I don't know how to clean up

[sun seeker]

I figured this title would get more attention than the one I was originally thinking of, something like "having a single focus."

I'm feeling pretty overwhelmed lately, and was just musing on what exactly the problem is. It's not so much not having energy to get things done. It's that it's really hard for me to transition from one activity to another, and equally hard to multitask. Sort of like I can get my brain trundling along in a particular groove and it takes a great deal of energy to get it out and start it on another one.

I'm working pretty much full-time, which is a big deal for me and something I very much want to continue. It's going well. But it takes just about all my physical and mental energy. I go out, do what I'm supposed to do, then come home and collapse on the couch. I hardly even cook, subsisting on a few things that are easy to put together. That's all the energy I have.

But there are other things starting to pile up that need doing, most particularly some cleaning and organizing in the house, and the yard work I haven't been doing. It's not that there is really that much of it. It's that when I am doing one thing, all my energy goes into that. I can't think to get started on anything else. If I just set aside even half an hour a day to get caught up on the house and yard, it would get under control pretty fast. But after thinking that, I stood there staring at the mess having no idea where to begin.

There is some slight pressure because my landlord is likely coming by pretty soon, and I want to have things looking decent. But most of the pressure comes from within: I like living in a clutter-free space that looks nice. A mess is stressful for me to live with. I'd also like more balanced meals.

Anyone know how to get around this and get stuff done?

 

[cat-lady]

Is there anyone who can help you with this stuff? I know some people who fix the balanced meal issue by setting aside a day to fix all their meals for a week or a month and then freeze them. Or is you don't like food out of the freezer you could do it by the week and refrigerate them. I'm not sure about the rest of the stuff.

 

[Deleted member 541]

OMG! I could have written your post. I love the fact that I can work, but come home mentally, emotionally and physically exhausted. The only difference between your post and the one I could have written..... I can not tolerate clutter or dirt, so I HAVE to keep my apartment clean. I clean it once a week, and just keep everything picked up all week, so there isn't any clutter.

I push myself to get things done....

Sunday's, like today.... I'm in bed for the day. It's my day to do nothing but rest my body and mind.....

 

[ladee]

I have let things get so bad, I do not let anyone inside my home. I live in a tiny little trailer that didn't have much room to begin with. While working... it started getting cluttered... too tired to deal with it... after I retired, I was so depressed from so much death and loss, I slept for almost four months.... doing little else... and not realizing how working was keeping the PTSD at bay, fell apart at the seams.. am just now starting to pick up the pieces and get my house livable once again... I pick one little project a day.... if I can do more, I do... slow progress, but it didn't turn into a mess over night either... I do not have to have the 'all or nothing' approach to this...I get done what I can, and not beat myself up for what isn't done.... in realty, all I have is time... and if time runs out for me... then it's someone else's problem.. selfish I know... but that's the best I can do right now...

 

[Deleted member 12723]

I too get a little accomplished each day and it does seem to help.

 

[sun seeker]

I started to wonder if I would be able to get things done if I did my own work while still in work mode, if that makes any sense. As in keep track of my time, dress in the clothes I would work in, imagine how much I would be earning if I paid myself. Like @ladee I think work is keeping the symptoms at bay - somewhat. When I don't have a commitment from outside myself, I am lost.

There are practical things that make some of this stuff complicated. I don't have transportation, and there are things piling up that require a ride somewhere.

I don't have anyone to help, unless I hire them. Which is a possibility for some of the yard work.

Right now, I really just want to sleep. I made a list. Think I'll chip away at it when I have a little free time and feel rested. Maybe find something to reward myself with for getting stuff done, since there isn't actually the financial incentive so I'll have to invent another one.

 

[sun seeker]

There is another thread going right now that I can easily relate to. I think one part of what I need to do is keep cutting down on the amount of stuff I have to deal with. Physical stuff, I mean. I already cut way back several months ago, and it helped me feel much less overwhelmed. Think I need to keep going in the same direction.

 

[scout86]

I guess I have the same problem. I just hadn't identified it as a potential problem until you mentioned it.

I also have problems returning phone calls, which I really need to do for the business. I once commented to my T that, "At the end of the day, the last thing I feel like doing is return phone calls." He said, "Maybe you need to redefine 'the end of the day'." So the day doesn't end till the calls are returned. Maybe you can "not be done with work" until a project you want done is done? (Be reasonable about setting goals though.)