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Default Sep 18, 2020 at 05:09 AM
  #1
While I am making progress slowly in improving my symptom profile. I still really struggle keeping up w dishes, laundry, cleaning apt, cleaning me. I live alone in a tiny apt. No visitors.

I have noone to get on me about this stuff. Just me. Very hard for me.

Any suggestions on how to get out of this rut?

Thank you.

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Default Sep 18, 2020 at 05:17 AM
  #2
Hi friend I have been in this position. First and most important is that you know you are not alone in this. Try to relate to sometime in the past where you have a good memory or relate the shower to a reward you will buy something nice for yourself Candy, or a tshirt. Give yourself a pad in the back every time you do something well. You are not alone, we in this group all support eachother and have different own drama, demons we battle with.
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Default Sep 18, 2020 at 05:49 AM
  #3
It helps me to write a list. I like being able to check things off that I accomplished. If I’m having an especially hard time I just give myself a few small tasks each day. Are you still able to ride your bike?
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Default Sep 18, 2020 at 05:54 AM
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Hi friend I have been in this position. First and most important is that you know you are not alone in this. Try to relate to sometime in the past where you have a good memory or relate the shower to a reward you will buy something nice for yourself Candy, or a tshirt. Give yourself a pad in the back every time you do something well. You are not alone, we in this group all support eachother and have different own drama, demons we battle with.
Lots of hugs and love
Thank you!!

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Default Sep 18, 2020 at 05:57 AM
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It helps me to write a list. I like being able to check things off that I accomplished. If I’m having an especially hard time I just give myself a few small tasks each day. Are you still able to ride your bike?
Oh yeah. Running and riding are no problem becausr it feels so good, helps my depression, and weirdly permits me some joy even when depressed. Exercise is the only thing that allows me enjoyment when depressed. So odd to me.

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Default Sep 18, 2020 at 07:08 AM
  #6
Schedule it. Place a reminder on your phone and get up and do it when it goes off. Set a timer for 20 minutes and just do whatever you can in that time.

It helps to break your space up into zones. Kitchen, laundry, bathroom, living area, etc. Create a rotation and work in one zone at a time. Focusing your efforts ensures one piece of your space is always in shape. Working in small bursts every day ensures there's always progress being made. You'd be amazed at what you can knock out in 20 minutes especially if you put on some music
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Default Sep 18, 2020 at 08:48 AM
  #7
I struggle with ADLs as well. I think part of it is getting out of habits, such as showering and brushing teeth. Another thing is I dislike tasks like dishes, tidying, vacuuming, washing floors, and doing laundry. Someone mentioned focusing on one task at a time and spreading them out over the week. It would be good advice for me to follow too.

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---"Address before the Wisconsin State Agricultural Society". Abraham Lincoln Online. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. September 30, 1859.
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Default Sep 18, 2020 at 08:58 AM
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Schedule it. Place a reminder on your phone and get up and do it when it goes off. Set a timer for 20 minutes and just do whatever you can in that time.

It helps to break your space up into zones. Kitchen, laundry, bathroom, living area, etc. Create a rotation and work in one zone at a time. Focusing your efforts ensures one piece of your space is always in shape. Working in small bursts every day ensures there's always progress being made. You'd be amazed at what you can knock out in 20 minutes especially if you put on some music
Ugh. Yeah. I get it. You know what part of the problem is? I lead such a joyless life most of the time due to longstanding recalcitrant depression that I have arrived at a place where I kinda don't care. I want to care. I aspire to care. But...

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Default Sep 18, 2020 at 09:00 AM
  #9
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Ugh. Yeah. I get it. You know what part of the problem is? I lead such a joyless life most of the time due to longstanding recalcitrant depression that I have arrived at a place where I kinda don't care. I want to care. I aspire to care. But...
Just consider it part of your treatment. Like you may not care about taking a pill, but it helps so you do it. This is a physical balance thing. Reframe how you look at it.
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Default Sep 18, 2020 at 09:29 AM
  #10
Treatment. Okay. Got it.

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Default Sep 18, 2020 at 09:37 AM
  #11
I do the timer thing too. Set it for like 20 minutes then see what you can get done in that time. It's not so overwhelming when it's broken down like that. I struggle with these things as well. It seems like insurmountable tasks when you're feeling unmotivated or depressed. Another thing that helps me is a I bought a planner called the Legend Planner (any weekly planner would work) where I just write out my plans and to do-lists for each day and I write down a reward I can give to myself for completing my goals. Having something written like that makes me feel like I'm accomplishing something when I do get things done because I can look back and see my progress and see what's maybe holding me back.

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Default Sep 18, 2020 at 02:21 PM
  #12
Thanks, Blue!!

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Default Sep 18, 2020 at 02:40 PM
  #13
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I do the timer thing too. Set it for like 20 minutes then see what you can get done in that time. It's not so overwhelming when it's broken down like that. I struggle with these things as well. It seems like insurmountable tasks when you're feeling unmotivated or depressed. Another thing that helps me is a I bought a planner called the Legend Planner (any weekly planner would work) where I just write out my plans and to do-lists for each day and I write down a reward I can give to myself for completing my goals. Having something written like that makes me feel like I'm accomplishing something when I do get things done because I can look back and see my progress and see what's maybe holding me back.
Thanks blue (I struggle with this too)


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Default Sep 18, 2020 at 05:04 PM
  #14
I, too, live in a tiny apartment, essentially a studio with 1 very small bedroom and a closet. I love my apartment and looking at it, I would think of how easy it is to keep clean!

Well, it seems the chores never end. The only person who visits is my husband (he lives 1 mile away). Besides him, I don't have any visitors. Nevertheless, I know that - as fern pointed out - keeping my home nice is tremendously therapeutic for me. If I was living in a messy environment I'd feel terribly discouraged. I allow keeping the home up as a reward in itself.

Making a list is a great idea, just because it gets the "gotta do" churning out of your mind and onto paper. Plus, drawing lines through each chore as you finish it is such a good feeling.

I agree, too, with self-reward. That's a biggie.

I entirely agree with fern's idea of breaking up space zones. I wouldn't be able to successfully do housework any other way. And sticking to a time schedule - yes. "It's 3:00, time to sweep the floor." And come hell or high water, you get up and do it. Don't think about it. Just put yourself on your feet, grab that broom, and go for it.

It's quite surprising, once you keep to a schedule, how little time chores really take. Sometimes I'll put off cleaning the bathroom sink, for example. I'll put it off for 3 days. 4 days. Finally drag myself in there and clean the sink. Then I roll my eyes at myself. Wow, it ended up taking a whole 15 minutes and the sink is nice and clean. Was it worth stressing over for days? Absolutely not.

Having the correct "tools" to do the jobs is encouraging. A decent broom and dust pan, decent mop, the right cleanser for the job and the right sponges or whatever you want to use.

Something I've found to be amazingly handy is a little hand vacuum. The way they're made these days, the battery lasts for such a long time and those little things are powerful and fab!!! They're actually kind of fun to use.

btw, what are ADL's?

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Default Sep 18, 2020 at 05:22 PM
  #15
Gonna start manana. Choose a zone. 20 mins. Headphones. Albert.

Thanks!!

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Default Sep 18, 2020 at 05:24 PM
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Yes, for Albert - and music is a must!

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Default Sep 18, 2020 at 06:06 PM
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Gonna start manana. Choose a zone. 20 mins. Headphones. Albert.

Thanks!!
Albert can help!

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Default Sep 18, 2020 at 06:23 PM
  #18
That's what I'm doing about moving- making lists of things that need done and then slowly doing each one. I also put on music and before you know it, my task is done and the CD is over. Problem is, I'm not really getting to the cleaning part. Hopefully, I'll have time to do that the day I move out or the day before. Just a once-over quickly kinda thing.

Keep going bit by bit, B, you'll get there!

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Default Sep 18, 2020 at 08:22 PM
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btw, what are ADL's?
Activities of Daily Living.

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---"Address before the Wisconsin State Agricultural Society". Abraham Lincoln Online. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. September 30, 1859.
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Default Sep 18, 2020 at 10:28 PM
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Activities of Daily Living.

Aha - thank you!

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