In need of motivation to stay OS

artichoke

Hi all

For many years i have been very old style - we were on a very tight budget, with me a SAHM, and DH setting up his own business which did not bring in much money for many years.

BUT we were very happy. I enjoyed making things last, batch cooking, having my routine of what i did every day. We have always had too much clutter but i did my best to keep on top of my flylady list - although the edges of each room are always messy with too much stuff in a very small house...

Anyway the kids are now both at school and i have also recently set up my own business - well 2 businesses - and although neither is bringing in much money they do mean that i am really busy working many hours day and evening and weekends at time. At the same time DH's business has got much busier and he now works away a lot. So money is better now, BUT i am falling off the OS wagon....

i no longer have time to do my daily routines, look at the flylady list, i never batch cook, i forget to take stuff out of the freezer, and we eat rubbish much more than we should.

I am knackered after work and have no motivation to play with the kids, tidy up or cook. I am sitting here (DH is away in London all weekend) with dishes in the sink, cereal packets on the table, the floor filthy, dirty clothes all over the stairs, the washing machine was put on last night but i CBA to empty it.

EVery room is a tip and i can't see the floor anywhere. I did go shopping yesterday as DH i away now and so i have no car - but the shopping is sitting in bags still not put away.

I just feel so unmotivated. I have no time for anything anymore and at the moment my businesses are taking up so much time but not yet bringing in much money.

I just need a kick to get back into my OS ways. Yesterday i bought ready meals for us to eat today :eek::eek::eek: from a supermarket:eek::eek: as i knew i could not be bothered to cook or even to get stuff from the freezer. The irony here is that my businesses are based on producing / marketing food direct from farms. But for the first time ever i am buying ready meals from supermarkets as i have no energy / enthusiasm for anything.

Where has the old me gone??

The house is so awful it is getting me even more depressed. I really would like to get motivated this weekend and try and get some order to my life before DH gets back on monday. He goes away again on Tuesday until Thursday so he is not here much to help me at the moment. The house is such a mess i just don't know where to start. If feels it is so messy there is no part trying as it will not make a dent in the mess.

any advice appreciated - and while i wait for replies i will try and get the washing out and clear the kitchen up a bit:o

art

Reverbe

No offence but if your 2 businesses are taking so much work and time, maybe think about finding one that makes some money ... this will of course leave you more time to do what you used to as a housewife/mum.Also lifes too short to fret about cleaning. I'm sure its not half as bad as you make out. Spend more time with your kids and less time worrying about your untidy floor etc..If your kids are both at school maybe time to get them to do some chores - even simple ones like tidying up after themselves. teaches them about life as well as helping you out.

BTW i'd empty the washing machine or the clothes will smell and need washing again..

hot.chick

Oh bless you, just stop.. take a breath... I have been ther and am coming out the other side slowly...

I took one room at a time, armed with bin bags.

firstly put away thing like packets, pots and pans etc, then got chucking, be ruthless, clear the decks, take regular breaks for tea, but then get back to it.

the kitchen might be a good place to start, fold any clean things and put them in piles - but they must be put away.

good luck it isn't east but is very satisfying if u can keep going until one room is done.

xx

artichoke

but we are convinced the businesses will bring in money - they are new businesses that have just started trading, and i am working lots of hours as i am training others. The run up to Christmas will be our busiest time of year and so i need to put lots of hours in to get ready for that, and by Christmas they should be profitable.

I suppose it is the change from to working full time that I am finding difficult to adjust to and still have time to fit the OS bit in.

I am not a clean freak by any means, but i do need a bit of order and routine. Last sunday i realized at 8pm that the uniform was at the bottom of the dirty laundry box........this would never have happened before.


Yes, one room at a time is the way to do it i guess. I have told the kids that if we get the kitchen / utility clear then we can do something special this evening.

Lets see if i can get enough motivation together to sort out these rooms.

art

poppy-glos

firstly (hugs).. you sound a bit shattered and frazzled.

my first advice is be nice to yourself, and plan in small steps.

could you think about doing one thing today (making a batch cook of something for the week/ prepared soup/meal cooked in double so you have a meal for today and one in the fridge for later for in the week?

I struggle with keeping my house together, so literally do baby steps, step one was clearing the dining table (which gets everything put on). Then when i have done that the next step is to keep it clear so i have a surface to sort the next area i have chosen. I do not aim to sort whole rooms, just one bit of the room at a time.

Good luck

Fruball

I have been exactly where you are (altho for different reasons) and my house was such a pit that I couldn't see where to start or what to do... I was lucky that a friend (well several) offered to help and she came over and blitzed my living room whilst I did the kitchen. We put music on and chatted. I am sure she did more than I did because I just couldn't see what to do if that makes sense... But now its in better order, I am keeping on top of those two rooms... Hallway next which shouldn't take too long...

I feel so much better in myself... For instance, when I came downstairs this morning, instead of walking into a depressing, untidy living room, I walked into a tidy room and it lifted my mood immediately and I was motivated to go and unload the dishwasher, sort the kitchen and make cooked breakfast for the kids!

However, my MrT shopping arrived about an hour ago and its still in bags... partly because my kitchen is tiny and I don't have room to put loads of stuff, and partly because I really do need to sort out my cupboards and get rid of stuff I don't use to free up more space...

Take it one step at a time and don't beat yourself up - that will just make you feel worse... Now, go empty that dishwasher and you will immediately feel better

Post and let us know each time you have done something.... We will keep you motivated

mrbadexample

artichoke wrote: »

...and we eat rubbish much more than we should.

I am knackered after work and have no motivation to play with the kids, tidy up or cook.

I just feel so unmotivated.

Yesterday i bought ready meals for us to eat today :eek::eek::eek: from a supermarket:eek::eek: as i knew i could not be bothered to cook or even to get stuff from the freezer.

But for the first time ever i am buying ready meals from supermarkets as i have no energy / enthusiasm for anything.

I read these bits and can't help thinking there might be a connection:

You eat rubbish and feel cr ap.

Perhaps the answer lies within. Start to cook again, preparing healthy nutritious meals, and you may find your energy levels rising. Even if it's just a little bit, it will give you the impetus to move forward.

artichoke wrote: »

The house is such a mess i just don't know where to start. If feels it is so messy there is no part trying as it will not make a dent in the mess.

Start with a little bit. Half the kitchen. A part of the lounge where you sit.

Nothing like a nice clean patch to shame you into doing a bit more. Trust me, I know.

artichoke

mrbadexample wrote: »

I read these bits and can't help thinking there might be a connection:

You eat rubbish and feel cr ap.

Perhaps the answer lies within. Start to cook again, preparing healthy nutritious meals, and you may find your energy levels rising. Even if it's just a little bit, it will give you the impetus to move forward.



Start with a little bit. Half the kitchen. A part of the lounge where you sit.

Nothing like a nice clean patch to shame you into doing a bit more. Trust me, I know.

YES - i know you are right. There is also a major irony in that my job is making / marketing healthy OS foods.

I did cook properly last night and i cook 2 much out of habbit so do have a portion extra in the fridge, that i can put in the freezer for later in the week.

and YES, if i get the kitchen looking better than i will feel more like cooking in here. A messy kitchen depresses me so much. I love my kitchen and seeing it so yuk makes me feel guilty.

Right i am off to clean the kitchen - but whilst i do that i can hear the kids upstairs tipping out more toys:o.

Ok i will focus on the kitchen and utility.

back later to report

art

Fruball

Well done

I have put half my shopping away and put the DW on again! It wasn't quite full but it will be less effort to empty it

Don't worry about what the kids are doing... Just make sure it is only their room... and later they can put it all back in their toy boxes - My girls room was always a mess and now they have loads of storage (plastic tubs) so they can just fling everything in them and its back in order again! Nothing is organised into the right tubs but I don't care as long as I can walk about in there without falling over stuff!

Keep going and let us know how you get on... I'm off to unpack the rest of my shopping as this thread is motivating me too

artichoke

well i put the washing out on the line - put some clean washing away and noticed it is now throwing it down outside....

now this shows me i am not "with it" i work in farming and usually weather watch all the time - it is an occupational hazard.... but i have not looked at the weather sites for days.... and now my washing is soaked - but i will have to leave it out as i have no space to put it inside at the moment as the maidens are full of dry washing waiting to go away. However as it sat in the washer for ages the rain will freshen it up and i might spin it later ...

right off to fill the dishwasher and shine the sinks, and then clean and turn the aga style cooker back on - that always cheers me up - and makes my kitchen much more welcoming.:D

art

adelight

Well done for starting getting on top of it Like everyone says, consider whether two businesses is necessary and get the kids on board! Give them chores, like doing washing on a saturday (and making sure their uniform is washed will make them feel more involved like it benefits them too) and keeping their own rooms clean. That takes a job off you and prepares them for later life.
Once you have everything clean and tidy it will be easier to maintain as long as you stick to a routine. As you have your own business (from home i presume) can you take time out during the day to do things? You might not feel up to tidying up after brekkie at the time, but set a timer for 15 mins at 11am where you whip round for a quick clean or do small jobs while your lunch is cooking.