My life is a crazy crazy whirlwind. I am lucky enough to be able to stay home with my boys still, but between errands, lack of motivation, and still struggling with unpacking from the move. . . Nothing gets done I feel like.
I struggle with Adult ADHD. I learned this while married to my very organized and on-task husband. Opposites attract right?? It worked for us once we got a system, and I never knew, and probably still wouldn't have known, I had ADHD unless it hadn't been pointed out to me.
It doesn't have to manifest it's self in the typical way of hyperactivity. My hyperactivity is within my thoughts. My mind goes a million miles a minute and I have learned some awesome ways to organize my thoughts and tasks without the use of stimulants or any other medication.
I remembered the other day that my therapist showed me the coolest cleaning system that may help me stay on task when doing house work. At the time, I was working so I didn't have a lot of time or motivation to clean, and I would feel like I would work my tail off with little result. I'd like to share with you this awesome method.
I call it my Chore Jar... The idea comes from The Fly Lady. But you can customize it to your liking.
I cut out 25 yellow strips of paper for my chores, 10 blue strips for extra, deep cleaning chores. And 3 red strips for bonus activities.
Yellow, Chore Examples:
Master Bedroom Master Bathroom Guest Bathroom Office
Kitchen Table/Counters Kitchen Sink (Sparkling) Floors Vacuum Floors Sweep/Mop
Empty Baskets (2) Living Room Garbages Laundry Start
Laundry Fold Toy Room Dust Dishes
Boys' Room Extra Chore (3) Bonus! (3)
Blue, Extra Chore Examples:
Wipe Down Blindes Wipe Down Walls/Doors Straighten Pantry
Give Garage some Attn Give Basement Attention Front Room Closet
Wipe Out/Clean Fridge Clean Windows Organize Dresser Drawers
Red, Bonus! Examples:
Eat a Snack/Drink the Dew! Paint Toe Nails! Rest for extra 10 mins!
The idea is that you do ONE chore for 15 minutes and ONLY that chore. If you are cleaning up the front room and you have items to take to other rooms of the house, you must put those in a basket to be cleaned out later. That way you are focusing one one room at a time. (I like to put in the yellow chores a card that says Empty Baskets. If you dont choose that one that day, I will empty those during naptime or before I go to bed.)
I would tend to get soooo off task when I would clean. I would bring a dish to the kitchen and see the kitchen needed to be swept, then I would see the garbage needed emptying. While outside at the garbage can there would be weeds to pull, then the neighbor would talk to me.... You see where I am going. I would work, work, work and then look at the house and it felt like nothing was accomplished. It was so discouraging.
My system is that I do 3 cycles of chores for a total of 45 minutes and rest for 10-15 mins. Regroup, make a to do list or play with my kids. Whatever you want! Then keep going with the cycle. You will be surprised at what you can accomplished in just a few hours. I love it when I choose the Bonus! cards too. It's like drawing out of a hat... And that brightens my day when I pick that one first! :)
I know this is a very different post, but I just wanted to share this to any of you out there who feel like they are a little out of control. This helps. And it is actually quite fun, and hasn't lost its appeal for me ever!
Things are going great around here. As good as they can be anyway. My boys are settling into our new routine and actually becoming great playmates with each other. My 3 year old will start preschool next week and I know brother will miss him. But I am craving some sort of routine like we used to have before my husband passed. I thrive and so do my little ones when there is order to my house, my day, and my life. I don't know if I will ever get there. But it's nice to have that goal in mind!
Take care!
I love and need this!!!
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