can't motivate myself to do anything - please give me a nudge

[monkeyonthetable]

I wake up every morning and have zero motivation for anything. There are loads of things I'd like to do or could do but I seem to have an invisible block stopping me from actually doing any of them. I found it hard enough this morning to just have a bath and get dressed. Weirdly, the stuff I most want to do is even harder to get motivated about.

I am managing a walk most days, a bit of cooking, shared with DH and the bare minimum housework. But even the house seems so perpetually grubby from having everyone home all the time, and I don't have energy to clean, only to see it undone within 24 hours.

I feel like I need someone to tell me: do this now. I just can't find the ignition myself.

Anyone feel the same? Or have advice? or fancying telling me what to get started on? I know it seems silly but it is really dragging me down and making me feel deeply self-critical. Slippery slope.

@colouring hope you’re ok?

Sorry I went AWOL, the thread disappeared from 'threads I'm on' and I couldn't find it as I'd forgotten which section of mumsnet it was in.

Yesterday was a write off. Spent most of the day trying to unravel school work with DS, the stuff he's been set seems to have things missing and we can't reach the relevant teachers so it's getting him down.

I'll read back over what I've missed later but wanted to jump in with my three things in the hope that it helps me get them done:
Have a shower
Get kitchen looking respectable ahead of my food delivery.
3 admin tasks that I keep putting off.

For me I'm going to try to arrange to meet at a social distance with a friend.

Hope everyone is doing ok today.

Morning all, I've dragged myself out of bed, sorted kittens out, had a shower (also flooded the bathroom), taken my meds, moved from bed to the sofa (and now back to bed again), sorted out stuff for my SIL who is being induced on Friday, I also spent about an hour out of the shower just sitting on the bed staring into space.

I need to (in no particular order) brush teeth and hair, washing/dishes started in machines, max 5 mins of Tai chi, chemist pick up, zoom call, sleep, try and force myself to eat and drink something.

Hi everyone

@Valenciaoranges - you are already doing so much with all that live teaching. It's knackering. Pat yourself on the back for what you do achieve every day. And maybe start really small with outdoor exercise. A 5 minute walk around the block is better than thinking you 'must' do 10k or an hour-long hike but not feeling up to it.

@Chaotic45 - welcome back. @colouringindoors - hope you feel OK now. Seems like we all went pear-shaped yesterday. I did too. Must be the moon cycle or something

Frogs you sound really industrious.

Today - walk (done, socially distanced with old friend I'd not seen in months.)
Work - lots, to make up for not working enough hours yesterday
Fun - had a long conversation by phone with an old friend I'd not seen in years who has had some really good news. Was lovely to have a completely upbeat conversation for half an hour.

@ejecoms - how are you doing today? My dieting plans lasted just one day as usual but at least no bingeing yesterday so having another attempt today! Was very low energy yesterday so didn't get much done. How about you?

hi. thanks valencia and monkey doing OK now. Was self medicating to escape all the rubbish stuff going on everywhere its feeling like.

chaotic that sounds like a good plan. My three things for today are:
Load of washing
Do some studying!!!
Measure for new patio.

Could also do with
Washing up
Send card to friend
Send 2 parcels back.

we shall see...

boxoffrogs good luck with your list.

Hello all! I didn’t post this morning but I did chose 3 jobs to do and I’ve done them:

• passed on a package to someone
• go to the post office and post the parcels I’d packed up yesterday
• supermarket shop

I’m glad I got things out of the house! Got very irate about something at work - someone trying to muscle in on my team’s area and threatening to take credit for their hard work! (Clearly she didn’t put it like that!)

colouring - hope you’re feeling better. I tend to self-medicate with chocolate!

monkey Look after yourself and make sure you get the right balance in your eating.

Need to go and make tea now...

hoping my feeling rubbish last couple of days is PMS....

Hi eje well done x

Loads of washing / drying / dishes done
Cancelled zoom call as couldn't face company
Got someone else to pick up n chemist for me as vertigo kicked off(again)
Ate a load of chips (and scoffed with Caesar salad dressing)
Put together a Caesar salad and dressing and put in the fridge - separate, I make my own croutons and dressing
Slept for a couple of hours

No Tai chi or brushing teeth/ hair (yet)

Have made a list for tomorrow

Just chilling out on the sofa and playing with kittens for the rest of the evening

How has everyone else been today?

Hi I'm beginning to feel less spaced out now.

Walked to Tesco to get some shopping, felt a bit paranoid, walked home & got very wet in the rain!

Cooked a meal in the oven for the first time in months though this evening.

@Terralee - seems like you are really making progress. Started out with struggling to bathe and now you are out shopping, cooking hot food etc. Really glad the side effects are settling down now and that you are feeling better.

Think I'm fighting off a bug - felt spacey and dizzy today. But went for a lovely walk in the woods with a friend and got some work done, cleaned the kitchen, then went to bed and read a book. All I was fit for today.

I am not working at present and have no kids.
My problem is I’ve recently (since Jan) moved miles away to a new town so I know no one and have no group activities to attend (of course).
I have mild depression (on meds) and some days do nothing but sit on the iPad and walk the dog.
At least the robot hoover keeps on top of the worst of the dust on the floors.
I’ve just received a Facebook ban, so hoping to use this to my advantage and get off screens. I have an inflamed hip flexor so can’t run at the moment........ yesterday was a good day - ate relatively well, built a shelving unit, had a good dog walk, cleaned the floors but today was a write off Diet wise and activity wise, other than a dog walk.

Tomorrow I’m back on a proper, healthy diet and actually doing stuff rather than sitting around.........

Morning all. DS woke at 4am today to do a wee and can’t get back to sleep. He’s now reading in his room but keeps coming in for a cuddle.

My jobs for today are:

• put out recycling
• finish a pencil case I’m making for DD
• email someone to see if they can use a game I bought but never used.

I also put some meat to marinate last night and I’m going to slow cook it today. It smelled delicious last night so I’m looking forward to that. I’m going for a walk with my sister (haven’t seen her since January!) today and I’m going to make some bread rolls for lunch.

monkey Hope you feel better today.

Feel the same OP. I am working a lot of hours, over my paid hours. Bare minimum cleaning. No motivation to do Anything!

@Oblomov20 - welcome. If you are working and doing overtime, you are doing something. You are doing lots. No wonder you feel tired.

@Spanielmadness - welcome. Must be a challenge to have moved somewhere completely new and then be stuck in lockdown. Glad to hear you have a dog to keep company and walk with.

@ejecoms - thanks I feel better. Realis enow I was fighting off some bug as I woke early (usually do) again today so started with journalling, yoga, bath, laundry sorting and helped DS clean and tidy the living room and dismantle the front of the piano so the piano tuner could get into it in a socially distanced way.

eje love the idea of making a pencil case - fabric and zip or wooden box? I'm not crafty at all but would love to make one.

Now got to finish my freelance project. That's the only thing on my list for today.

monkey hope you’re making good progress on your project. The pencil case is made out of felt, just folded in half and hand sewn together with a zip. When DS first needed a pencil case, he got one of those Smiggle ones which lasted a few weeks. So we made one ourselves which has now lasted a couple of years! So DD wanted one too, which I started and then it got left at the back of the cupboard and forgotten about until I cleared out the cupboard last week. And I don’t want to be just putting things back in the cupboard! So it’s nearly done now, I just need to sew on a couple of felt hearts as decorations!

I offered the game to someone and they have accepted so I’ll drop that off today. Another thing off the pile!

morning all. Feeling really low today. Don't want to derail thread and bring "politics" into it but I am sickened by the treatment that JK Rowling has had online and in today's Sun. I know some won't agree with me and I don't want yo get into a discussion, but its having a massive impact on me.

Today
Wash up and clean disgusting kitchen
Post birthday cards
Message a sad friend

This x 100000

I'm wfh and even that is getting harder to get my head into

@colouringindoors - I agree, she is being attacked for something she isn't. The fury that she wants safe spaces for women has been distorted and The Sun's behaviour is scuzzy as ever!

@ejecoms - that pencil case sound lovely and manageable to make. I might have a go. I wish I was more crafty.

I've done no exercise at all today and total diet fail again. But did loads of work for two different clients and happy with the outcome of both projects, so can enjoy the weekend. Big family walk planned for tomorrow.

Today:
laundry
work all day
cooked tea
bath

Today I managed everything on my list, the kitchen and living room are sparkling. Shopping delivery came, a bundle of notes from mental health admissions that I applied for last January came thru today so I have put them aside to deal with another day. Spoke to partner for almost an hour on a socially distanced visit in the garden, WhatsApped with a group of friends, need to put away the dried piles of clothes, dropped off stuff for a neighbour who ran out of butter and darning needles (sent her my spare pack of needles and took butter out of the freezer, she knows I keep loads in stock, only 15 blocks frozen left). Played with kittens,

Today was a good day.

Frogs that does sound like a really productive day.

Today:
Longish (2 hours) walk planned with family
Work Skype call for 2 hours
Vacuum and mop kitchen and hall floors

I went for an hour's walk with the dog early on Wednesday morning. Was so proud of myself and promised myself I'd try that every day.
However, I've really let myself down. I absolutely crashed the next day.

I spent yesterday crying and panicking over the state of the house and feel so overwhelmed. I'm on anti psychotics, anti depressants and beta blockers. I feel drained and unmotivated.

Morning all. I'm afraid I don't read the news I think might affect me in that way so have been avoiding the whole JKR thing (but I do think she is right to stand up for this). Felt a bit down yesterday and didn't post.

toffee Sorry that you had a bad day yesterday. Today is a new day. Just a comment on one thing you said, that you'd walk the dog everyday. Saying you are going to do something everyday can be an overwhelming thing and easy to fail at. Can you make you goals smaller like 'I am going to walk the dog tomorrow'. Then it is easier to achieve and you'll feel better.

monkey Enjoy your walk. It's lovely weather for it! My DH is working all weekend so it is just me and the DCs. They won't want to go out at all! So it will just be hanging around the house.

My three jobs for today are:

• cancel a subscription
• list some things on freecycle
• clean out the fish tank

Have a good weekend!

I'm so glad I found this thread. You've given me the kick up the bum I needed.

My 3 today:

1. I've cleaned the kitchen unit doors
2. I've had a bath and washed hair
3. I'm going to go for a short walk later on