Tips and Quick Questions on “How To Start Being Old Style”

Bitsy_Beans

My biggest time waster is the computer and this site. Its a blessing and a curse as I spend so much time on here that I end up not getting stuff done

I second what everyone else says. Join the Flylady thread on OS each week, just do what you can, I rarely get past Wednesdays list but I think some cleaning has to be better than none!
I also meal plan, have 7 weeks on rotation and it does mean I don't buy loads of stuff at the supermarket without thinking how I am going to cook it.

Good luck and just take each day at a time.

squeezymeplease

Just had to reply as this is exactly how I am feeling lately! Overwhelmed seems to sum it up, there's so much to do I don't know where to start, so I simply don't start! that makes me feel more overwhelmed and so it continues lol!!!! Baby steps, baby steps. Must keep reminding myself of this!!
You are not the only one tho, it's kind of good to know I'm not the only person who has no idea where to start re keeping the house!!!

tandraig

first - get calendar and note down birthdays! second - relax! stress doesnt help. i do bedrooms on monday bathroom on tues kitchen on wednesday etc they get thorough clean on those days! then just wipe or tidy up each morning or evening whichever suits you. washing is done every time i got full load! ironing (oh dear - when i cant stand to see the basket gettin higher - and then i get a dvd or fave prog on and iron while watching). just some ideas to get you started hun - you will sort out your own routine - but a routine is best way to go!

bubblybee

Oh I forgot - I'm terrible at this but my auntie looks at her diary on the 25th of every month, buys what birthday, congratulation cards etc she will need/is likely to need that following month. Then writes all the ones she can. Puts them on her mantlepiece with stamps and everthing. On the envelope she writes what day she needs to post them taking into account weekends, bank holidays etc. All the hard work is done. Also she has a store of value cards for just in case occasions - thank yous, good lucks and most of all blank cards for all occassions. It seems to work.

Although I don't conform to this but I really should. I constantly miss birthdays!

ChocClare

squeezymeplease wrote: »

Just had to reply as this is exactly how I am feeling lately! Overwhelmed seems to sum it up, there's so much to do I don't know where to start, so I simply don't start! that makes me feel more overwhelmed and so it continues lol!!!!

I honestly think that the nights starting to draw in literally drain your energy. I have been feeling like a bit of chewed string when I get home from work this last week or so, and I've generally got enough energy to do at least SOMETHING. All I've wanted to do is sit down with a cup of tea until it's time to drag myself into the kitchen to make supper.

Having said that, I saw an essay from Pam on the Flylady emails - don't usually read them but it stuck with me. She said that she timed how long it took to make the bed and it was 3 minutes. That started her timing other "chores" to see how long they took. She discovered that nothing really took that long to do. So, she asked herself, why the hell did she never seem to have time to get them done? Her answer was that you have a whiny voice inside your head which says, I don't want to do that, that doesn't sound like fun; I'd rather be watching telly/going on MSE/listening to music/reading my book. Even when you psych yourself up to eg clean the kitchen, your head is whirling round with all the things you've got to remember. I found this this morning. I thought, I'll just get stuff ready for Rainbows. I went to church, popped into Sainsbury's, cleared the dresser in the hall, made some cakes, got some seeds out of the cupboard to sort through that I'd promised for someone, put some washing on, went on MSE, watched a (admittedly short) DVD, did some ironing, cleaned out the hens, made several cups of tea, picked my DH up from the station, made dinner and went back on my computer. It's now 21.35 and I still haven't got stuff ready for Rainbows. The actual getting stuff ready for Rainbows will take a maximum of about 10 minutes but I can't be bothered. And that means I'll end up doing it at the last minute when I HAVE to.

I remember mentioning to one of the professors when I was at university this tendency to procrastinate. She said it was "my own personal neurosis". Thanks, prof. I think it's more common than she thought... :rolleyes:

Money_maker

Really useful replies already. Not much to add except that the calendar will always be your friend, check it each day and write everything on it. The menu plans ensure you will only buy what you need each week at the supermarket.

Try joining the decluttering thread on this board if you're a bit cluttered up. Everyones in the same boat and you will feel well supported. Makes you feel great if you've just thrown a few bits away or done a few minutes ironing!!

champys

ChocClare wrote: »

I honestly think that the nights starting to draw in literally drain your energy. I have been feeling like a bit of chewed string when I get home from work this last week or so, and I've generally got enough energy to do at least SOMETHING. All I've wanted to do is sit down with a cup of tea until it's time to drag myself into the kitchen to make supper.

Having said that, I saw an essay from Pam on the Flylady emails - don't usually read them but it stuck with me. She said that she timed how long it took to make the bed and it was 3 minutes. That started her timing other "chores" to see how long they took. She discovered that nothing really took that long to do. So, she asked herself, why the hell did she never seem to have time to get them done? Her answer was that you have a whiny voice inside your head which says, I don't want to do that, that doesn't sound like fun; I'd rather be watching telly/going on MSE/listening to music/reading my book. Even when you psych yourself up to eg clean the kitchen, your head is whirling round with all the things you've got to remember. I found this this morning. I thought, I'll just get stuff ready for Rainbows. I went to church, popped into Sainsbury's, cleared the dresser in the hall, made some cakes, got some seeds out of the cupboard to sort through that I'd promised for someone, put some washing on, went on MSE, watched a (admittedly short) DVD, did some ironing, cleaned out the hens, made several cups of tea, picked my DH up from the station, made dinner and went back on my computer. It's now 21.35 and I still haven't got stuff ready for Rainbows. The actual getting stuff ready for Rainbows will take a maximum of about 10 minutes but I can't be bothered. And that means I'll end up doing it at the last minute when I HAVE to.

I remember mentioning to one of the professors when I was at university this tendency to procrastinate. She said it was "my own personal neurosis". Thanks, prof. I think it's more common than she thought... :rolleyes:

Clare I am exactly like that, and it only started to improve when I literally started to use a count-down timer. I say OK, 15 minutes on that thing I don't really want to do, and then I will take 15 minutes for 'me'-things. It is amazing what I get done now, and believe it or not, I am also doing this in work now, as I procrastinate there just the same. I start writing the Christmas cards in October, same way, only 15 minutes every evening after dinner, with the timer. A job I always hated so much, and spoiled the run-up to Christmas as it was put off and dreaded till the last possible day...... and same with many other overwhelming-looking tasks. In May even managed to wallpaper and decorate my office with the 15-minute timer system, and that had been put off for 5 years!

Angelfeathers

I too have nothing really to add except that you are definitely not alone! I am only just starting to sort myself out too, really, but I'm finding the more I get organised, the more energy I have because I'm spending less of it on stressing and more of it on actually doing! But it's taken me a long while just to get to this stage.

Also? YES to lists. Write everything down and then *try* to forget about it. I'm not good at letting it go even when I've written it down, but I'm working on it!

ChocClare

champys wrote: »

Clare I am exactly like that, and it only started to improve when I literally started to use a count-down timer. I say OK, 15 minutes on that thing I don't really want to do, and then I will take 15 minutes for 'me'-things.

I do agree. I've got my flylady timer and I'm usually pretty good. Like I say, I don't know what's wrong with me these last couple of weeks - my get up and go seems to have got up and gone! I think it's because I've just finished a really good book and I was using that as a reward - do 15 mins and you can have 15 mins of the book - and now I haven't got any rewards to offer myself AND it's pitch black before 8 o'clock I'm getting into hibernation mode I think! :rotfl:

Thanks for the tip about Christmas cards. Funnily enough, I was just wondering whether I could get ahead with that. Brilliant idea!

laurel7172

I struggle to get things done as well-you aren't alone.

I just looked at Flylady's thread and (sorry, Flylady) I feel ill. I'd never get that much done in a day. Well, if I did, I'd do nothing else but going to work, cleaning, child taxiing and cooking and would lose the will to live.

The strategies that stop us sinking into complete squalor are mostly based on making the most of things that will do themselves. So I prioritise things like setting the washing machine away, or hanging clothes out to dry, because they'll get on and do themselves without my input. If I'm really uninspired, I find it helps to keep me motivated if I do the things that only need doing once (like throwing something in the decluttering bag), as opposed to the grinding, boring jobs that need doing tomorrow as well. You can't skip them forever, obviously, but the world will not end if the cooker top isn't wiped every day. And you've got to give yourself credit for what you have achieved, instead of beating yourself up for what you haven't, otherwise you get completely down. I've done no ironing today. I needed to do some ironing today. But I have scraped off the ivy and painted the fence and treated the lawn, made soup, bread, rice pudding and Sunday lunch and yesterday I washed the kitchen cabinet doors.(That doesn't happen often and counts as a definite victory).