Blackswan
Banned
Joined: October 2008
Posts: 6,388
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Habits
Dec 5, 2008 3:05:06 GMT -5
Post by Blackswan on Dec 5, 2008 3:05:06 GMT -5
I have just noticed that even though I am not maintaining every night like I was in the beginning, like I was afraid of IT (squalor) coming back, I have been staying pretty clean. And it seems to come naturally now. For example, every weekend, I just clean, and don't really have to make a big demand resistant fuss about it anymore. Or when I see a mess in the living room, I clean it before it gets bigger. It might be there for up to three days, but I don't let it get worse than five to ten minutes worth of work. Does that make any sense at all?
So I was wondering if others have found the same thing. The THING is that maintaining has become a regular part of life, but not something that needs to be strictly adhered to anymore. Like, now that it is a habit, you don't have to be so afraid that one slip up will make it go away. Does that make sense?
It is 2 am, I am hyped up on caffeine, so it probably does not make sense, but please just humor me and click a box. Thanks
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Habits
Dec 5, 2008 7:07:56 GMT -5
Post by Script on Dec 5, 2008 7:07:56 GMT -5
To be more specific: swish & swipe most mornings turn on dishwasher at night: almost daily make bed: almost daily keep ongoing give-away box: YES! put away laundry: always vacuum more often: YES! dust more often: this one has been sliding over the last 2 years. For a while, I had been winning the Great War On Dust, but right now I'm on the losing side again. get a handle on depression-pain-body squalor: still working here Continue with my meditation practice: no success here yet Keep reading and posting here at SOS for inspiration: :YES: thanks to all who have helped me with my journey since Oct 4'2004
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Habits
Dec 5, 2008 8:42:20 GMT -5
Post by canna on Dec 5, 2008 8:42:20 GMT -5
After of fighting the clutter, have finally been able to maintain. Finally:
Bathroom - level 0 always, very clean looking no clutter at all. And fanatic about cat's clean litterbox, it's in the bathroom.
Bedroom-not spotless some clutter, but bed made every morning, now a habit.
Kitchen- well it's maintained and OK not bad but could use more work. Usually do dishes every day.
Frontroom- OK keep on top of paper piles, magazines, etc. recycle asap. It's sooo much better than it used to be. Still a little too much chotchki in there, though.
Car-got rid of old car, bought a nice one last month. This one will be clean always, no clutter allowed!
And always looking for things to donate, give away.
To work on: Vacuuming and dusting more often. I just don't like to vacuum, and let that slide too often.
Big difference much better than it was years ago. I never thought of the "maintaining" issues at all. Was just a mess.
This site is really helpful with good advice, etc... Glad I found SOS.
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Habits
Dec 5, 2008 8:53:01 GMT -5
Post by morningglory on Dec 5, 2008 8:53:01 GMT -5
I am choosing "sometimes" because there are certain things that have become habit (doing at least one load of laundry each day, picking old newspapers and other trash off the floor, making sure used tissues get INTO the trash basket, rather than sprinkled on the floor around it), but I certainly cannot say I have entered "maintenance". The house is still a complete mess at any given time, due to both clutter and dirt. The kitchen and bathroom are still not the clean and healthy places they should be. The dining room floor still accumulates a lot of cr*p before it's cleared. (The change is that now it DOES get cleared, once or twice a week at least.)
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Habits
Dec 5, 2008 14:36:27 GMT -5
Post by messymimi on Dec 5, 2008 14:36:27 GMT -5
Sometimes, because some things are habits, other places are a wreck.
messymimi
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Habits
Dec 5, 2008 14:44:36 GMT -5
Post by AnnieOkie on Dec 5, 2008 14:44:36 GMT -5
Sometimes, because some things are habits, other places are a wreck.
messymimi That's kind of the boat I'm in right now. Want to get the entire house under control, but I consider it a huge victory to just maintain the little bit I have gotten done. Still not in a "routine" per se, but keeping areas already done in an acceptable state.
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Blackswan
Banned
Joined: October 2008
Posts: 6,388
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Habits
Dec 6, 2008 0:11:13 GMT -5
Post by Blackswan on Dec 6, 2008 0:11:13 GMT -5
So funny, I didn't even remember posting this! I was so tired last night, didn't even really know what I was doing. I saw a poll, and said, ooh, a poll, and it was mine. D'oh!
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Habits
Dec 6, 2008 0:40:48 GMT -5
Post by CrimsonKat on Dec 6, 2008 0:40:48 GMT -5
There are certain things tha have become more automatic. I am trying to incorporate new things into my week as I feel able.
The weird thing is, especially in the past 2-3 months, I've noticed that my squalor bothers me a LOT more. I am less able to go numb and blind and feel overwhelmed and paralyzed (not that I want to!). Because it bothers me more, I tend to take more action and clean or organize something to feel better. Maybe this means new thinking is finally becoming a part of me.
I find that I am actually looking forward to my weekend so I can spend some time working on stuff around the apartment, so I can enjoy the feeling that comes afterward, when things look so much nicer. I remember when looking around at a clean place made me feel anxious. Now it makes me feel like, "Wow, this is what "normal" people feel like!" or "now I can pretend I am "normal"! (I use quotes around 'normal' because I know there is no such thing, but those are the thoughts that I hear in my head.)
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Blackswan
Banned
Joined: October 2008
Posts: 6,388
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Habits
Dec 6, 2008 10:33:18 GMT -5
Post by Blackswan on Dec 6, 2008 10:33:18 GMT -5
And I think you just summed up what I was trying to sum up. I think that is what I meant. I don't get the frozen feeling as much anymore, and I have less anxiety, and I just do it, and i do it a lot more often. That IS what I meant in the first place, but couldn't really put my finger on it.
Like, now I know I am never going to go back to the way I was, because my thinking is just...different. I am a person who sees a job that needs to be done, and I do it. And when I don't do it, I am now aware of why I am not doing it, and I can talk myself into doing much sooner than before.
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Habits
Dec 6, 2008 17:46:26 GMT -5
Post by fluffernut - now Jannie on Dec 6, 2008 17:46:26 GMT -5
I keep my car and my bathroom clean, easy because they are pretty small. I keep up with laundry by doing a load nearly every day. These are my good habits. y bad habits are I let the rest of the house go.
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