Keeping the house tidy

A dishwasher is something I would love. Sadly, there's not enough space in my kitchen.

Thanks be to God for my dishwasher. I'd be lost without it. 

I constantly run round like a Blue Arsed Fly, and my room is a tip. Fortunately, I have a paid cleaner who comes once a week to keep on top of things. 

My family had the old Irish attitude of, "If our room wasn't shining, we weren't allowed to eat!" But my exhaustion levels go into overdrive. 

I feel this same way. For me, I have to SEE results. I think of major thing that's helped me is minimalism. I downsized my kitchen applicances, dishes, silverware. Down to 2-forks 2-spoons 1-knife 2-sharp knives etc......this is extra hard for me with executive functioning to decide what I really use/can donate....but it WAS worth it. Now I know, if every dish is dirty...it fits into 1 load of the dishwasher...if pots + dishes....it's a little less than 2 loads--and I let my husband do it. I feel the struggle just like you do.

I use to be quite houseproud, i suppose 'cos my Mum was so fussy, when i left home i just took after her. But i'm finding it harder and harder to do things these days. I keep talking about moving house, 'cos this place is much much to big just for me. I'm sure if i had a smaller plsce i'd manage better. But if i was to move, that would  mean having to pack things. I started towards the end of last i must have 20/30 binbags of stuff in the garage, ready to go to charity shops, but none of them will pick-up, and now i don't drive anymore, i  can't take them.

I started a big clean over the weekend, still lots to sort but it's better  than it was.

I can share from my experience of how i have managed to keep my flat clean as someone with both ADHD and Autism. here are a few tips i have learned. these will only work if you live alone

[ONE]

Stop creating spaces that don't work for you. Create spaces that work with your neurology. You may not be able to renovate your kitchen being a tenant but if you can add hooks, open shelving to create prompts. For example i have a hook with my broom hanging in my kitchen to clean the floor, it visually will prompt me to use it and it's in the location i need to use it .Having a broom in another location or cupboard will deter me from using it because it create more unnecessary steps and ill over think it and it will demotivate me. 

[TWO]

Only have a certain amount of plates, cups and dishware. this will force you into washing up regularly. Make sure if your doing this you also invest in refillable water bottles as you going to have episodes where you'll avoid washing up and avoid drinking. I limit myself to four of Cups, Four Glasses, Four plates two water bottles and this number seems to work for me. 

[THREE] 

Timers are a great resource, I have set up a smart system that utilizes both smart tv's and smart speakers but most people don't have the technical know how to do that. So what i suggest is setting alarms on your phone for a ten minute tidy up. For example i have an alarm that goes of an hour after a wake up and a following alarm set for ten minutes after that alarm. In that ten minute span i will quickly tidy the room i am in. I also have a similar alarm set an hour before bed where i do the same thing.

If you do this i recommend get baskets so when you do the ten minute tidy up and you have stuff to go in other rooms that you put stuff that needs to go in other rooms in the baskets instead of leaving the room you will get distracted.

[FOUR]

With food, comes mess, i have learnt to cook something once like a Bolognese and freezing the additional portions in disposable or reusable containers reduces mess. You can often buy microwave rice, pasta and heat them in the microwave. I have learnt that theirs are days where i don't have the energy to do the bare minimum so i have tesco meal replacement shakes on hand pre made or in sachet and make the in a shaker bottle which can be rinse out in seconds with very little fuss to prevent me from the woser junk food. 

[FIVE]

Listen to music. attempting to clean a bathroom without any music is hell.

I think I am like you in some respects. As a child/young teenager, my bedroom was almost always untidy. I improved when I moved out of my parents' home, but that was partly because I was raising a child of my own. Now, I find it a struggle to keep on top of housework and really have to psych myself up to do it. I find though that if other areas of my life are OK, it seems to give me more of a proverbial kick up the backside to tackle bits and pieces.

Lack of motivation is definitely a huge factor, if it was fun or interesting I'm sure it'd be a lot easier. 

I struggle and I only have a room to look after, it's hard to find the motivation to do it