Chores/ domestic tips

[Namechange666]

Hello :-)

I'm wanting to get a better handle on how to affectively manage household chores, meaning that I get up and do them.

Any apps, suggestions are welcome.

Visual board on fridge doesn't work.
Music for dopamine does work.

I need help organising doing one thing at a time. I am unmedicated and I do not wish to persue that avenue for many reasons, at this time so please no suggestions of this.

Has anyone used the dubbi app and is it worth paying for? Thanks in advance.

I do things in the same order every day -

1. Open curtains
2. Make beds
3. Put on load of washing
4. Empty dishwasher

If I only manage those 4 things, then so be it.

If things are going well, I'll put some music or a podcast on, set a 10 minute timer and then blitz each room for 10 mins and move on. If motivation is zero, I'll set the timer for 5 mins.

I also blitz in the same order:

1. Throw away rubbish
2. Put clothes in laundry basket
3. Put anything on the floor away
4. Wipe surfaces
5. Sweep/hoover floor

Again, if I only manage steps 1 and 2 so be it.

I also have specific jobs for specific days - Tuesday is watering plants day, Friday is cleaning out the car day.

I intersperse bursts of chores with activities I enjoy, like baking or going for a walk to reward myself.

I also don't beat myself up if the house isn't spotless.

This is probably the most neurodivergent answer to anything ever 😆

I find the only thing that works for me is to constantly DECLUTTER. If things are a mess then I can’t clean. It just becomes so visually overwhelming I can’t even begin to tackle anything. I have a hard time parting with things like might one day be useful so that in and of itself is a challenge, but I’m doing much better with that lately.

Thanks so much for your reply. How do you get yourself started? Do you have reminders for which day things need doing to stay organised?

You see I've decluttered as much as I can with my things.

It's like staring st pots building up. My washing that I've cleaned and then taken to the laundrette to dry just piles up not put away. I live with an NT person and I drive them up the wall.

I get going partly by doing the same thing in the same order every day, so I don't need to think. 'Open curtains' is a deliberately low bar to clear as the first task of the day, this then naturally leads on to the next task etc.

I keep a note in my phone for each day's specific task just to remind me, although I don't always look at it. I don't like cleaning apps - they feel like a job or another demand. Equally I don't like being told what to do by websites or influencers etc. My cleaning method has been designed around my priorities and abilities, not what someone else thinks. I also don't like massive long lists of things to do as this feel overwhelming - 3 or 4 things is enough.

Also, it helps me if things have a natural purpose e.g. we go to visit family on a Saturday, so clean car is on a Friday so that I'm not ashamed of the state of it in front of my in-laws 😆

Focus Mate is good. Similar idea - body doubling 1.1.

Have a listen to Clutter Bug podcast too. She has adhd.