finn, 2 months ago

@Axiom this isn't a list rec but I found the book How to Keep House While Drowning really helpful for how to think about questions like that. it has a practical and nonjudgmental approach; stuff needs cleaned when it's keeping you from using or enjoying your space, not when it's been x time. (but the author also likes having fixed times for things and shares how she does that)

MsHearthWitch, 2 months ago

@finn @Axiom Will second this book. It has some good thoughts and concepts in there

Axiom, 2 months ago

Like, I'm not going to wash the dishes every day. Never in the history of my life has that ever happened. But, I can take all of the dishes to the sink every day.

And I'm never going to do laundry more than as needed, but I can make sure everything makes it into the hamper at the end of the night.

I need realistic expectations for people who are doing their best lol

Axiom, 2 months ago

Actually now that I think about it, I was more consistent with chores when I kept a whiteboard calendar in the kitchen and wrote down what I did when.

I counted any amount of effort towards a task as completing that task - washing even one cup went on the board as "did the dishes".

It was really motivating to look at the board and be like "aww yeah, I did the dishes three times this week!"

MsHearthWitch, 2 months ago

@Axiom Oh I like this idea!

Axiom, 2 months ago

@MsHearthWitch it was super helpful, especially when your brain is like "ugh you never do anything" you can look at the board and be like "actually look at all the stuff I do!"

MsHearthWitch, 2 months ago

@Axiom I can see that. Especially for a brain like mine that struggles with repetitive tasks. Like if I do the dishes the weasels in my brain think "yay done forever!" so when I come back the next day and there are more dishes... they don't understand!

We just DID the dishes, why are there MORE?!

Having a record of how many times it's been done might help them. I shall have to think how to implement this.

RobertJackson58585858, 2 months ago

@Axiom

This "do a bit and cross it off" business ... I once did an audit at a business that ran its (newly computerised) sales ledger like that. Programmers had no idea about double entry bookkeeping.

"Has the customer paid our invoice?"

"Yes"

"Righty-ho! Invoice marked as paid!"

"But ... but ... they actually overpaid their LAST invoice slightly and we put the surplus against this one ... so most of it is not paid!"

"And the system won't ask the customer for the outstanding amount."