Another reason to establish a regular cleaning routine

[mousme]

I am stressed out of my mind. I don't know why the fact that this place is untidy causes me these levels of stress, except perhaps because I was indoctrinated young by my mother that no one should be allowed inside a home unless it's spotless.

Spotless it ain't, and won't be when I leave on Saturday. It may be vaguely presentable by that time, but it still causes me undue stress.

I have no time tomorrow to clean. I have to be up at the crack of dawn to be at an event for the RCMP (safety awareness for kids), at which I'll be volunteering all morning, following which I'll be at work all evening (and missing an anniversary party *and* the Invisible gig) until 22:30.

I have to be out of here by noon on Saturday.

I am going out of my mind. In theory, I don't know if I'm making more out of the current mess than it really is (it's a habit), but I'm still freaking out about it. Of course, the more I freak out, the more I procrastinate. Hence the LJ entry.

Gah.

This is the very last part of my life that I don't have under control. It's on my list of 101 Things, so I plan to have it licked by the end of this calendar year (establish routines, stick to them until they become second nature).

I don't understand how I can be lacking in this fundamental skill. I really don't. It's not like it's rocket science.

Comments

[bodhifox.livejournal.com]

It's not that you lack the skill. It because when you live alone, why bother? There's so much more that demands your energy and you don't have to please anyone else. We pick up after two kids all day. Think this place is spotless? The only friends we have with a spotless house are the ones where they employ a maid.

[mousme.livejournal.com]

I need to bother so I can have people over without stressing, it seems. I *like* seeing people, but not when the place is filthy.

Also, it stresses me out less when the place is clean. I don't know why I do this to myself.

*sigh*

[ashforestwalker.livejournal.com]

I think the only home that's spotless is one that no one lives in.
But then it's not a home is it.

;)HRH.

[pasley.livejournal.com]

Hear hear.

I beat myself up over the mess around here, and it's tough being home most of the day and still not having enough time---or a free arm---to clean it all. If Tallis and Devon are alive and well and happy, and if dinner is made (or nearly made) by the time Jeff gets home, then I must consider it a productive day.

[mousme.livejournal.com]

I don't know how you manage with two small people dependent on you all day long (or at least one, when Devon is at school). I am in awe of all my friends with children, because you all seem to be capable of keeping your homes cleaner than mine. :)

[pasley.livejournal.com]

Um . . . the main reason why I hardly ever have friends (such as yourself) over to visit is because the place is usually such an ungodly mess. I truly doubt that it's cleaner than your place.

[mousme.livejournal.com]

Heh. True.

I would settle for "tidy," though, as opposed to spotless.

[owldaughter.livejournal.com]

missing an anniversary party *and* the Invisible gig

NOOOOO!!!! I was looking forward to rocking out with you! My enjoyment of the evening has just been significantly diminished, and it hasn't even started yet!

*pouts*

As for Teh Cleen, well, most of us suck at it too. I think it's important to remember that a tidy home is a Work In Progress. It will never be perfect, because life in ongoing and the home isn't in stasis. Also, there are Feline Forces of Entropy or Small Children (Complete With Feral Cheerios, now Bonus Crumbly Granola Bars!) at work.

Maybe try the ten or fifteen minutes at a shot thing? Set a timer, clean for fifteen minutes and fifteen minutes only. Do the same thing the next day, in a different room. That way the tasks are broken up and it's not as overwhelming as it otherwise may be.

[mousme.livejournal.com]

The timer is my friend. I wish Teh Cleen would be my friend too, but he is an elusive beast. I think the dust wolverines and the feral hairballs scared it away. :P

[tcaptain.livejournal.com]

I will also add a resulting NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! to owldaughter's wail of dismay! J and I were looking forward to seeing you there!

I wish you luck with teh cleen. J and I are going through the same type of thing right now. Moving made a huge mess.

Housekeeping

[ankhorite.livejournal.com]

I suck at housekeeping, and it's my only job, and it would make my sweet, non-nagging partner ecstatically happy, and I still suck at it.

Re: Housekeeping

[mousme.livejournal.com]

Well, you at least have the very valid excuse of not being able to walk without pain and problems. I have no such excuse. I am simply a procrastinator. :P

Icon Love

[ankhorite.livejournal.com]

Love your umbrella icon!

Mine (above) needs rain. Maybe animated rain.

But yours looks fine as is.