In need of motivation to stay OS

Ida_Notion

You could try quickly jotting down your domestic jobs as you complete them. I find a 'Ta-Da!' list motivates me a lot more than a 'To-Do' list, and it gets me out of that mode where you spend too much time worrying about what's got to be done instead of getting on and doing it. Good luck. I expect we've all felt utterly overwhelmed from time to time.

westcoastscot

Hi,
I work 4 full days a week, in a very emotionally intensive job, and am back studying full time as well - and I guess the real answer is you can't do everything!! i've found I have to pick the things that are most important to me - a clean kitchen and bathroom, tidy'ish sitting room - I leave upstairs to itself, so long as I can get into bed. I do laundry each day over the week - have a pulley in the kitchen so the weather can mind itself - and iron once a week only. I use the slow cooker on work days, and bake on my day off.
Try and figure out what your priorities are, and leave the rest for now. It sounds like you're really keen on your new businesses, so set being majorly OS aside for now - you can go back to it in the future - and I have found that once you get into the swing of working again (I hadn't worked for 20 years) it becomes easier and you have a little more time.

WCS

Rummer

(((hugs)))

Sometimes life just gets in the way of our best intentions and it sounds to me as if you need a complete break before thinking about the house.

Why not go to a cafe and have a coffee or go out for a short walk to relax and then when you come back tackle the one job that will make the biggest impact. In my house that is usually picking things off the floor or choose the living room so that once it is tidy you can sit and relax.

Once that is done then you can start to turn your thoughts elsewhere, once the house is clean you can work out (with the family) how you are going to keep it that way.

In a way you are lucky as you already have teh experience and the skills and once you get back into the groove it will all fall back into place

juicygirl

I think you need to get your hubby more involved too. I know you said he is working away a lot but you are doing 2, no make that 3 full time jobs here. So when he is at home you have to ask for his help!

And what age are the kids? Not suggesting you make them workhorses but could they take some more responsibility for their bedrooms? Or other small, simple tasks?

Best of luck with your businesses btw! X

artichoke

hi all

thanks for the motivation...

my kids are 6 and 7 and they do or at least did help out at home - when i was in a routine so were they but as i have fallen off the wagon so have they.

When we are in the OS routine they get dressed themselves in morning but PJ's under pillow and make their beds, they put dirty clothes in washing machine and set table for tea and put dirty dishes in dishwasher BUT they can not do that if the washing machine and dish washer have not been emptied and there is no cutlery in the drawer to put on tablet etc...

they also help with the animals and feed them etc

so i know i have to get the house straight and get us all back into a routine...

Yes, -DH working away alot is a big part of the problem as he used to take them to school and pick them up but now i have to do it and have to walk so that is taking a big chunk out of my working day...also he used to empty the dishwasher every morning as part of his routine.

I feel if it could find the time to get straight then i could focus on getting back into the routine and keep it straight-ish...

i need a plan - i am aiming to get kitchen and utility straight today, bathroom and laundry all sorted tomorrow....

The living room is just hell - i have not sat down on the sofas for weeks as i tend to relax in the kitchen. there are toys everywhere so if i can just dump the toys in boxes and then hide the boxes under the kids bed it would at least be a start. But i am not sure i can fit that in this weekend.

Next weekend DH is here and i want to ask him to help me sort the kids room out. They share a room and really do not have enough space - but that problem can not be sorted instantly but will be sorted out when our businesses are bringing in more money and we can extend out into the garden.

Right next task is to clear a surface by removing all the browning tomato and courgette plants in the utility room.

I appreciate the sentiment in Rummer's advice about going out to a cafe and coming back refreshed to start BUT the nearest cafe is miles away and i don't have a car (and kids are happily playing so i don't want to disturb them)

BUT i did walk up the field and look back at the house and the wonderful countryside surrounding us and tried to get motivated by appreciating how lucky i am to live is such a beautiful rural landscape, working with farm animals and other farmers.... i know why i want the business to work to help me and other farmers get the best prices for their hard work... i just need to make sure to get the balance right so my own family don't suffer...

i need to keep the OS cookery / menu planning / batch cooking going as that is part of what i am promoting. I would be a hypocrite to market fresh produce but eat supermarket ready meals all the time!

Sorry i was feeling a bit down with DH being away but you have motivated me and helped me see the way through this..

Right off to clear the dead tomatoes etc

art

art

MuchAdo_2

Hi Artichoke,

Very jealous of your Aga, always wanted one!

I'm a long-time lurker on the OS board, but your post resonated with me so much, I've finally taken the plunge to join

Like you, I work stupidly long hours on my new business. I underestimated how energy zapping to would be, emotionally as well as time-wise, in trying to make a success of it. And I don't even have kids, I don't know how you do it. I don't think anyone would blame you for feeling demotivated.

Apologies if I'm pointing out the obvious, I really don't mean to patronise But the things I find really work for me:

- Food shop online. Saves hours in the supermarket & avoids temptation to buy ready meals.

- Slow cooker. I never pre-cook anything, just chuck it in & turn on first thing. Meal is then ready in the evening, when I otherwise probably would be too knackered to bother.

- Focussing on doing one thing at a time, and not trying to do 10 things at once. It's taken me a looong time to learn this! Mainly at work, but even just walking the dog without checking emails on my phone, for example. Makes me feel much less frazzled.

- Getting into the habit of tidying/de-cluttering little and often. Literally while the kettle boils - all helps.

- I used to think it was impossible, but taking some time out. Last Monday afternoon I sat down with a good cuppa & an old film. Can't remember last time I did it - felt 100 times better (and then able to crack on with house) for just giving myself a break.

I hope you rediscover your motivation

artichoke

MuchAdo wrote: »

Hi Artichoke,

Very jealous of your Aga, always wanted one!

I'm a long-time lurker on the OS board, but your post resonated with me so much, I've finally taken the plunge to join

Like you, I work stupidly long hours on my new business. I underestimated how energy zapping to would be, emotionally as well as time-wise, in trying to make a success of it. And I don't even have kids, I don't know how you do it. I don't think anyone would blame you for feeling demotivated.

Welcome to posting on the OS Board!

Yes, i have not realized how much emotional energy would go into launching a business - or the amount of time got taken up sorting out problems...

Yes, i feel i need to set clearer targets and focus more..

how is your business now going? did it get easier as time goes by?

art

jannyannie

Hi Artichoke

First of all stop beating yourself up. You've done something really brave and opened up your own businesses. You are not however superwoman but once you get this bit over with all the training you're doing I'm sure things will settle into some sort of a routine.

Prioritise on what is important, it's a bit like when you have a new baby. For me a clean kitchen and bathroom were the most important things. The rest can wait, no one died from a bit of dust. I also do a 15 minute thing where I will see how much tidying I can get done, say for example my dining room table. Also on-line shop. Don't know if you've got a slow cooker, I work shifts and tend to put mine on in the morning before I go to work, then I just have to cook rice, pasta or veg to go with it.

Good luck and have a hug

Jan

MuchAdo_2

artichoke wrote: »

Welcome to posting on the OS Board!

Yes, i have not realized how much emotional energy would go into launching a business - or the amount of time got taken up sorting out problems...

Yes, i feel i need to set clearer targets and focus more..

how is your business now going? did it get easier as time goes by?

art

Thank you

Yes, it does get easier. I started the business in 2009, but only made the leap from my full-time day job to self employment in April. It's such a huge life style adjustment. I work such long hours, everything goes into it for little return to begin with.

I know exactly what you mean about time sorting out problems - when you're being manager/technical guy/customer services/marketeer/financial person and a hundred other things, let alone wife/mum/friend/housekeeper, it's no wonder there's not enough hours in the day!

But we are growing steadily, and I am finally starting to settle into a routine that keeps both my business and my home & lifestyle happy and manageable. It just takes time, and trying not to burn-out in the meantime.

One thing my OH suggested last week was getting a cleaner :eek: It goes against all my OS instincts and the way we've always lived. Money is still tight for us. But if the budget would stretch to it, would it help to free up your time? To me, OS is about simplifying life, not just counting the pennies - you simply cannot do everything. Would it give you more quality time with your kids if you had a hand at home, especially with your husband travelling?

Your business sounds so valuable, I do hope it's going well for you? The motivation for me is eventually being able to move from the city to somewhere much more rural, just like the countryside you described

YORKSHIRELASS

Hi - just wanted to send you a hug really - it sounds like things are getting on top of you a bit.

I was once regularly working 50 hour weeks, doing 90% of the housework, caring for two kids (one with health problems) and managing a very tight budget. When it all got too much for me I felt like a failure but at the time I couldnt see how much I was trying to take on.

Sometimes just having a moan on here where no-one know you helps!

As for practical things: I would try and work towards having one tidy room where you can escape to if you can. Also try and complete one task before starting another, I am terrible at "butterflying" from one thing to another which means you never achieve anything! Say to yourself I am going to do as much as I can in the lounge in the next half an hour, it really focuses your mind! The kids enjoy this too.

As for food, mealplanning is my lifeline and it does make life easier.

I guess you have got to work out whats really important and what you can let slide a bit for now rather than trying to do it all.