Keeping House
I’m not the world’s best housekeeper.
I’m not the world’s worst either. Not by a long shot.
But I do wish I was better.
My biggest downfall?
Clutter.
I’m not real great at parting with things.
And neither are my children.
*sigh*
And I get easily overwhelmed so if I get behind, I’ll procrastinate.
I find the hardest times are when we’re busy. You get busy so you get behind. You’ve been busy so you’re tired. You’re tired so you feel more overwhelmed than usual and no idea where to start or where to find the energy to start. So you procrastinate, then feel depressed because you’re tired, overwhelmed and down on yourself for feeling this way. Not to mention depressed because the environment you’re in is out of control (I always feel better when my house is clean, tidy and clutter free - well less clutter anyway, not sure I’ll ever reach “clutter free”).
Before I got pregnant with Trailer Boy (who is almost 6 and a half), I got right into Flylady. That worked really well for me. She breaks things down into small manageable chunks. And routines so you always know where you’re up to.
Until I got pregnant, and sick.
And I’m pretty sure the supposed “post natal depression” actually started WHILE I was pregnant as everything seemed to stress me out more than I’d ever experienced before. I remember feeling like I wasn’t “normal” in my reactions to things.
Then of course, we moved house, I wasn’t well and eventually had my nervous breakdown.
None of which are conducive to managing a house well (except for the decluttering while moving part which I didn’t do too badly at - in fact, I got rid of some stuff I wish I hadn’t).
Over the past 18 months, I’ve worked hard on “decluttering catch up”. Years of stuff not being gotten rid of.
And finally, in the past couple of days, I feel like I’m almost getting back to my “flylady days”.
I don’t follow her anymore. The constant emails (especially the testimonials) annoy me. Some of the “system” doesn’t work for me.
So, I’m using some of what I learnt in those days and modifying to try and suit my own situation and personality.
Some of the things that are working for me:
1. Write a List
Each morning, I’m starting a list. I have a pink diary with a page for each day that I’m using for this. I’m even writing in it in pink pen. Because that makes me smile. 
I don’t fill the page first thing in the morning. I just start with a half a dozen things and add to them as the day goes on. That way, if I have a rough day, I don’t end up with a list that doesn’t get completed and can modify what I’m doing depending on my mood and energy levels.
2. Limit Myself to 3 Things at a Time
I’m a “feast or famine” type person when it comes to achieving things. I’ll either overdo it and burn myself out or I won’t do anything at all. So my current system is 3 things on the list followed by a break (usually computer time). I’ve been seeing a Naturopath who is trying to get me to stop and rest BEFORE I completely run out of energy. For someone who doesn’t get bursts of energy very often, it’s hard to be disciplined and STOP when you feel like you could keep going. I’m hoping though that this way might mean I can still be more productive over the course of the day rather than getting a heap done by 10am and then nothing.
3. Use a Timer
This is one flylady idea that has worked really well for me. I’m now trying to teach is to my daughter who has similar issues to me (procrastinating, getting overwhelmed, not being able to get rid of things). I use a combination of 5, 10 and 15 minute increments depending on the task. It means you don’t have to get it ALL done. Just what you can in the time period specified. I tend to find I’m more efficient when I use the timer as it’s almost like a race.
4. Routines
This is something that I need to work on getting back into. We have a few routines that are kind of “unofficial”. I wouldn’t mind sitting down and writing down what they are to make it easier to follow on days when I am feeling tired and overwhelmed.
5. Theme Days
This is something that I have managed to keep going even with everything else that’s going on. They do need refining and refreshing but it’s helpful for me to know that on certain days, I have certain focuses.
Mine are currently:
MONDAY - CLEANING DAY (I do some cleaning Saturdays if I’m home to make this more manageable. Last Saturday I actually did all the cleaning which has meant this week I’m actually getting to some of those tasks that always get left).
TUESDAY - OFFICE DAY (paperwork, pay bills, tidy desk. This happens better some weeks than others)
WEDNESDAY - TOWN DAY (piano lesson, banking, grocery shopping etc)
THURSDAY - KITCHEN DAY (clean kitchen, baking)
FRIDAY - DAY OFF (a lot of extra things tend to happen on Fridays so I’m not always home but I do try to do something for me Fridays if I can)
LAUNDRY - I try to wash at least 1 load every day. Doesn’t always work but it’s one of the jobs I find hardest (particularly hanging clothes on the line as holding my arms above my head is always a challenge for me) so I try to break it down to manageable parts.
At the moment, I’m trying to work on monthly focuses as well, to help get some of the deeper cleaning and bits and pieces achieved. They’re the things that just aren’t really happening at the moment.
So, what about you?
Do you find keeping house easy or challenging?
What sort of tips have worked for you?
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Ah I so need to learn some tricks to get on top of things again…. I blame my DH’s stupid changeable shifts for our lack of routine and that is why our house never stays organised for more than a week…. but really I just need to do it!
Good luck with your plan!
I ducked home for lunch today (took Steph home, she has a major assignment due on Friday and two frees this afternoon - wasn’t achieving anything at school and wanted some peace and quiet). Anyhoo…ducking home I couldn’t help but look around me and think to myself “WHAT HAPPENED!” The place was semi tidy on Sunday afternoon. Sigh. I am only barely keeping up at the moment - and none of those extra jobs are getting done.
I understand exactly what you are saying. My life often feels like it is spinning out of control & there is no time to look after the house. Washing I am good at - that is something that works in my house. The rest of it, I just struggle with.
Lists work beautifully for me, as does being accountable to someone. But sometimes it all just feels like too much, especially when I have very messy children who make a mess behind me as I clean up - and they are very lazy children too who I have to bribe to do things.
I am trying to do something everyday, but today - I just can’t! I need to cook 3 dinners so need to start on that, which means nothing else will get done. So off to make soup, spag bol & a chicken dish for tomorrow night!
Well the 3 men in my home are my vacuumers each Sat and in between if really necessary. THis helps me get on with other tasks if i am well enough or can be bothered! I do like clean floors and carpets and a clean sink and the toilet roll holder full! Bizarre I know!
I dont struggle with day to day things so much (except i hate but tolerate clothes airers) but do with other things like dusting, spider webs, decluttering, car cleaning, window cleaning etc.. the things i freak out about when having people over that they probably dont even notice but I DO!!
Because our home is small things tend to accumulate in piles if not kept under control.. so i try to have the place reasonable when i walk out the door to school each morning, also knowing whats for tea really helps me keep sane!
I find that if things have a home then its more motivating to put them away! ITs when they are junky bits that i get frustrated no end.
Think this sounds like i am a control freak…. yikes!~
I loathe housework.
However, it is something that needs to be done and so I have built maself a wee bridge and am working on getting the hell over it. When I only worked part-time, I did stuff on different days and that more or less worked. Now, though, I am working full time. I’m out of the house for around 10 hours a day, five days a week - so I end up cleaning, doing bills, planning for the week and doing washing on Saturday. I aim to have *everything* done by 3pm Saturday so the rest of the weekend is mine. I have a list (a word document) that I update each week and work my way through it. There’s nothing like the satisfaction of crossing off something! However, stuff happens - and when the bloke works alternate weekends…
Argh.
So I have the MUST do section of the list - must do the washing, pay the bills and make sure there’s food. The world won’t collapse if nothing else happens. I also do 52-pickup when I get home from work. Strangely enough, I am the MOST organised I have ever been in my entire life!
I find housework easy, always have. Clutter however is a horse of a completely different colour. Simply, I have way too much “stuff” that I haven’t been able to let go of. In these past couple of weeks though, I’ve felt the need to purge the house of unnecessary things. Today I cleared out the top section of my built in wardrobe, which is where I stuffed everything I couldn’t find a place for when I moved in here 7 years ago and haven’t looked at since. It’s all boxed and bagged and ready to go out for the annual kerbside “hard rubbish” collection. most if it isn’t even rubbish, but people get out there trawling the streets looking for good useful items, so they can have them. And I have no way of getting all this stuff to local op shops which are already over stuffed with clutter anyway. I actually have clear surfaces now! Just don’t look into the back bedroom…..
P.S. Have you tried combining your routines? For instance your Mondays, Tuuesdays and Thursdays,; mornings for cleaning, afternoons for bill payings (online?) baking, and anything else which crops up.
I found my house was always clean (still, even now) if the mornings were for cleaning, and afternoons for everything else.
For instance, wake kids, shove a load of clothes in the washer, all eat breakfast, clean dishes away together, older kids make their beds and help younger ones to make theirs while I zoomed the vacuum quickly over their floors. (toys were put away before getting into bed the night before). Hang the now finished washing, walk to school, come home and have coffee, do any dusting etc, go grocery shopping if necessary, pay bills while out, home again, have lunch, youngest has nap while I spend time reading, or baking, walk to school and home again with kids, prepare dinner veg while they let off steam outside, supervise homework, tv time while dinner cooks, after dinner everyone helps with dishes. Then it’s free time until bedtime for kids while I get the ironing done. This worked well right up until the kids left school, then home. Now of course it’s easier because there’s no ironing and much less cooking……
I know it sounds like we were regimented, but it was routine, we followed it without thinking. Then of course in those days, sports activities (which my kids weren’t much into) were usually held on Saturdays, so didn’t take up valuable after school time.
I guess life for most people is more complicated now.
Yep I so get that.
I’ve been sick this week and really struggling to keep on top of the housework. The messy house is so depressing yet I keep falling asleep before I can get any work done.
Like the timer idea, might have to steal that for myself and the girls.