newbiecatto avatar
newbiecatto
17
2 years ago

Make it perfect or nah

I struggle with boring routine stuff like cleaning, organizing my stuff, tyding up, cooking and so on (even showering). My flat looks like a mess at the moment so I wanted to tidy up a bit today (Monday is my day off). I had planned to go to the library first and I got a book about tyding up (the konmari method) - not what I went to the library for originally... So I decided to read this book first before tyding/cleaning. Anyone else experience this kind of procrastination? I can't just do it, even though it's really necessary, and then wait for another day to do the konmari stuff (which will take much longer). Now it's 'this is the only way I will do it, until then I'll live in chaos'...

puppycat avatar
puppycat
2y

totally relate! my partner and I both have add/adhd so we’ve decided to set timers - like 15 minutes to tidy up our space, clean the car, etc. kind of make it a game and do as much as we can in those 15 minutes - it’s definitely helped us to stay on top of things. music and podcasts help. then I can increase the time if i’m in the zone. I have an alexa so i’ll just scream at her to remind me when our time is up lol kind of helps to do the daunting task in small focused increments than trying to make it “perfect” all at once. which is hard hah.

Unknown avatar
Unknown
2y

I can so relate to you on this! It’s been almost impossible for me to complete my tasks. I have to clean today because I’m having company tomorrow and I’m dreading it. I’m also dreading taking a shower. It makes me depressed and feel shameful. Have you experienced that?

ADOoooPretty avatar
ADOoooPretty
2y

Yes! I just had a few thoughts last night on how I want to spice up my weekly routines. 1) create a 4+ week routine instead of a weekly routine where it's roughly the same thing, but with enough differences to keep it new and interesting. Eg; if you have a list of 10 exercises you want to do 3-5 times a week split them up, put different exercises on different days that week, then switch up the order for each week. 2) I am a goofy, bubbly person. And so are my 3 kids under 5yo. I want to go to Dollarama to pick out weird, goofy, funny accessories, and then weird toys to hot glue onto headbands, and goofy (sun)glasses. I'm going to put them all in a bag then every time me, and/or the kids gotta do a daunting task, get myself and my kids dressed up in bizzarre accessories, create characters, and some sort of wild story as to why these characters are going to do the daunting tasks, or pretend we're doing something that isn't the daunting tasks. 3) when counting out things like exercises or stretches use your fingers to do the counting and say random things that come to mind. instead of verbally counting to 5 put a finger up or down every time you say a word; Banana, Elephant, purple, fast, iceberg

imommy31 avatar
imommy31
2y

Yeah if I can’t completely organize and everything in it’s place as I go, I won’t clean. Because I know if I gather things to sort “later”, later never comes. My husband will “clean” by taking all the things that are not his or don’t belong in the space and just shove them in a box or closet and never look at them again, but this is now a “clean” space to him. Guess who’s left to sort everything?! Me. Guess what ADHDers have a hard time with?! Sorting. Maybe hubby has it too?? I’ve recently started picking fights about it. I want people to put things where they go or don’t do the chore. It’s not my job to go behind people and redo everyone’s chores by putting things where they actually go. And yes they know where that is. I label things or walk them to it and show them.

litelite avatar
litelite
2y

I’ve been making mundane tasks more enjoyable so that my dopamine doesn’t come FROM the task, but from the environment I’ve created AROUND the task. For ex, for cleaning, I’ll play some music, put some lemon oil in my burner, snack on something light, and dance all while I’m cleaning.

newbiecatto avatar
newbiecatto
2y

Yeah, that makes sense, instead of not doing anything at all to do at least a little bit of cleaning. I struggle to appreciate the small steps, though, cause it feels like it doesn't lead to anything. I tend to think: if I do it right once, it will be a lot easier in the future.

CrabbyShrimp avatar
CrabbyShrimp
2y

DUDE NO I COMPLETELY GET THAT. Whenever I have to start a project like cleaning my room, my mind divides it into a bunch of smaller tasks that make the process feel so much longer and so I just perish. My biggest tip of advice is do a small bit of cleaning each day in places where the konmari method wouldn’t help!!

t3chnopol1c3 avatar
t3chnopol1c3
2y

Oh, literally me - reading the book/any guide on tidying up instead of the actual tidying up! I guess, the book is really helpful though, and I add it to my list of to-read books 💡 also, I am too confused about being in a total mess - and the huge time that takes, only for one zone to be cleaned the way I want it to be! Wish you success in the future, sometimes, we just lack one impulse to get started ⚡️⚡️⚡️

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