You know, Carolina, I think there is also a bit of depression involved in this, sort of the chaos around us is the way we feel inside. I struggle with this more and more. I am currently cleaning out every single thing that I do not need to keep. I am getting rid of all the clutter that gets in my way.

I think we all clean and think about it differently. If you are the kind who would do best with dusting one day, sweeping the next, mopping the next, do that. If you need to see a big improvement, do a room one day, and then another the next. I find that as I get going, I am less mentally fatigued. I have started putting cleaning chores on my list of things to do each day, it no longer is just natural to pick up all the time.

Sometimes buying one really nice thing for a room, a pretty pillow, or a cute hanging, whatever you really like, can get things going.

Good luck, it is making it a part of your routine, no matter what way you choose to do that , that is important. JMO

If you live alone think more on the scale of once a month--things don't get that dirty that often. And if your too tired on the day, 11 times a year is enough. I tie my cleaning "week" to my Tysabri infusion and before that to my cycle...Lundry isn't on the monthly schedule, I just do that when I run out and a bought a few packages of underwear, socks and washcloths so it can get to be a long time before laundry needs to be done, a month would be too soon.

Thin of it in a competitive manner, bachelors have a long way to go to, a lot to learn catch up with me about not doing housework...
There is that phenomena that healthy retired people experience, when working all kinds of things got don in the day & now it takes forever top get anything done.

first think about doing it(few days),
next try to decide if its worth doing(add a few more days),
next try to decide how to do it( maybe a week)
next decide when to do it(few more days)
do it(few hours)
second guess yourself about the need to do it(another week or so)

Start next task....

And your right, because you are at home all day you see the dirt & disorganization you wouldn't have noticed if you were running around trying to get other things done--sdo it sticks out more not working

Spot Cleaning?

someone to do it, once or twice a month, taking the bulk of the issues away?

reply #2

How did you get my cleaning schedule?

Think, consider, reconsider, take an overview, measure, have a cup of coffee, take a nap, put off until tomorrow what I could do today, pre-clean before actually cleaning, take another nap. A perfect day of cleaning.

I work so can't speak to being at home all day, but I have been struggling a lot with not being able to do any cleaning. I get really depressed because things are so out of control a lot of the time -- I just have no energy when I get home, and lately haven't even been managing dinner half the time.

I'm leaning more and more to having someone come in to do it, as Larry mentioned already .. I think that might just have to happen, at least temporarily, because the mess is having a very real effect on how I feel about myself and my MS.

When I DO manage to clean, I do one chore at a time -- usually I sweep, then I mop, then after a couple of days I clean the bathroom while I do laundry. It means nothing ever looks spotless, but it always looks sort of better.

I hope you find your way out of your rut, I do know how you're feeling.

I consider a couple of rooms a week to be a success! My struggle is all the hardwood,,,I Swiffer it - and have it pay someone to come in and mop it once a month. Done. Keeping up with all the paper is a pain in the butt all by itself!!!!

Lynn

Cleaning...I hated it before and still don't like it but... I started getting my groceries from PeaPod - ShopRite. Sunday, while I waited for my groceries to be delivered, I read for an hour and cleaned the bathroom. I have the bathroom down to 2 sessions at 10-15 minutes each. One room a day, but I only have weekends so I get through the house in a month.

The only problem with not doing the cleaning at all is then it is potentially a stress inducer. We don't need that. I, also, am trying to get things in order for the long term in case I continue to loose ability. Easier access, less stuff, etc...

Keep in mind - if it is a choice between using your energy to do something you love or clean - do something you love.

Good luck!
Miki

I understand totally where you are coming from. I work 3 days a week if I am able to.
I now have a council home help once a fortnight for 1.5hours. She does the bathroom, shower, floors, vaccuming & I often get her to hang out washing & do dishes or dust which helps.
Always feel better when bathroom is clean & floors clean.

As for tidy, what is that? We have 4 chairs in the lounge & the 2 we dont use often end up with clothes or other stuff on them. The kitchen table is covered in "stuff" with room for us to sit at & the rest keeps growing even after I try to tidy it.
As for the spare rooms, we try not to put too much in one of them so that if someone stays it wouldnt take long to be able to use, the other room you can just get into & into the wardrobe too. I can shut the door on both of these rooms so they dont worry me.

There is no easy answer to it except do a little bit at a time. The only way I find that I do it is if I say to myself "if I get xyz done (like filing or table) then I will allow myself to have a treat (biscuit, chocolate etc). But I have learnt to set myself small tasks not a whole room, so that it is achievable.

Dont feel guilty about the mess etc & use your energy for what you want/enjoy to do. You are certainly not alone. LOL

I just do the cleaning once a week and then i pay for it big time. I end up in bed for the next few days in pain. My leg pain is getting that bad now that i am not able to do my cleaning all at once anymore, let alone walk very far. I am only 30yrs old :-(

i have chores assigned to each day of the week. monday is grocery shopping, tuesday is sweeping the floors. wednesday is bathrooms etc.

this way if i'm too sick and miss a week or a day nothing gets too nasty. It also keeps me from exerting myself for extended periods of time.

i just wanted to add, i don't always feel like doing it, either. it's easy to get into a rut when you've spent your whole life being one way then everything changes.

for me it's all about self motivation and discipline and learning to value different things in life than i did before...like a clean house lol

Well, I have experimented with a few different ways to keep my house clean enough to keep me from going crazy. I started with just dusting one thing, wiping one hard surface and vacuuming one room. I then decided to make my house smaller by giving the kitchen to my husband (he cooks and washes the dishes) but is a lousy house keeper. My daughter has to clean her room and her bathroom (a powder room she now dolls up her 14 year old self in). I live in a samll townhouse so the yard work isn't an issue.

Sure I'd like it much neater, but it is better as I let go my expectations.

I recommend vacuuming every day, your living and dining room. It is amazing how much that helps the over all look of your home.

Take it easy and release your expectations.

LvAmy

PS, my favorite pass time is donating junk!

aimless,

vacuum everyday? really,,,,why?

lynn

my....ya'll seem to be very neat, i never was great at housework, would much rather split and stack wood, since i am not doing that any more, thought i would be better at indoors, but no, jus don't like it, boring and you have to do it every six months ....or so