One shitty job a day - mission to get all the crappy tasks done this year

[Shittyyear2025]

I'm an eternal untidy person. I don't see my own clutter. I've tried HARD to find a routine that I can get engaged in, signed up for COUNTLESS get yourself organised apps.

I saw a video yesterday about getting one shitty job a day done. I think I can manage one shitty job a day. So far I cleaned the lounge carpet (over yesterday and today, bad back and heavy furniture) and I've painted a door that's been off it's hinges and propped up against my hall wall for maybe a year.

I reckon one shitty job a day (or for an hour towards it say, after work, longer crap jobs can be done at the weekend) I can do. I can finally finish decorating the kitchen. I can finally finish painting the landing/stairs/hall after the ceiling collapsed in Autumn 2024, I can sort out the front garden one job at a time (hell, I can even get rid of the ironing mountain and charity shop everything I no longer wear for an hour a day).

Anyone want to join me? Or any tips for starting AND STICKING WITH domestic routines?

I demand that my family "Prepare to be Dazzled" in a Bart Simpson voice .
They agree how marvellous it looks to appease me
Humour her they think she'll shuffle off and do something else

@NoExchangeBeforeChristmasThen when I moved two years ago I think the movers didn’t bother to look in the loft before quoting for the job. Suckers. They ended up having to lay on double the staff and work an extra day.

SJs so far today
Taken the car for a service
Sorted out 9 items of clothing for rag or chazza
Folded some laundry ( did the clothes sorting while I was folding and putting away.).

SJ's done this week:
-checked campervan over (inside and out) and ran engine for a bit.
-tidied garden.
-washed curtains and rehung them.
-some more decluttering :)
-job hunted (ongoing - I do work FT but I'm seeing what else there is out there!)

I didn't change bike tyres, as my hands and feet go numb within minutes with this cold weather (total pain in the arse).

Last birthday/Christmas parcel returned at last, lots of admin done this week including a big one that wasn't as time consuming as i'd feared.

SJ this week:
sorted out a few refunds that I needed to chase up, which involved going through endless chatbots - finally got my 2 refunds!

updated my cv for redundancy process and have begun applying for 2 internal roles

found /shortlisted 2 that I’m going to apply for externally, I’m actually not going to apply for more than that yet. I’m not technically redundant til 1st June so I have time to wait and see what is out there once the dust has settled a bit.

SJ for the weekend: do the poo patrol in the garden, we’ve been very lax since the snow and it needs done 💩
put some items on vinted
take some bits to charity shop and drop a shelf unit round to DD’s flat for her.

Friends - 3in1 oil applied to bathroom door hinges and no squeaks to be heard ... Two days ahead of deadline! Glass of wine to reward me.

Had a literally Shitty job today as partner ill with some kind of D&V bug so been looking after him. Read the meters for a neighbour who doesn't understand how to read them but won't get a smart meter. Measured up some furniture & spaces to see if it will fit in the spare bedroom. Spent another hour chasing RM re lost delivery of an eBay package. Useless waffle, case should have been closed today but not. Will probably ask the buyer to open a refund case.

Oh my word @Missingducks you are truly awesome!
And the admin & refund activity here is outstanding!

Lowering the tone slightly, my SJ was cleaning up the S’y footprints I left on the kitchen floor after accidentally stepping on some of Happily’s poop when putting veg peelings out in the compost bin at 7:30sm.
The knock on effect was that they’re in the bin now (they were at least 5 years old & very much worn down) which I felt irrationally guilty about.
The not-so SJ was the opportunity to go to a real shop with an old friend to buy some more 😁 Don’t think I’ve been out to an actual shopping mall for at least two years!

Sorted out 3 years of post that had accumulated in a pile (and gave myself a headache in the process) but glad it’s done

Cleaned the house 🎉

Today: (not all SJs ,some are just house-work)

3 loads washing

Vacuumed and I was unreasonably excited that the wide head bit of my Shark vacuum could be attached to the handheld bit and I could use it on the stairs . Much better than the small spinning brush . I am easily pleased !

Made some Lentil Soup

Sorted out a hospital appointment

Went to Aldi to get my household supplies .

Tomorrows SJ will be cattle-prodding my eldest into Sports Direct for training shoes . DD will buy shoes with passion. He would run about with holes in his .

One of my SJs on the list was to (finally get around to) up cycle a chair in my house.

I was looking at it today and decided that as I bought it when skint off FB marketplace, I don't like the shape of it and actually whilst I do have the tools and skills for the job, it's gonna cost me in materials and time only to be left with a piece of newly reupholstered furniture that I still don't love.

So I'm going to pop it back on FB marketplace and I've ordered the (dream) chair like I had my heart set on when I got this one. Bonus points as it was in the Debenhams sale with a 65% reduction in the final sale, making it actually cheaper than the materials (and time) it would take to redo the old one.

First thing tomorrow this is my plan -
2 loads of washing (plus use the tumble dryer to get them done, dried and out of the way).
Quick whiz of kitchen incl mopping the floor
Quick whiz of lounge incl water plants and dust
Stick something on eBay that's been waiting a week to do

My cleaner uses a wide head to hoover the walls, brilliant when the spiders have been spinning webs.

My SJ today was just going to work. I normally do a half day on a Friday but my boss allowed two of our normal team of four to be off, so I worked a full day. My other colleague was also unavailable to cover. We made it through and my boss was actually helpful for a change. I'm still recovering however.

Everyone seems to have been super productive today. I will get a couple of SJ done tomorrow as Dd1 doesn't have a sports match this week. Probably kitchen based while I am making dinner.

Organised some baby stuff to give to a friend, and had a work admin day - did admin from what felt like dawn until dusk but got so much done! Some of it I’ve been putting off for over 6 months which is mad when it’s simple email.

I’m working all weekend so I’m not sure how much I’ll get done, but will try even if very small.

Yesterday - shredded a gigantic pile of mail, mainly credit card offers.
Today - defrosted fridge and freezer. The fridge is strangely icing up and I can't work out why, but that is a task for another day.

Perhaps these are more weekly/fortnightly household chores than SJs, but sod it, small wins for the day so far:

-beds stripped and bedlinen being washed.
-pulled out sofa and hoovered behind it (I fold my clothes horses and pop them behind the sofa, so Eufy can't get to the floor edges)
-floors steamed.

I have to clean bathroom and do a few other bits though...

Washing on and bed stripped

I think my SJs read more like housework

I guess housework is a SJ

Did about two years' filing of payslips, instruction manuals and guarantees.

Took all of half an hour. This is how much I hate that job.

Now I need to muster the energy to weed the expired stuff out, but that's for another day. Do not accuse me of doing half a job.

Tomorrow's SJ will, I think, be cleaning the fridge out now that I've eaten all the Christmas food.

Cleaned my boots with 4 rounds of a boot buddy filled with warm soapy water. Grim job. They're very grippy boots and the crud in the cracks takes a bit of effort to remove. SJ done.

@Crucible well done, that must be v satisfying - but you’ve just added a bunch of SJs to my list! Thanks (sort of!)
Note to self - need to look through those bookshelves asap to find the lost letters for MiL… she has been politely waiting for two years!

@CleanSkin thanks, they're excellent boots, particularly for winter driving. They're barefoot boots - but built for cold and rain. That means I can feel the pedals but my feet are warm in a freezing cold car

Can I join in? I've a mountain of small jobs (mostly life admin. type stuff) to do, which I said I'd tackle after Christmas. I did a few today. I got a new light bulb fitted in my car. I got new keys cut for the hall door (DD's boyfriend will be staying here on a part-time basis for a few months). I also activated my new bank card.

I'm trying to think of them as 10 minute jobs (to make them seem more appealing and less off putting). Tomorrow's jobs are:-

• clean the cutlery tray. It's a bit grimy
• bleach my favourite mugs which are slightly caffeine stained (don't worry, I'll dilute the bleach and I'll rinse them well afterwards)
• unblock the drain at the side of the house. It's blocked with leaves and water is pooling there, where it can't drain
• clear away three or four stray Christmas decorations which I missed when I took down the Christmas tree

Washing soda and boiling water is quicker than bleach for getting tannin off mugs.