A housekeeping thread for those with NO motivation....

[lovelycats]

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?

[MiniEggsForAll]

lovelycats I have been using up fridge and cupboards too for dinners so I can do inventory and start meal planning. I always forget to defrost stuff!

puglife I did same with my hoover recently and it's million times better. Though it still lets loads of dust out when turn it off

I will try pin puppy down for pics

[TheFlounder]

Lovelycats I really should do that thank you.

I've managed to do all the washing up this morning, DH usually does it after dinner but he felt like a night off from it last night. I need to get some washing on and sort something out for tea.

[Youcandoit2016]

Yesterday I managed to put on two washloads and hang them out. Not much but at least it was something! Today I have packed all the (not ironed) clothes away into everyone's drawers and emptied all the bins. Loving this thread it's so good to have somewhere to be accountable to!

[crunched]

lovelycats after a 12.5 hour shift no wonder you didn't do much yesterday.
I did 4 hours today and managed to put all my used batteries in a bag. Not even sure that counts as a 'thing'

[Marypoppinsisnosaint]

Hi everyone,

Just reporting in. So after yesterday being a write off, today I'm feeling much more motivated after some rest.

Today all the washing is done, dried and put away, all day things have been out away and the kitchen has been cleared and wiped down. Today was shopping day so I'm did of this the fridge was gutted. Things thrown away and it all cleaned.

Whilst dh bathed dd tonight I hoovered all upstairs, I'm just having a cuppa then I'm going to takle the bathroom. Its hanging over me now I just want it done.

Tomorrow dd goes to her dg in the morning for a few hours, so I'm hoping to get the downstairs hoovered and the front room decluttered. Although what will probably happen is I'll go back to bed.

How's everyone else getting on?

[Marypoppinsisnosaint]

In aid not I'm did!!

[lovelycats]

Puglife I have a Dyson that is about 10 years old, I've never cleaned it. I really need to clean it don't I....? Can we have a link for a good cleaning method?

Today I have:

Cleaned the downstairs bathroom
Straightened-up the lounge (quite easy as it's usually not too bad)
Loaded dishwasher and cleaned kitchen
Made a 7 day meal plan for myself and DH
Started to clear the clutter in dining room - but didn't finish it.
Went out for coffee with a friend....

I'm making good progress compared to what I was doing a week ago, and I'm actually quite relaxed sitting in a tidy lounge. Long way to go but I feel like I'm chipping away at it. The more I do, the more things I find I need to do...

Had a banging Spotify playlist on today! I spent some time procrastinating making that up this morning What a difference some great music makes!

Well done everyone, lots of productivity today!

[fish88]

I went to a baby group this morning and then when I got back OH went to work 1 -10pm so I haven't done much other than childcare today. Did manage to quickly wipe around the downstairs toilet, cleared a side in the kitchen and put the paperwork into piles but ran out of time to actually file it. Should be a ten min job to finish it off tomorrow. Toddler also helped me to dust but I need to go over the bits he did tomorrow!

[BuggerOffDailyMirror]

HELP. I have a completely free day today and only have upstairs and the car left to sort out with house work before everything is at 'ground zero' - the name I give to my house when it's clean and tidy and 'manageable' day to day.

I just can't get out of bed

Here's a list of things I need to get done:
Tidy bedroom, hallway and ensuite
Wash bedding
Clean bath, sink and loo upstairs
Vac bedroom, ensuite, stairs, hallway and sewing room.
Steam mop ensuite
Tidy car and bin rubbish
Vac car
Wipe down surfaces in car
Clean out fish tank
Wash dog bedding

It's a bit daunting :(

Help?

[lovelycats]

Morning guys.

I am also feeling really demotivated today, and its because I have a whole free day and nowhere to be. Confessional time - I am still in pyjamas and haven't showered. I did strip my bed and put it on to wash, but I'm having a 'what I the point in making an effort?' day.

buggeroff Totally understand. I would half that list for a start. If I have a huge list i just want to hide from it. I DO have a huge list! Im going to write down some things I want to achieve today.

• I need to do dishes from last night and load dishwasher
• Dry bedding and make bed
• Tidy bedroom which is a tip

That is all I'm going to focus on now. Hope everyone else is having a better day

[crunched]

I'm going to write a list... think ticking things off might be motivation in itself.
Will have to buy a new washing machine,leaking is beyond control, waiting until Black Friday to order it so that gives me a week to battle my way through the piles filling the 'laundry' room.

[BuggerOffDailyMirror]

Well I want to say Thank you to this brilliant thread because...

MY HOUSE IS SPOTLESS!!!!

I managed to get the upstairs done on Saturday but haven't done the car yet. But that's ok, it's a job for this week :)

I feel so much calmer and more "together", it's lovely :)

Now to keep on top of it...

[MiniEggsForAll]

Well done everyone lots of hard work going on!
& yes crunched of course putting batteries in a bag counts
Yesterday myself & OH cleared 2 rooms of clutter into 1 room so we can have rooms done up. Downside is puppy found some rat poison & had to be rushed to vet but seems to be OK so far.
Today I'm going to hang washing to dry, clean fridge & do food shop.
Made homemade cleaners yest, very proud

[DontBuyANewMumCashmere]

Well done Bugger
Oh no Mini hope pup is OK.

Had a quiet weekend but today I emptied dishwasher, put on washing, took more washing upstairs, did some decluttering/unpacking in main bedroom, tesco shop, and fed my Christmas cake which I then proceeded to throw onto my garage floor
I'm most pleased about the bedroom as it looks a lot cleaner now and it's not hanging over me any longer.

Tomorrow I have a busy day but I'd like to pack away some of my DD's old clothes to put in attic and tidy a spare room a little.
So much to so. So little opportunity to do it.

Well done everyone

[SugarNspiceNallThingsNice]

Hi, you guys have been doing great! I've had a good clear out of kids toys over the weekend and they haven't even noticed yet! Did naff all yesterday but I'm on the ball today so far, all cleaned up downstairs and got some ironing done and I've hoovered and even have a chicken casserole cooking in the slow cooker! I'm now sat on my backside with a cuppa, debating whether I should have lunch or take a rag and a bottle of zoflora upstairs. Have a good day all.

[crunched]

Finally felt forced to order a new washing machine due to current leakage. It arrives Saturday so I have begun the clearance so the delivery people can actually enter the room.
So far, 1 charity bag, 1 bin bag and a 'bag for life' mountain. Not sure what to do now, work all day tomorrow & full day of other stuff Friday. Just hoping my delivery slot won't be 8am and I can try and finish before it arrives.

[ineedamoreadultieradult]

I haven't made much of an impact on the cleaning but I have gone back to work and managed not to let it get any worse which I guess is some kind of victory.

[crunched]

insert cheesy,sickly smile Just got in and DH has finished clearing the room. and why the hell shouldn't he So gin and movie, not Flash and a mop tonight

[Marypoppinsisnosaint]

Morning all,

So after getting on top of all my jobs I do what I always do and don't keep on top of things. Now I'm going around in circles with jobs that need doing again.

Today is sort the massive washing pile.

Hope your all achieving more than me.

[BertieBotts]

I'll join :) I have ADHD which makes it really hard for me to stick to routines, or, TBH, to even notice that things need doing DH gave me a bit of a kick up the arse yesterday so must crack on.

I've got to take some of the bins down today but I think I'll leave the ironing until tomorrow when I'll have more time.

[smurfy2015]

Hi all, i hope its OK to revive this thread as reading it has helped me, my current place is absolute mess so much so that social services are paying for 2 workers to come in for several hours a week purely to declutter -

my current state of mind and body is severe depression and im also a quadriplegic in unsuitable housing which isnt accessable to me, the adaption process has started in assessment terms but will take quite a while, if anyone has any tips that would be helpful?

[madmomma]

Checking in. Totally despairing about my home. It's huge (awful area, not a stealth boast). I've 3 messy kids and a hoarder husband. My mental health is awful and I feel constantly overwhelmed and paralysed by the hoarding. I feel like I'm failing my kids because we don't eat round the table cos I can't keep it clear. We have a big garden which should be lovely but it's full of crap and I haven't the energy to tackle it, plus if I throw anything away my dh has a paddy and that makes me anxious. I am so done with this.

[OneBigCupOfTea]

madmomma sending big unmumsnetty hugs

There's a carrier bag a day thread running at the moment? Might that help? Looking at the big picture is a sure fire way to being overwhelmed. The carrier bag/fly lady 15 mins/UFYH 20:10 are all ways to do a little bit at a time which over time leads to great things (I say, sitting in a room full of crap... need to take my own advice!!)

I've been overwhelmed before. It's shit, but there is hope.

[madmomma]

Aww thanks tea, hugs gratefully received. Yes a carrier bag a day sounds like a great idea actually. I managed to get rid of some stuff surreptitiously yesterday but its tricky since we've been down to 3 weekly bin collections. I shall definitely aim for the carrier bag a day though, cos I can always stash them in the boot of my car and tip them when it's full.

[OneBigCupOfTea]

3 weekly collections? That must be really difficult!! I have 3 DCs too and our bin is stuffed by the end of the 2 weeks we have to wait.

I'm waiting for someone to come and pick up some furniture I freecycled. I've been trying to get rid of 27 things a day as per flylady but I'm giving myself some grace for today - the items leaving my home are quite big so they'll count for the 27!!