Good morning all!
I would like to start a thread for the domestically challenged and those who lack motivation to do ANYTHING.
I have battled with mild to moderate depression, with a sprinkling of anxiety, for about 10 years. My mood is cyclical, and two or three times a year I sink. There is comfort in the regularity of these moods, because I know that it will end at some point. I know that for many people, this is not the case. I feel 100% better when my home is clean and tidy, but there are days that I could quite easily stay in bed and avoid looking at it.
This thread is not just for those with mental illness. Whatever is stopping you from having your home the way you want it is a welcome discussion here.
I would like to point out that I am not a mental health professional, nor am I a cleaner or organiser (dream job - just not organised enough though!). I like Flylady and have also recently found a useful resource for those with depression and anxiety, which is particularly useful for those who are struggling to get out of bed.
First day of tackling the mess
I decided last night that I would start today. I woke at 7am and debated not bothering (good start...). I spent an hour procrastinating and working up to having a shower and getting 'fixed up' as Fly lady would suggest. A shower is a great first step, I have to agree with most of the plans I've read that start with showering and getting dressed - you feel fresh and awake. I have compromised and showered, dressed and tied my wet hair up. Basically, I am at the stage that I would be happy answering the door!
My house is not going to be magically immaculate by the end of the day. This may take me weeks, but I'm going at my own pace. Every little task complete makes me feel more normal. I am focussing on getting all of the laundry up-to-date (this could take days); then some ruthless decluttering/binning; putting away and finding a home for things; finishing with a good clean/hoover.
So far:
-load of washing on
-dishwasher emptied and loaded
-plan some dinner tonight for DH and I, and defrost something. I always forget to take whatever I need out of the freezer. At about 4pm I usually realise this, swear a lot, then order a takeaway 
-cup of tea!
Job I'm dreading the most today - the recycling needs to be sorted and put out. We have to separate our own recycling into 5 different types, 5 different boxes/bins for the bin men. I HATE doing this. DH does it regularly, but I'd like to do it today.
Would anyone like to join me?
Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.
Housekeeping
A housekeeping thread for those with NO motivation....
lovelycats · 16/11/2016 09:31
My new vacuum cleaner arrived today and oh my giddy aunt, it's bloody wonderful 
Vacced the whole ground floor in 10 minutes and once I got started I kept going.. so I've:
Cleaned the downstairs bathroom top to bottom
Emptied all the inside bins
Hatched and executed a cunning plan to store the ironing board more neatly
Wiped down all the skirting in the kitchen and all the white goods (they were really gross)
Wiped down ground floor radiators with Zoflora
Washed bath mat, steam mop heads and cloths
Wiped down kitchen sides and sink
Vacced ground floor
You would not believe the amount of hair I got up off the living room rug. Vac was only running 5 minutes and the drum filled up!
Small steps... took an, admittedly small, bag of clothes to 'Scope' charity shop.
Went through some pictures which were stored under the bath (!) that have never found a place to be in hung since we moved to this house 12 years ago. Have chucked 3 and put 1 ready to take to charity shop. Put the other 9 back under the bath 
.
Anyway hope everyone has achieved something, no matter how insignificant it may seem.
Thanks for the thread Lovelycat.
Once the upstairs is sorted and bedrooms swapped I will get organised, just waiting for dh to finish decorating the small room for sale 2(10) then I can get on top of it 
Today I did another load of laundry, emptied dishwasher, 'swished and swiped' (TM flylady!) my downstairs bathroom, plus cleaned the skirting boards, "shone" my kitchen sink (it's that shit plastic so it wasn't so much shining as getting rid of the crud) and washed up the washing up tray that gets horribly grimy...
Repaired my DH's pj bottoms, some more admin work, plus went out this afternoon and when I got home I mopped the utility room floor with zoflora!
This is my first usage of zoflora but I've seen it all over MN so got some the other day. It smells lush.
I love the idea of wiping down radiators, great idea.
Any other top zoflora tips?
Well done to everyone getting little bits done. It's the small amounts that build up isn't it. 
Hi all! Love to join you all here. I'm a SAHM currently to a 16 month old and puppy had to leave my graduate job due to bad bout of depression. I have anxiety disorder too.
Living in a half finished house which myself & OH bought last year so storage is a real issue. Started Kondoing & it's going well but slowly. Getting 2 more rooms done before xmas so hopefully be able to get mind in better state then!
Morning folks!
After a 12.5 hr shift yesterday I did NOTHING when I came home except go to bed! Woke up at 3.30am feeling anxious (for absolutely no logical reason obviously...)
buggeroff Take a few minutes to have a look at Unf*ck your Habitat's Emergency Cleaning plan I have used this many times before! When I visit friends and their houses are less than perfect I don't really care. Most people really don't expect others' homes to be immaculate, but we get it into our heads that they do and then panic completely!
There are a lot of young children in this thread and it must be so difficult to organise your day when you have no idea when you'll get a minute to yourself. Does anyone have any useful ideas on how to get children to help? As I mentioned, I don't have children yet, so have only myself to blame for my current messy predicament!
Halloween I have also given up on FlyLady several times, and I start with the best intentions. The last good plan I used, I made my own. I took advice from FlyLady and tailored it to what I needed. I still don't really understand her insistence on putting shoes on before you start
puglife You are bragging, but it's great! I love that feeling, like a domestic goddess once you've finished. Wonder when I'll feel like that next....
youcandoit What would you like to tackle first? Write a list, share it, and start small
sugarandspice What is ir-on-ing...ironing? What is that? I don't do that DH does it as and when he needs a shirt. I think if I had to start ironing everything I would end up committing some sort of crime, JUST to get out of actually doing the ironing. My full respect to you for doing it!
fish88 I think finding time to eat is more important than housework! I think you are all doing a great job with your little ones around. I am due to have a small one of my own, and I'm scared.... 
TheFlounder I may be wrong.....but I think the BHF will collect bags of charity shop stuff from your house? I have also used their collection service for items of furniture and electrics. Once your items are sold they will also send you a nice letter telling you how much you've raised for them
MiniEggs We will need proof of your puppy, in the form of pictures!
DontBuy I used to use Zoflora, in fact my mum did, but I had no idea it was cool again! DH has a morning off, so I've sent him out for some bleach as I've run out, and some zoflora!
crunched You have made me think about getting cupboard doors put on the side of my bath. It's a wasted space!
Today I will be making a start on my weekend cleaning and will make a meal plan for the next 7 days. I love being organised, but often I get to dinner time and have no clue what to make and nothing defrosted. I will be avoiding the supermarket this week and using up what I have. If I could give any advice about being an organised cook, it would be to keep a good 'stock cupboard'. If you have the basics like herbs, spices, garlic puree and stock cubes, you really can make a dinner out of very little.
I'm starting the tidying in the dining room, with two large washing baskets. One for things that need to go upstairs and one for things that belong in the lounge. Our office is next to the dining room, so I can also move post and paperwork through onto 'the filing pile' as I go. I am NOT going to panic at the size of my filing pile! It will get done.
The laundry is still going, and I have a huge load of dried washing to put away....hate hate hate
P.S I REALLY hope I haven't missed anyone. I cannot believe how many of you can empathise, it's lovely.
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