Easy self-care and organisation thread

[ibuiltahomeforyou]

I'm struggling with depression and low energy at the moment, and I thought it would be helpful to share some of the things I have been trying in case they help anyone else.

• showering and grooming

I set the alarm on my phone for eight minutes when I'm feeling low, and in that time I have challenge myself to dash into the shower, dry, dress, comb my hair and put on some lipstick. Eight minutes means I can just put the radio on full blast and it's over quickly

• breakfast

I bought some protein shake and just make myself one in the mornings for when I'm too tired to eat. It then stops me snacking on biscuits later 😳😳😳

• lunch

I boil some eggs at the start of the week, buy a bag of salad and some dressing, then those are my lunches for a few days at a time with little effort

• at work

I break my day into 45 minute long chunks, and do my best then have a 10-15 minute break so I don't get overwhelmed

• dinners

I keep things like frozen bags of paella in the freezer so dinner can be done in 10 minutes

I'd love any of your tips!

They are really good tips.
I find decluttering is really helping me. Also I bought cheap tubs from Poundland and now have storage (stationary, lunch boxes etc)
Also I stock up on things when I see them so it lessens stress (for example argos sale Lego etc for children's birthdays etc)

I break down a job into tiny parts, list them and tick them off. eg instead of 'clean the kitchen' I break it down into tidy work surface, wipe work surface, wipe inside microwave, clean hob, etc.If I feel I have to clean the whole thing, it's too much. But if I get half of it clean using the above method, at least some of it's done.

I clean something in the bathroom every time I go in.

I keep a box by the front door (actually it's a flip top bin) and I dump things in there that are going to the tip - I put the bin in the car and sort it once I'm there.

Making a list of things I have got done, gives me a sense of achievement.

I put £2 coins in a jar when I am given them in change, and when I have £30, I give a tenner to charity and buy a £20 gift card for me.

I have a box by the sofa full of moisture masks, nail buffers, nail polish and remover, body lotion, peppermint foot cream etc and every night I try to get something out and use it when I'm watching tv.

Can’t think of any right now but am following as I need some inspiration!

@Fromage a box by the sofa for hand cream etc is a great idea!

If I'm having a tough day/ feeling overwhelmed or down etc then I do tasks in max 10 min bursts. So I set a timer and do 10 mins of tidying/cleaning/food prep/admin/whatever then 10mins tv time/Mumsnet/whatever. On REALLY bad days I just get up and do as much as possible during the ad breaks on tv. I find I can actually get loads done in a 3-4min ad break if I know that I can get back to my sofa afterwards. At the end of two hours I feel like I've had a slobbing afternoon but have actually achieved a lot (I always use a specific jobs list as I love to tick things off)

@DownRightAmazing 10 minute bursts are a great idea, I'm going to try that out.

I try to do things like exfoliating my face while my daughter is in the bath so it's a bit of me-time. I find it hard to muster the energy once she's in bed so it's multi-tasking.

Spend a few minutes on YouTube for songs in the year XXXX a time when you were happy. The songs will recall feel good memories which can lift your mood.

Or just put on a song of your youth and have a dance or sing song to yourself.

@paliminoo that is a GREAT idea!

When I'm struggling to do something I announce out loud to myself each stage as I'm doing it.

So tonight: stand up, pick up plate, empty leftovers into the bin, rinse plate, put it into the dishwasher. I find it kickstarts me into doing more and it feels less overwhelming.
Great thread.

Great thread... thank you for starting this.

Yes to easy dinners. Decluttering helping here too. Listening to audiobooks really helps me to get things done. And simple cooking - instant pot for yogurt, macaroni cheese, risotto are all good.

Burning essential oils-neroli is spa smell happiness & simaltaneously uplifting & relaxing

Great idea for a thread. I really need this at the moment.

I use 3 songs. A playlist I like. 3 songs worth of tidying up. It usually works. The kitchen can be cleared,a wash put on and some clothes folded.
Putting the clothes away....not mastered that yet!

That is a great list, OP.
I also downloaded Cold Turkey onto my laptop (no phone) and I block myself from the internet - sometimes for half an hour and sometimes for half a day. Yesterday I blocked myself from FB until Friday. Then I find myself with nothing to do so I get up and chuck a load of washing on, or something like that.

The one thing I read somewhere was not to wait until you feel like doing something, just start doing it anyway!

That's a bit like that saying that the hardest thing about painting is opening the tin

Ibuiltahomeforyou - great ideas for food, I can't face another sandwich or more toast, it's all I can be bothered to make when I'm feeling very low and can't think straight, but it's starting to make me feel constantly bloated and uncomfortable. Does anyone else ever keep putting off making any food for themselves all day? Sometimes I hardly eat all day and just keep putting it off.

Great thread OP.
I'm struggling at the moment to do anything. I find it helps to put the light on in the rooms i need to tidy. As I finish what I need to do in that room i turn the light off. It helps somehow. So I'll tidy the bedroom, put clothes in the laundry basket, sort out washing, take it to the kitchen then turn bedroom light off. Then put the washer on, put washing up in bowl with very hot water and leave to soak, wipe down work surface, turn kitchen light off. Wipe down bathroom basin and wc, turn light off, tidy lounge. Sit down. All with music on. I feel I've accomplished something then. I'll leave the washing up to soak for half an hour whilst I browse mn or read.

Watching for more inspiration.

I fold clean laundry in front of the television with a series I want to watch. And then I sort the dirty laundry out also. Sometimes I am hoping for a moody day so that I have that excuse as I never watch television during the day otherwise!

I also find sweet animal videos very life affirming. Like a German Shepherd and a kitten playing or a goats wreaking the place etc.

I've got a U-shaped kitchen and when the counters are very cluttered I stand on one side and challenge myself to see how many things I can put away without taking a step. Then I go to the other side and do that. I also take all things to the fridge and pantry in one trip each; sometimes armfuls! I know it's a bit weird but I don't enjoy tidying up and it makes it a bit of a game.
(I've got teenagers who don't put anything away.)
This clears my kitchen counters in under a minute and even I can bear that.

Every time I go upstairs or downstairs I take something with me eg empty cups to save an extra trip.

Brilliant thread. Been up with insomnia and about to try and go asleep (again) so place marking for later if that's ok.

Fab tips

Great thread

This is a great thread! Has anyone tried the pomodoro method? I read about it recently. You're meant to get a kitchen timer and set it to 25 mins to do a task and do nothing but that task til the bell goes. It's meant to be for work but I might try it for cleaning the kids bedrooms.