How do you people get motivated?

rozza216

mics-chick :wave:

I find motivation a problem too! I am a great procrastinator :eek:

If I do a menu plan each week, it keeps me focussed. I write it up on the whiteboard (£1 in tesco) then every knows what we are eating and makes life easier:D

taffy1969

I too am a great procrastinator. I have been reading OS for ages now, registered as a member in January, joined weightloss thread, not doing too well though, joined Monthly Grocery Challenge in January, went over in Jan but was amazed at the c!*: I was buying which I didn't need! Been reading lots of threads espec 'enough is enough - the great de-clutter'. sorry not sure how to include link yet, still newbie!
Posted on this one yesterday, done various bits today, kids gone to stay with my sister tonight and I have started on their bedroom! I'm taking it slowly, just stopped for a surf and tea! Then back to the grind stone.
I think my main problem is that I decide, right I'm going to sort out everyroom and I want to do it all in about 10 minutes. I've now realised everything takes time, and also that, if anyone comes round and thinks my house is untidy then they can just leave!!!!!
I have babbled abit now so will go and eat! Good luck with your de-clutter
Taffy

vivw_2

You're not the only one. Just remember 'baby steps'. For a thread of others who also have great problems with motivation see The Good Enough club

mary43

Thanks viv..............didnt even know that existed............lol I'm another very slow starter

paddy's_mum

I find a personal "reward" system works for me. If I know that I really ought to clean the bathroom say, I'll speak very sternly to myself and agree that I can only have that ten minutes play out in the sunshine with the dog, or the chocolate eclair, or the glass of wine I have my eye on, if I've done said chore.

My system doesn't always work but I have found that once a certain job is done, I can settle back to surf or read a chapter of my book without feeling guilty.

On those occasions when I have sinned (been lazy) I'll invite someone over for a meal or a relative to come and stay for a few days. Having my mother coming to visit for a while is the greatest motivator I know. She isn't critical in the least but because I don't want to let her down by failing to live up to the standards she taught me, I find depths of energy I never knew I had!

Desperate of Derbyshire - with an over 8000 post count, I'd guess you spend too much time chatting to friends on this web site. Why not reward yourself with half an hour here every time you complete some task that you've been putting off for ages? Alternatively, fit your pc with a lock and give someone else the key. You'll get so bored that you'll do your chores to fill in the time!

Mics_chick

taffy1969 wrote: »

I too am a great procrastinator. I have been reading OS for ages now, registered as a member in January, joined weightloss thread, not doing too well though, joined Monthly Grocery Challenge in January, went over in Jan but was amazed at the c!*: I was buying which I didn't need! Been reading lots of threads espec 'enough is enough - the great de-clutter'. sorry not sure how to include link yet, still newbie!
Posted on this one yesterday, done various bits today, kids gone to stay with my sister tonight and I have started on their bedroom! I'm taking it slowly, just stopped for a surf and tea! Then back to the grind stone.
I think my main problem is that I decide, right I'm going to sort out everyroom and I want to do it all in about 10 minutes. I've now realised everything takes time, and also that, if anyone comes round and thinks my house is untidy then they can just leave!!!!!
I have babbled abit now so will go and eat! Good luck with your de-clutter
Taffy

You sound just like me Taff - pity we don't live closer coz we could invite each other round without worrying about the mess :rolleyes:

A coupla points:
1) Carp is a MSE-wide euphemism for crapp

2) Have a look at the icons at the top of the box where you enter your posts. Hover the cursor over them and it'll tell you what they are. There's one that looks a bit like a letter with a stamp on it which is for posting an image and the one to the left of that is for posting a link

Good luck Gail

moanymoany

I started because I was paying an extra £500 a month off of the mortgage as even with comp. the endowments weren't going to pay it off.

We had to live on what was left.

Now it's habit - and the love of money! this is 'cos there's lots left over when you live frugally!!!!!;)

icandream

Mics-chick: This sounds so familiar. I am terrible, and have been absorbed by the OS forum, to the extent I have put things off (any excuse :rotfl:). I also love the tips, and yesterday my head was spinning again with all the things I wanted to do.
I keep motivated by thinking, well, if I save something here, that'll be money towards holidays, which is our major family treat, and which I fund. That really does help. I also personally find it helps to know others are clearing: I cleared my wardrobe yesterday because of the declutter thread, and have attacked my spare room today because I know there are others doing it. It helps.
Also, I've decided, from last night, to take one step at a time. Rosie (can't remember full user name, sorry) made a brilliant post somewhere about all the things she now does thanks to OS, and I wanted to do it all. I've printed it and stuck it on the fridge! But then I felt overwhelmed, and decided to begin with just one thing because of the babysteps advice (thanks Viv!)! So I bought my white vinegar today, and have popped a bit in my wash. I feel motivated, because it's exciting to think I may be shedding the conditioner, and hence saving more money. I felt so excited, I wanted to go up to the shoppers today I saw buying fabric conditioner and say 'hey, why don't you try vinegar' :rotfl:.
But it made me feel good to have found something, and I feel very grateful to Rosie, Viv, and others on here for beginning to open my eyes to a new beginning.

ceridwen

I also work on the basis of giving myself "rewards" - could be anything from a bar of chocolate to a mini-bottle of champagne (my weakness!- but it is Tesco's own).

I also remember that the more moneysaving I am - then the freer I am from the necessity to have a job. I'm now clear of mortgage and debt - so, if the worst came to the worst, I would survive. I'm now working on if the "worst came to the worst" I would positively thrive.

mary43

OH is in charge of the food shopping and he's always been the sort not to waste anything if possible.
Hes now well hooked on soap nuts.............and seems to have taken charge of the washing ! (for now anyway)
I've made a slow and small start to ridding myself of the debris I seem to have accumulated...........not doing as well as I thought and began to feel I'd let myself down badly but as others have said some need to take things at a slower pace.................think I fall into that category. I want to do it then don't know where to start so get distracted by something else. But as long as its something else thats money saving then it can't be bad.
I've spent a fair bit of time accumulating bits and pieces from the charity shops for christmas hampers, the goal being that its all sorted by the end of August. Mortgage will be paid off in November so Christmas this year just might be panic free and a lot easier on the purse.
Letting go of Dads bits and pieces (he was a bigger hoarder than me) has been hard but I've made a start.............sheet music goes to the music shop in town who buy it, smaller bits and pieces will be boxed up and added to my sons birthday presents in the form of a 'Gramps Memory Box'..........they'll love that I know and it'll give me -and my head - more space.
Books are my current stumbling block..............OH is as bad as me for sorting them out and despite endless promises to each other they're still there !
Oh well...............maybe tomorrow ????