OS Motivation

newlywed

Just to add - if you do make a list, start it off with the easiest sounding things and don't make the list too long - otherwise that will just put you off before you start

Magentasue

My situation is quite different but I like lists too. On 'home days' I lay in bed and think of three things I'm going to do as soon as I get up - unload dishwasher, make packed lunches and put a load of washing in.

Then I sit down with a cup of coffee and think of three morning things - today's were make some bread and a pudding for tonight, sweep and wash the kitchen floor and colour my hair. Didn't get the last one done so that will be later today. Afternoon is DIY, garden or whatever. I don't stick to my mental lists all the time but I find it more manageable to think in threes and I always get some of it done.

mary43

I think I'm one of the world's worst or laziest person when it comes to getting things done. Hate cooking but luckily OH enjoys it so if he's about he's in charge of the kitchen. (Not so today though so I shamefully admit I'm cooking a frozen meat pie -with fresh veg though)
I've had a bad back -some days worse than others so if I don't feel up to getting the hoover out then I don't. My mums old ewbank carpet sweeper can pick up odd bits and pieces with little effort. Quick wipe with a duster and at least I feel I've done something.
Set your self small achievable goals............(I have a small list of 'stuff' to do )but always be flexible with it.........not the end of the world if it doesn't get done..............and don't, whatever you do, feel guilty that you've not done this or that. It's not that important but you are.
If you feel you need a bit extra support try for counselling through your GP.
I did, felt tons better as a result and didn't have to pay (thankgoodness)
Good luck.............:j

lostinrates

I am a huge list maker...literally...I bought a white board so my list is huge!

I also do thing in sets of ten then have a reward (refreshing page of MSE for example, glass of water...cup of tea). anything over ten gets me a mental gold star!

I have serious laziness and motivation issues, not least because I have a medical condition that can at times rende rme in a lot of pain. Its easier to sit down all day and do nothing....but its more rewarding to get things done. The big list reay help, and I put really silly every day things on it too, like to take my vitamins, clean my teeth and do the cat litter, because it all gets ticked off that way, and if you can tick off a whole secrion of your list before even having a morning cup of coffee somehow you feel more productive.

Its also important to learn your own body ryhthm. I get most, say 70-80% of my stuff acheived between 6-10 in the morning, and the really productive window is smaller than that. In summer I get up later, and it all shifts round and I find I get most done in a couple of hours in the morning and say between 7-11 at night.

sallywl

Thanks so much I will in deed try the thread, and maybe look at the flylady website too
:T

kal25

Hi foreversomeday, do u know I often feel the same as u-I think most people do. To be honest I sit here and think of what needs to be done-some days it gets done others don't. I have 3 children and work eve- my biggest prob is I can spend time tidying say the kitchen, yet by the time the kids have had tea and I come back home it looks like I never touched it. Because of this I need lots of motivation. Like most said on here I think a list is the way to go.

Make it a room a day- doesn't mean to say you have to do everything in that room just say 2/3 things to make that room look tidier.This is the way I will be going. Start with small things and u can take care of bigger things later:D looking on here u will find easier ways of getting things done, so use that as an excuse if needs be. for instance I used to dread doing the ironing after asking some questions I now do next to no ironing which makes my washing so much easier to handel with and doesn't pile up. Hope all goes well kal25.

Steel_2

I agree with the idea of a timetable like you had in college.

That works really well for me to. That way I schedule chunks of time to do different things and get things accomplished.

I tend to take my 'me-time' first thing in the morning in case the day gets hectic and last thing at night if I'm finished work and chores early (apart from now obviously - my excuse is I'm having a 'free period' )

Also, I restrict myself to certain boards and don't deviate from them, otherwise hours slip away.

DianaMattos

Hi ForeverSomeday, I too am at home awaiting the birth of our baby (due beginning of Oct), and somedays you do feel like you are lazy cos you sit around doing not a lot. But don't forget you are growing a human being and that takes time and energy. I have found that I don't feel pregnant in my head, so want to rush around doing things I have always done, but then my bulky, achy body lets me down and I need to rest. Don't feel bad about resting, it is so important.

I also want to really encourage you for wanting to be a stay-at-home wife and mother! That is often half of the battle, actually wanting to do it, so you're half way there already.

Anyway, to get motivated, I find that getting out of bed and falling into the shower without thinking about it helps enormously. If you feel clean and fresh, then your outlook will change on the rest of the day.

If you can, stick a timer on for 15 minutes and see what you can get done in that time. Things like wiping down kitchen surfaces, sweeping the floor, hoovering the lounge, picking up and putting away out of place things. I have found the 'just do it' method works for me. The more I think about it, the longer I put it off and then when I do do it, I wonder what on earth made me take so long to do it because a) it wasn't that bad and b)it didn't take anywhere near as long as I thought it would! You can do this as many times in a day as you think you want to!

Also, is there a time of day when you feel you're at your most energetic? If so, use that time to do physical stuff like the cleaning, putting bins out etc. Use your quieter times to rest and snooze, and do sitting down things like coming on here, and do something you enjoy.

As for clutter and stuff being about, I totally understand. We have been renovating our house since we found out we were expecting, and no room is 100% finished, so there is stuff everywhere, like a toilet, a sink and a shower in the lounge with all the associated plumbing gubbins. It drives you crazy when you can't settle cos everywhere is a mess. So, is there any mileage in having a gentle sort through of your stuff and seeing if there is stuff you can get rid of, either to the bin or charity shop? Take it a box/small area at a time, put what you want to get rid of by the front door and let your other half get rid of it! By doing this, I got rid of 5 carrier bags of books this morning and there is still more to go, but its a start.

Something else I find that helps me (and I don't do this enough) is to focus on making our house pretty, somewhere where I want to spend time and make an effort in. Whether this is flowers in a vase from the garden, or a clear coffee table, or some framed pictures, its up to you. Then you see 'housework' as more than drudgery because you are making something beautiful as well.

Re structure to your day and making sure you eat... I was worried about this too. So I get up with DH for when he goes to work and we eat breakfast together. I also make his lunch the night before (only started that this week, so we'll see how long I can keep it up!), but I make double so that I have some for lunch too. And then dinner - ah the meal plans! I sit down once a month and plan a months worth of meals. An arduous task, but it means that all meals are planned, and shopped for and all I have to do of an evening is cook it, the thought process is eliminated! I don't know whether any of that is useful to you or not.

Sorry for rambling on, and I hope that some of what I have shared is helpful. Running a home and a family can be a daunting prospect, and I have learnt so much from other people on this forum and from blogs that I read that I feel I can offer something back.

Keep posting, let us know how you get on.
Love Di x

keld

I think it's best not to look at ALL the stuff that needs doing as it's totally overwhelming (I've DS8 and twin DD4 and work full time), but I try to think today I'm going to tidy/clean/iron for HH then have 10min me time - a cup of tea/read thread for me, throughout the day/evening. Otherwise you think what's the point.

I do think that you sound a bit depressed and I also think you should see your GP and get some support, before baby arrives. (I hope you don't think that sounds too cheeky).

I found that when I was off on maternity leave it was essential to get out into the fresh air for a walk with baby. Also to have a routine as soon as possible (in practice that was at about 4 weeks with DS and 6 weeks with TDD), because otherwise it's too much. Also make sure that you go to your local toddler/baby clubs - for you not for baby, so that you've got other adults to talk to.

Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy.

foreversomeday

Hi all,

Thanks for the lovely and supportive posts, I rang my mum as I know she doesn't mind me being hormonal over the phone and she managed to calm me down and is going to help me make a timetable when she comes over tomorrow. I am making a list now of everything I need to get done and whether it's a one off or a regular chore, so we can hopefully fit those all in. I am also going to go to the market at the weekend and get some storage boxes so that at least if I can't get rid of all the clutter it will be organised. It also means I can allocate a box for "junk mail" which is my pet peeve because we get about 4 free papers a week and they all come with stacks of leaflets, which end up strewn around the place or take up a huge chunk of our bin when they could be recycled.

The meal plans will take a bit longer to come into effect, I am going to get into the habit of shopping online though rather than DF's half hearted attempts whenever I can persuade him to go. I have been saying it for ages but it is going into the timetable now so it will change.

I want to start making the house look pretty and "ours" - we have only been living together for about 10 months, both moved straight from home, and we have had 2 houses in that time so everything is still a mess and we have no pictures or anything to hang up. I have been meaning to get some nice photographs blown up and framed to hang and sort out lampshades etc. If I can sort out the living room I will be happy as we spend most of our time in here. I was thinking of choosing a weekend, employing a load of DF's friends and doing the baby's room in one mad changing rooms style day! Then fingers crossed I can delegate and have the nice task of sorting out toys, bedding and baby clothes while they do all the hard work, hehe.

So I have three main goals: Organise myself for cleaning the house, Organise a meal planning, shopping and cooking schedule, and Make the house look like a home.