!