Imagine you were getting the house ready to sell... or maybe for an extended visit from the Queen.  What needs doing to make the place shine?

First, put on a non-judgmental, neutral attitude. Then get yourself a pad of paper and a pencil and prepare to audit your home for clutter, broken things, abandoned projects, misplaced objects, and the like. If you live with a partner or house-mate it would be good to do this together.

Begin at the front door and go through the house, room by room, making a list of these items - No shame, no blame: just the facts, ma'am. Start to the left of the door and make your way all the way around the room till you've done a complete circle, then move on to the next room.

If something just SCREAMS at you to be done that moment, don't get distracted - just note it on a separate sheet, "Screamers" and come back to it after you've completed the audit.

Congratulate yourself for completing the audit and call it quits for the day. Tomorrow you can figure out what your priorities are and what steps need to be taken next.