Procrastination, Fatigue, Overwhelmed?

Let me begin this short thought piece with this clarification, which is you know your body better than anyone else.  Well, hopefully you do.  Maybe, there are some people that are not in touch with their bodies, so they are not sure when to rest and when to be active;  but, I fully believe one can learn to know.  Also, when in doubt, take baby steps and see how you feel.

Today, I have a job to do that I put off for

• when I wasn't tired.
• when I didn't have something more important to do.
• when I felt like it, which has nothing to do with how my body feels.

What I have found is putting off what needs to be done, just makes things worse.  Whether it is picking up in your house, cleaning, writing a letter, making a phone call, getting that new router up and running, filling your weekly pill container, or any other chore you can thing of, it helps to pick one job and start it with a small step.  One little step is the beginning to moving forward.

If I have hit a rocky road on my path to moving forward, I am still ahead of where I used to be, because I am building on the habits I had begun to establish.  Even if I have steps backwards, I can use the same method of baby steps to return to keeping my house clean, getting rid of clutter, or any other job that needs to be done.  Wallowing in guilt or failure is really not an option.  It just keeps me frozen.  I cannot wait until I feel "mentally" ready to get the job done.  The step seems to be the thing that has to come first for me;  then, the mental readiness gets easier.

This is written from my personal experience.  It is my opinion, and it is not meant to be a diagnosis for changing anything in anyone else's life.  I am simply sharing that by actually taking a small step to get something done, I am able to feel less overwhelmed.  Taking baby steps helps me to break the cycle of procrastination.  It encourages me to get moving and to move forward in my life.

I hope small steps will help you move forward too.

Clean Is Possible

Seeing this picture of my dusted, neatly displayed books, and other items is a lift to the hope in my heart, that I can get to the point of being able to easily keep my house clean and uncluttered.  The bookcases were the last things I cleaned in the living room.  I usually give them a quick once-over, but this time I took the two days to do the job right.  

Sore knees, as well as tired and achy body, slow me down;  however, they don't have to keep me down.  Nor, do similar conditions have to keep you from doing things you would like to get done.  

Sometimes, persevering and sticking to it seems easier said than done;  but, you can do your chores in baby steps.  It's a matter of dedication.  

Some people learn to pace themselves and get the house in a reasonably clean condition faster than others.  Learning the how-to's is often dependent on a number of circumstances, so don't have a guilt trip over how long it takes you to develop a routine you can manage.  It has literally taken me years to develop my habits to a point I do not have to stuff things in a closet or take them out to the garage to have a house that looks clean.  I still consider myself and my habits as works in progress.

What are some of the negative circumstances that often keep people who have chronic illnesses and chronic conditions from keeping their homes uncluttered and clean?  

• Stress
• Fatigue
• Relapses
• Flares
• Depression
• Guilt
• Anxiety
• Surgery
• Pain
• Afraid pain will develop from being more active
• Lack of help or/and understanding in your home
• Permanent Disability
• Financial Conditions
• Have developed bad habits while ill
• Have grown physically weak from being sedentary

Two months ago, I did a detailed cleaning of the master bedroom.  My bedroom is still clean!  I am more conscious of hanging clothes up and putting my belongings away.  Dusting the bedroom is easier.  My next detailed cleaning of the master bedroom should be simpler.  I don't want it to take five days to get the job done, nor do I want to breathe in dust every night, as I sleep.  

It is lovely to know this is working.  I am feeling more confident that I can keep my home cleaned and uncluttered, despite my illnesses and my flare-ups.  

The truth is there have been bumps in the road for me.  I have gotten rooms clean before, and I've had them go back to messy.  However, the more I work at this, the better it gets.  In my gut, I have known there was a way to take care of my house better, even while ill.  Now, I am being assured by the results I am experiencing.

What can you achieve as you build better habits?  Can you let go of obsessions?  The following list may be some things that have bothered you:  obsessions over what you keep in your house; obsessing that the house has to be cleaned or decluttered in one day or one week; obsessions that only the way you clean is right;   and the obsession that if the house is not perfect, than it is not clean.  

Baby steps will get you there.  

We can do this.  We can improve our habits.  We can get the clutter out of our houses.  

Together,    We    Can   Do   This.  

You and I are thinking about decluttering:  getting it out of the house, and cleaning our homes, because we want it.  We want to enjoy the serenity of living in a clean, tidy environment.

I am praying for you, and I am cheering you on.

Love, 

Deborah

A Quick Hint for Motivation

If I was a bee, maybe I wouldn't need any motivation.
I would collect honey and bzz, bzz, bzz all around the yard.

If you have a Facebook account, a very smart flybaby has come up with a motivational game to get slow starters encouraged in doing things scheduled on their To-Do list.  In a few minutes, I'm going to check it out and see if anyone is "playing."  The name of the game is Fly Lady Bingo and the instructions are in the Notes.

There are several ways to play...

Action Step: Toolkit for Success

Introduction
Honestly, I am hoping I can make this a short blog post today.  I think we could all use that.  I have the Facebook Page up, but it took me lots of time, even though Facebook does make it easy to walk through;  but I try to do my own artwork, because I don't want to infringe on any copy-writes.  Also, I never set up a public Facebook Page before. The Facebook Page is called Balancing Life Changes / Living Better With Chronic Illness.

On to the Main Subject
Yesterday, I asked you to think about a habit you would like to work on, or one you need to work on -- just one.  Whether you are male or female;  when you have a chronic illness, especially when it is at it's worse or you have overdone,  it makes some of your brains feel like they are slogging through a fog.  In fact, I am having to focus extra hard right now, because I am having one of those days where my brain and body are extra tired.  So pick one thing, one habit you need to change.  My habit I plan to work on is setting a timer when I write.  I need to get up to do other things, to move my body or I get to stiff, and I need to rest my brain.

Your problem may be similar to when I have been extremely sick and sedentary.  My motivation was at its lowest, and taking a bath or shower was a major issue for me.  Or you may be somewhere in between my current situation and my lowest.  The basic way to change the habit is one step at a time.  And you may be surprised, one step may make you feel like taking another;   which, in turn, increases self-esteem and motivation.

I am going to keep this as simple as possible:  if you are sitting in a chair or have a hard time getting out of bed.  Yes, I know it hurts.  Just lie there and