How do you make a start on the housework etc when you really don't feel like doing it?

[CatsSleepAnywhere]

I am really struggling lately, the house is a tip and I don't know where to start!
I feel like I CBA (have some MH problems).

You need a routine...

I use www.rememberthemilk.com and pay extra for the Pro account so I can use it on my iPhone. T'is rather brilliant. I am in the habit of looking at it every day now and it has helped my productivity. You can change the recurrence to whatever you want (i.e. days, weeks, months or years).

If I have a bit of a slow day I catch up the next day. I have everything on there. It is ever so slightly compulsive...

Thanks for your replies and ideas. I will hopefully try some of them later (too early in morning right now) but still feeling quite down.

Poor you, you will Always feel down whilst you live in a mess:-(

My mood is really affected by a messy house.

I do fly lady day to day and it fab, but you need to get a grip on the house before you start it.

Go on go do that hour, like someone said above get a treat!!

If you are depressed, you need to balance your housework with resting. Timer can be brilliant (use your phone?) Half an hour, then half an hour of relaxing tv or book. Also agree, get your machines going, helps as you feel progress is happening.

Right I will try and do some today but maybe just a little at a time. Need to get breakfast first.

Good for you. Can you load the washing machine first? Then at least it's under way while you have breakfast and will be ready to hang up sooner :).

Home routines app, combined with the system from habithacker.com

Means that basics get done at least. And I get to tick things off a list. I like lists

Does it cost anything to download home routine apps?
I'm a bit of a techno dinosaur so don't really know what/how to do it. I am also on a home computer so don't know if it is the same as all the new gadgets.

The home routines app is for iPhone etc, but I use it to act as my "Brain on Paper" which is a system from habithacker - and could literally just be a notebook/set of index cards, whatever works.

I'm a real convert - it's a fairly gentle programme (similar to fly last in some ways, but without the tweeness, sparkles & praying )

I love the timer idea!

I LOVE my timer- we use it for all sorts of things- homework, collective family tidying up, showers ( otherwise my two would probably spend the day in there) time I'm allowed to sit and drink tea before coming to play Bananagram, loads!

I work on a work n reward scheme.....

In small 15/30 minute chunks ...

For instance, "When I've hoovered all downstairs, I'll grab myself a coffee/and/or biscuit."
If I have a list of jobs that I just CBA with, then I tend to remove all distractions first by removing all stray books/magazines/papers etc and switch off the t.v.
I keep music on throughout the day though and throw open some windows for some fresh air too, I find it helps when I'm struggling for motivation.

I also try to get one room to a really good standard and that somehow eggs me on to get the rest done, room by room.

Hope this helps!!

I like to start with a 'big hit' - something quite small, but makes a big impression. In my case, getting the hall and stairs tidied and hoovered. Incidentally, last time I did this I noticed the smell in the house improved (was that the hoovering, maybe not done often enough? - but I'd also put some cinnamon essential oil on top of the radiators. This -plus the hoovering, I'm guessing, produced a clean, rather than a perfumed smell).