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Real members of MyFibroTeam have posted questions and answers that support our community guidelines, and should not be taken as medical advice. Looking for the latest medically reviewed content by doctors and experts? Visit our resource section.

How Do You Find The Motivation To Get Up And Tidy Everyday?

A MyFibroTeam Member asked a question 💭
Cleethorpes, UK

I find that after I've been tidying the house throughout the day, fixed the kitchen and then do dinner in the evening and mess the kitchen up again, (sometimes my mother does it) I don't have the energy to clean it, so the day after, I wake up with the immediate thoughts of what a shit tip I have to re-clean again. And cook again. And look after two energetic dogs. Break my back over the laundry shovelling things in and out and reaching up and down. I am just repeating history everyday with… read more

February 3, 2016
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A MyFibroTeam Member

I'm sorry your going through all this. I agree with Carherine, talking to your husband, how about asking for a little help from him? Maybe have him at least help with laundry and maybe take turns doing the dishes. Have you considered using paper plates, cups and disposable forks and spoons? Maybe an idea. I know there are always the pots too, for me I try to wash dishes as I'm cooking and cleaning the counter and stove right after so they'll be less to clean. Also I like to pile things that need to be taken into different rooms. Like in my case I have kids so I'll put on the table what needs to go to their room, what needs to into my room, what goes in the closet and then make into a pile and then if needed use a basket or bag and try to do it in one trip instead of going back and forth making a bunch of trips throughout my apartment. Luckily I don't have to go upstairs. I also do laundry in 2 loads so it won't pile up. And I also use my 7 and 9 year old to help but they've been doing it since they were able to walk. Gota teach then early to help and be responsible for their own things. They clean up their own room, do some dishes, and vacuum the rug and sweep. They even help cook on the weekends. It's actually sad they help more than my husband does but they see my pain and want to help, well sometimes lol. My husband helps very little with dishes and cooking but I really wish it was more since I'm the one who has to do everything with my kids and the rest of the apartment.
I was also wondering about what Catherine said, if your mom and brother can have their own place to be in and give you some rest from tending to them. Or at least speak with them to help more around the house and not when it's convenient but when you need it.
I really hope all works out for you and you can get the extra help. Let us know how it goes.

February 3, 2016
A MyFibroTeam Member

I had to learn to pace myself. I used to be the type to do as much as possible in one day, so I could relax on my days off of work - but I can't do that anymore. Almost every day I do 1 load of laundry, and 1 other cleaning task. I rotate between dishes, or vacuuming, or straightening up a room. If I do more i'll pay for it the next few days. It took me a few months to master this - but now I'm doing good and it's working for us.

February 4, 2016
A MyFibroTeam Member

try cooking two meals at once and set one a side for next day if you are in kitchen anyway. on the way to bathroom see something out of place take it along and put it away as you walk to bathroom. the never ending pile of laundry and dishes is just a fact of life. try a picnic setting for dinner once in awhile and use paper plates. Keep those plates on hand for your use during the day as well as paper cups. sounds also as if you need to break your rut and also to make a visit to your doctor to check out your how you are feeling

February 3, 2016
A MyFibroTeam Member

I also deal with the same lack of energy, I can't wait for bedtime and I'm lucky my hubby has to get up early and goes to bed early to relax and wants to be asleep by 9 pm . I had never had trouble with my household before I was a fanatic, working 10 hour days raising 5 kids and my hubby working nights. Now I can't work and barely babysit, I just can't.
I believe you are under too much stress with too many responsibilities with the added caregiver role to your Mother and brother. Is there a realistic idea of them getting their own place? Stress causes us to flare and you get brain fog , it also takes us at least twice the time to do any chore of activity .
I hope someone has a better solution . I do want you to That your not alone.
I know this sounds crazy it did to me for years but getting out of your house for a few minutes everyday helps tremendously . Sometimes my Yorkie and I go for a short drive just here in town and no I don't dress up I put my hair in a pony tail, no mKe-up, no bra, just a tee shirt and a hoodie, sweat pants and house shoes. It begins to help but it took me years of convincing to try it.
I now get my nails painted about every two weeks, sometimes longer if I can't pull myself together and recently my daughter talked me into spray tanning. I go there 3 times a week in my pony tail exactly as dressed above . It has made me feel better about myself and is helping me get out of the bed and in turn doing my chores a little more effectively . But I do not have to be a caregiver to two other grown adults.
I know this advice may sound impossible and at one time I got this advice and didn't use it for years. My fibro only intensified because of the constNt stress of me feeling like a failure. Good luck, by the way I was a list maker and could write down my plans for the week to keep me on some type of schedule I never completed my lists but it gave me a huge perspective on how much I was trying to do . Your chore list is probably going to schock you! You are expected to do a lot more than you believe. Try making a Monday through Sunday chart and putting different chores to do on different days and you will be amazed, and have an understanding of why you are struggling. Prayers for you!

February 3, 2016
A MyFibroTeam Member

Old post, but I have to add a few tips. #1, Nobody puts dirty dishes in the sink. Everyone washes their own plates and loads them into the dishwasher. Make it a rule and nag those who refuse. If I had a sibling refusing to load his dirty plates, he wouldn't get to eat the next meal! Not kidding. I demand respect. A good rule is: you cook, they clean the kitchen IMMEDIATELY. Not the next morning! Who wants to see greasy dirty dishes in the morning? Talk about depressing. Another trick is don't serve dessert until dishes are finished! That gets everybody motivated! Lol.
#2 Over cooking and freezing meals is a smart. We love one pot meals like chicken minestrone, ground beef stew or chili. Eat leftovers the 2nd night; freeze up for a 3rd. Very important since I live with chronic migraines. You must plan out weekly menus, but that's easy to do on the day you make your grocery list. Keep a calendar so you can prevent repeating the same meals too often. Another notebook contains a list of recipes and which cookbooks they are in, because let's face it, thinking up what to cook is half the problem. Also keep a white board listing all the frozen meals so they aren't forgotten. #3 Clean house on leftover nights. Do 1 or 2 rooms one day and a couple more on the next leftovers night. Trying to tackle cooking and cleaning on the same day is too much. #4, Get a robovac! I picked up a Eufy for $250. Best money I ever spent! Eufy does the floor while I dust. Cuts the work in half.
#5 Washing clothes happens here on Sunday. Everyone hauls their clothes to the washroom and sorts their own! If they don't, then it won't be done! REFUSE to retrieve dirty clothes! Yes, washer to dryer is difficult. Try putting wet clothes on top of the dryer, then roll them from the top into the inside. Fold the clothes, but everyone must put their own away themselves. Everyone wants to be lazy, but if y'all work together, it's easier on everyone. Have a family talk and lay out the new rules. They'll fight it at first, but as long as they can trick you into doing everything, then they will. You are not their maid. I agree if your husband works full-time and you don't, then he gets an easier ride, but my husband still helps me with the dishes, grocery shopping, hauls dirty clothes for me, cleans the tub and mops the floors. He works 6 days a week, often at work 10-11 hours, but he knows I'm doing as much as I possibly can, so he helps out a lot! There's no reason anyone can't help out some! My mom assigned chores to us as kids. We were emptying trashcans at 5 yrs old. Cleaning house by 7. Cooking dinner by 10. By 12 years old, Mom expected to come home to dinner cooking, house picked up, table set, and homework completed. She set the rules. We followed them. Now my motivation is that I like a clean house and find joy from that. Cooking and eating leftovers saves money. It's not always easy, but advance planning and doing a little bit every day helps.

January 20, 2023

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