HELP!

[Greenyogagirl]

I’m overwhelmed and need help!
I home educate my disabled son and have no childcare ever. I also have pets and my parents are disabled so I help them too.
My house could be lovely but I seem to sort out the animals and clean up the chaos that follows my son and then i only get the bare minimum done.
I’m exhausted and miserable.
I need help.
What do you do Day to Day? How do you stay motivated with a child who doesn’t understand tidying up and is with you 24/7 etc and how do you do the house and the garden and everything else that needs doing every single day?!

Oh total sympathy.
It is really hard to be caring for so many.

I am not a great example, as my house is always in need of something, but one thing I do is sneak jobs in between other things.

eg, clean shower while in it, 2 minutes longer and it's been done.
hang up a load of washing while waiting for the potatoes to boil
as I leave lounge in the evening, straighten cushions and pick up stuff. Even if it means pie of newspapers in corner, it is better than spread all over the coffee table.

Run hoover round after dinner, before bedtime routine. Only take 15 minutes to do downstairs (just don't look at upstairs)

so I guess I break things down into 10-15 minute jobs and then try and do one most days, so over the week it sort of gets done. ish!

That does sound really hard. Ultimately it is only housework, and life does legitimately get in the way. It's a cliche but in your old age you really won't look back and wish you'd spent more time cleaning. Maybe it's about figuring out how to feel less defeated by it, rather than how to stay on top of it perfectly IYSWIM.

I'm possibly biased by having an autistic son but I think routine is key. Build in little bits through the day. Clear kitchen counter after breakfast. A 10 min blitz of the living room before lunch. A bit of TV after lunch while you do a job or something. It's worth looking at the different systems - OMM, Unfuck, Apartmenttherapy how to clean your house in 20 mins per day - and see if any grab you. Generally I find Flylady overwhelming but I do like the home "blessing" hour. Pick 6 jobs that can be squeezed into about 10 mins each if you go all out, and do them all every week. Eg mop kitchen floor (with wipes if need be), vacuum downstairs, empty bins, quick dust of living room, quick blast round bathroom. You could do that one hour dedicated once a week if possible, or split it into 10 mins a day at a regular time. The trouble is you do need to start with a relatively clear space to start with. I used to concentrate on tidying one evening a week then do the hour of cleaning the next morning. But if all this is just ridiculous on top of your DC's needs then so be it.

Thank you both, I try and do ten minutes when I can but I do need to get more organised and structured.
I’d like to find a happy medium, I don’t want a show house but equally I want to be happy with the house if someone comes round unexpected!