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Post by lookingup on Sept 14, 2008 7:00:32 GMT -5
I actually didn't believe this...
I've been down for about a month after a surgery. The first few days I couldn't do much of anything but sit in the chair, so I started a list of tiny, quick things I could probably do soon and began them when I could. It's made a huge difference! I'm still a "2", but things look so much better even though I totally didn't believe it would help.
The list was things like washing the curtain on the front door. Broken down from that was washing the three tiny windows on the front door. Then wiping off the dirty finger marks from the furnace guy. Some things I had to do in a couple tries. Take silverware out of the drawer and wipe it out. Then sit down for an hour. Put the silverware back. Sit down for an hour. The list became pretty long and I just did a little thing when I could manage. These things only took a few mins each.
I could even work on clutter. Like getting boxes ready for the charity store. I couldn't move the box, but I could put things in it. And throwing out lots of old catalogs and magazines.
A friend, bless him, did come help me to clean (well, Ok, he cleaned...) and took the charity boxes out to the car and that kind of thing so that also helped with the mess.
I'm going to continue with this list making, breaking things down into bits and pieces. The small pieces of a larger job weren't so overwhelming and despite my all or nothing thinking you DON'T have to do a whole project at the same time, you can do parts that add up to it. Who'd have thought?
Anne. :-)
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Post by canna on Sept 14, 2008 8:40:21 GMT -5
lookingup. Good that you are doing little things. Of course it's not easy after surgery, take it easy.
The list idea is good. I use lists all the time, and find it really helps. Lots to do, but the list comes first. I try to make the list of things to do for the coming week. Clean fridge, vacuum all rooms (which I just hate to do for some reason-vacuum ick), get recyle stuff together, etc etc etc. I usually do at least three things on the list each day if I can (working in threes). Helps a lot. And, keeps me from getting stressed over looking at all the stuff and amount of things to do, because other stuff will certainly be added to the list.
You have the right idea! I like when I can cross things off the list and see progress. Now I realize I don't have to do it all, just little bit at a time.
Wow it helps.
Good luck, it's good you have a friend to help, too.
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Post by metamorpha on Sept 14, 2008 11:41:17 GMT -5
Isn't it amazing? Listzilla really helps me get started some days. A thing here, a thing there, and before you know it, you've done everything BUT dush and vacuum.  |
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Post by ivorytower on Sept 14, 2008 13:20:44 GMT -5
Small efforts are what's working for me right now. I don't do lists any more but commit myself to completing a number of small tasks in each room in turn. I started at three in each room and now it's five tasks - like the five things you listed lookingup. If I set myself a major task like painting the ceiling and walls in the hallway, it would never get finished, but doing one small section and counting that as one task means that it will eventually get finished. It's a job most people would do in about four hours start to finish but I can't summon the will to just stick at it till it's done.
I started at level 2 and I've made a lot of progress over the last few months. All the major clutter has gone and nowhere is really dirty. I've had one important repair job done and bit by bit my home is becoming more comfortable.
Keep moving at your own pace lookingup - you'll get to level 0 sooner than you think.
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Post by Arid on Sept 14, 2008 15:09:37 GMT -5
ivorytower, I think that you have made an important point: "bit by bit my home is becoming more comfortable." I have come to see--just very recently, in fact--that the best "attitude adjustment" that I can make is to change how I think/feel about housework. In the past, it ALWAYS has felt like a punishment to me. NOW, I am beginning to think about it as something positive that I do for myself. (I sometimes "hear" Richard Simmons shouting "you're doing something good for yourself!!!" He meant it in terms of weight loss, diet, and exercise, however.) I worry less about cleaning to please other people or to meet their standards. I'm doing more to make our home more functional for us. Like the OP said, doing a bit at a time DOES add up, and any job--no matter how small--brings us one step closer to our ultimate goal.
Arid
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