Untidy house = major stress

MissMotivation

Over the last couple of months things have been really busy and stressful both with work and my private life, consequently my housework has become less of a priority and now I keep looking at my house and I just want to cry!

I can't get on top of anything, i've got piles of washing that need doing, piles of ironing, it just needs a massive clean and tidy and I don't know where to start.

I just feel like crying when I look at it and i've been blocking it out evertime I walk through the door.

I really don't know where to start and everytime I think about it just get more stressed!

thorsoak

I know its corny etc - but go to www.flylady.com - or the flylady thread on here - she does help!

WestonDave

One trick is to resolve one problem - say over the next few evenings aim to stick a load of washing into the washing machine each evening to clear the backlog (and maybe make a few minutes each morning to move it into the drier ready to switch on when you get home) - and then work at avoiding backsliding on that issue whilst you tackle the next problem - say ironing (although I have to say virtually nothing gets ironed in our house!). If you look at the huge mess its intimidating - if you ignore most of the mess and just start with one small part of it, get that under control, and then build something else on top, its easier over time, and because its being maintained everytime you come to say clean the bathroom its easier because there isn't 3 weeks ingrained grot to clean off.

seafarers_wife

i would join the flylady thread on here on the oldstlyle board. its really motivating for keeping your house presentable. its not big deal if you dont get everything on the list done, as long as something is attempted then thats something that will take less time next week to do. the first few weeks are hard going, but everything gets so much easier and quicker to do as its just maintenance after the first few weeks rather than deep cleaning.

seafarers xx

MissMotivation

It doesn't help that every house I've walked into recently has been immaculate and some of these people have several kids......seriously, how do these people do it??

Tropez

I am sorry to hear you are feeling like this.

Would your finances allow to hire a cleaner for an hour or so each week? It depends on the area of course, but I hire an agency cleaner for £9 per hour and there are some non-agency cleaners who work for a little less. You could perhaps just do this for a short while until the house is tidy again and then try and stay on top of things?

Perhaps you could also start using disposable plates and cups for a short while as this will eliminate the burden of washing up until your life is a little more relaxed?

Some launderettes and dry cleaners provide an ironing service although I'm uncertain as to how much the fees involved would be but it may be worth enquiring.

Failing all of that perhaps you could make a list of everything that needs doing, then organising the list into "big jobs", "little jobs" and if necessary "medium jobs" and use a organiser/calendar (like on your phone, or in Microsoft Outlook) to organise your free time into dealing with the various tasks at hand, making sure that you mix the big and small jobs appropriately so that it is less soul destroying. You could also use Excel to plan for this as well.

Whatever happens, I hope you're able to get back on top of things.

SugarSpun

MissMotivation wrote: »

It doesn't help that every house I've walked into recently has been immaculate and some of these people have several kids......seriously, how do these people do it??

Cleaners.

Plus once you have several kids, you can put the bigger ones to work and the medium ones entertaining the smallest ones so everyone's busy. When it's just you it's the same amount of space only with just the one pair of hands.

As far as organising goes, if your budget will stretch to a cleaner then get one, but if not then start prioritising. Make a list of what needs to be done (a paper list is good because crossing things out is very motivating) and aim to do one of the things every day and any day to day stuff (ironing work clothes for the next day, washing dishes and putting them away, paying any bills that might arrive) till the backlog is cleared.

What bothers you the most when you walk in? Is it a messy living room? Piles of laundry? Ironing that needs to be done? Whichever it is, cover that one first. Vacuuming can almost always wait; I find it's the icing on my tidy apartment's cake.

It's awful when stuff gets on top of you like that, I sat on the floor and cried a couple of weeks ago because we were in such a mess so I have an idea how frustrating it can be. But you can get on top of it once you're past not knowing where to start.

Agutka

MissMotivation wrote: »

It doesn't help that every house I've walked into recently has been immaculate and some of these people have several kids......seriously, how do these people do it??

Don't look in their cupboards?
They have no stuff, just empty furniture?

I am just like you, except I don't work. It get too much and I blame it entirely on lack of storage space and laziness.
My brother is curretly sorting it out!!! :T Yes, really, third day today and I have carpets, walls and table tops again! :T
Can you get some help, just to get started?

spaghetti_monster

One trick that works for me (well, sort of - no cure for my slight untidiness and living with the most untidy OH on the planet),
but especially when I'm feeling stressed:
Just set a time limit and do whatever cleaning you like for exactly that time.
It's amazing what you can get done in say 20 or 30 mins. Things will look better and maybe you'll be more inclined to do a bit more later/next day.

My main stress comes from thinking - OMG it's going to take me all day just to make a dent in this!

After the time is up it's back to work/relaxing after work/eating/whatever else needs doing. You feel better, things look a bit better - it doesn't have to be perfect!

Newly_retired

Give yourself a reward - be it a snack, a drink, time on MSE forums or whatever- after you have completed one of your tasks.
Work in 20 minute slots, then read a page of the paper.
Set yourself a manageable target for each task/time slot.
Now I must apply my own advice instead of writing on Forums.

mambo69

One tip I saw was pick it up, every time you are sat watching the adverts instead of making a cup of tea just decide to tidy up and put away a small piece of the room.

if something needs to go up stairs put it on the stairs and then when you go the loo take it with you and put it away