Tips on how to clean when you feel like shit?

[mortalityisbadass]

I'm feeling slightly better than usual but still low energy and unmotivated. Anyone have any methods on how to clean more effectively or how to motivate yourself?

 

[human909]

Listing to music might help, it does for me at least.

 

[idelttoilfsadness21]

For me, rewatching something you enjoy and daydreaming about it or thinking about the plot and treating yourself as you resume to find out what you left off on

 

[onthefence]

I'm feeling slightly better than usual but still low energy and unmotivated. Anyone have any methods on how to clean more effectively or how to motivate yourself?

I tell myself that I can just wash a few dishes or start one load of laundry and then quit if I want. Usually just getting started gives me enough momentum to get some of it done beyond the few dishes or starting the laundry.

 

[taysontheory]

Music or a small device to massage your feet

 

[Regen]

Phew, that's always and every day a big problem for me.

What helps me:
- listen to something: radio, techno, podcasts about depressions or healing, videos of how others clean and tidy up, affirmations.
- tell myself that I'm just going to do this one thing for a moment. Most of the time I do more.
- don't look for perfection, it's better to do something than nothing at all
- ask chatgpt to motivate me to unload the dishwasher now
- know that someone will come by and see my apartment
- eat from paper plates in an emergency
- Simply throw all your things into an "everything box"

 

[femcelloser]

I'll go months without cleaning my living space and letting everything just build up. Usually what happens to me is I have a breakdown one day and just use all those emotions and try to use it? To force myself to stand up and get shit done. I have no idea why it works but it does. Maybe next time you're feeling particularly bad, try to force yourself to clean your room or something? It could also help you whenever you're done because like. A clean come does wonders for your brain

 

[CatLvr]

I tell myself constantly "Don't put it down, put it AWAY".

And I will turn on some bumping tunes, set the timer on my phone and tell myself I can quit when the timer goes off.

I can't deal with a mess. It will cause me to spiral down to places I have no business being quicker than anything on the planet.

 

[billie]

i listen to music while i clean my apartment

 

[Namelesa]

probably won't help most people but if I was to clean stuff I would do this:

I think it would be fun to pretend to be a maid while cleaning

 

[F@#$]

I like drinking whiskey and cleaning.

 

[onthefence]

I like drinking whiskey and cleaning.

If I tried this I would break too many things and end up passed out in my own puke. So I would have lots more cleaning I would have to do. This is the only reason my kitchen floor is clean at the moment- had no choice but to clean up the mess before anyone saw it.

 

[Forever Sleep]

I so badly need this too. Like- right now... My plan is put either a film or music on to try and distract myself. A well known (my me) film is the best. I know it well enough to not be distracted by it and I tell myself- I need to keep going till it finishes.

Not sure why it's become such a mental block for me. I'm not actually lazy in all aspects of life but- tidying and cleaning, I'm just terrible.

Have you tried to work out why you struggle so much with it? I've tried to figure it out for me. I suppose because I can live in turmoil. I don't exactly like it but, I can put up with it. So, the motivation isn't really there. Like, I'll like it when it's done and tidy. It will help my state of mind even but, doing it will feel awful and it won't last anyway! So, I'm excellent at talking myself out of it.

What might help is telling myself, I'm making life an awful lot worse for myself later if I don't do this now. I do have the time now. I'll end up regretting it if I don't get it done. It's literally like pulling teeth though!

I interestingly saw that reluctance to tidy/ clean can come about as a response to narcissistic abuse. I'm pretty sure I grew up with a narcissist but, I don't think I can blame mine on that. I think it's more when a partner or parent is narcissistic and they constantly criticise your efforts. So- people become afraid to even try.

I suspect mine has come about more in rebellion to quit a strict upbringing. Plus, I suppose like a lot of people here, we may not have very high respect for ourselves.

I'm actually better at doing chores for other people. So, I've wondered about using that tactic too. Telling myself I'm doing it for someone else or, that it's part of my job. Which it actually kind of is- seeing as I work from home.

I hope you managed to motivate yourself. I must at least try myself now...