Confession.. Judgement Free Zone??? 😬🤣

GroundingLight

Today I put ALL my clean laundry away in its correct place! 🤣
For ME this is a big deal… why? Because I’m a procrastinator.
My clean clothes will stay folded and laying flat on half of my big ass bed for longer than I care to admit
(this time it’s been about 2 months 😬🤫)
I will say every day I’m gonna do it and never do!
Seems silly considering I’m a clean freak, especially when it comes to my kitchen, the floors and all the bathrooms!

Now that I’ve got everything in its place I feel like I have my shit together 🤣🤣🤣
In my defense, or at least what I tell myself, I have a full time nursing job, run my business on the side, have 2 adult daughters in the house, 3 dogs, 2 cats and I stay pretty booked with cuddles AND maintain a social life.
Soooooo if I slack “just a bit” with the laundry no big deal 🤣🤣🤣

My purpose for discussion is does anyone else feel this very real struggle too or am I just a lazy laundry weirdo?!

Do you procrastinate with anything and if so how do you motivate yourself to NOT procrastinate?!

In your defense, finding your clean clothes is so simple when they’re on the bed and makes it very efficient!!

I mean…. You’re not wrong lol but now you’re just enabling 🤣

I am currently in bed, looking at several laundry baskets full of clothes, towels, and linens. All clean. They will get folded and put away at some point this week. But not tonight. 🤷‍♀️

I wish I could fold stuff and leave it on the side of my also very large bed. But I sleep like a combination starfish/alligator. They would not make it till morning. 😂

I mean, you get several steps further than I do 😅 I have a clean basket/pile, and a dirty basket/pile, and my clothes just cycle between those two. I've learned that bins/baskets and hanging works better for me than folding and drawers - it removes several steps lowering the inertia threshold and keeps things visible so out-of-sight-out-of-mind doesn't kick in.

As for overcoming procrastination - getting my ADHD diagnosis, treatment, and therapy went a long way 😂 I learned the bin trick, breaking things down into stupid simple 1-minute tasks, gamifying everything, and that body doubling works really well for me. When I'm resisting doing something, I set a 1-minute timer and do just a single task until the timer goes off. Then I set another, and another. For example, I absolutely hate doing dishes - it's a sensory nightmare. So I'll set the timer and just rinse dishes and pile them in the sink. Then the next timer I just move dishes to the dishwasher. Then the next timer I put the hand wash items into soapy water. Then the next I wash until I run out of time, and so on. Breaking it down to stupid simple tasks and telling myself I only have to do it for a minute makes it less overwhelming, gamifies it with the sense of trying to beat the timer, and creates urgency which is a great motivator.

And I just learned to start working with my brain instead of against it 🤷🏻‍♀️ instead of doing things how they "should" be done, I do them the way that works best for me. So buying clothing that doesn't wrinkle, is easy care, and can withstand going bin to bin instead of trying to force myself to iron, fold, and put away in near hidden places.

Oh, and for the body doubling - there's online groups for body doubling tasks together that are great external motivation, and if you don't want to do that there's "clean with me" videos etc. for recreating the feeling asynchronously. Even just calling a friend and talking on the phone while doing a task helps me stay with it.

Lol love this post and very relatable.
@cuddlefaery have you used the body doubling groups? Is there one in particular you like.

My motivation is I host from my place ... so it's pretty clean and organized. But when I have down time for a few days I need an Xtra push. Especially because I'm trying to not use my ADHD meds.

@MeltMyWay I have! I kinda cycle through them based on need/interest. I'd started with some zoom groups on Facebook. I've also used focusmate, which is good if you prefer one-on-one sessions dedicated to particular tasks. Right now I've been trying out Dubbii, which has a subscription for the live sessions, but I've found having hosted scheduled sessions helps me a lot.

Unfortunately hosting hasn't worked well long-term for me, as much as I love hosting events. I grew up in a hoarding household so have a lot of anxiety around that, and it ends up backfiring and making the task resistance worse.

@mauvefox Baahahahahhaa the starfish alligator has me 💀!!!! I sleep like that too and yet somehow manage to avoid the clothes lol

@cuddlefaery I actually do utilize the bins too but there’s no way around hanging two piece sets and dresses… I even bought a little hand held steamer off TikTok shop 🤣 because everything’s gets wrinkly even when laid flat and I was tired of putting them back in the dryer 🤣🤣
I’m glad you explained the body doubling… I used to always be on the phone while cleaning etc but the older I got the less I’m on my phone. Maybe I should call ppl more again and I’ll get more shit done 🤷🏽‍♀️🤣

@MeltMyWay im just glad my sloppy post is relatable in some way! I travel for work a lot and go into other ppls homes regularly and feel like everyone has their shit together except ME sometimes…. 🙄

@GroundingLight sounds like you dont have the time to finish the tasks at hand!

I leave mine in the dryer until I need the next load in, or kids are coming home so it goes into a bin. We folded together and put everything away. That helps me stay on task. I can relate to the kitchen. I have to have everything "perfect" I line up my dishes, containers, bins, everything labeled. I correct my kids if they don't line up container, bowls, bins, whatever it is. "Mise en place"

For bigger things, I break it down, so let's say bathroom. I will do the shower, toilet and sink, then break, I look at the time and use the same amount of time on break as I was doing the task, then back to finish the bathroom. Only problem is starting. Otherwise I'm oh sh1t it's 8pm and I haven't done this yet and rush it.

Here's what I'm guilty of...putting away every piece of laundry perfectly for my man but never finish organizing mine! Its because his wardrobe consists of a T-shirt and jeans and I have 42 more categories to deal with! I have four categories just for my underwear. I have three or four drawers of socks for different seasons and footwear. Hate wearing the same outfit twice...

@mauvefox

I wish I could fold stuff and leave it on the side of my also very large bed.

You should wish this in Ask the Genie. 😈

@ahuman Crazy thing is, I HAVE the time 🤣 I’m cozy on my couch right now and I KNOW I should be doing something but nah… lol it’s Sunday and I do have rugs in the wash but self care is a priority too. Even if I am just laying around.

And @sosubtle I feel this too! As a woman, I have many things that all have a place and it’s daunting 🙄 but, when I actually accomplish it I feel like I can breathe better.. 🙌🏽 getting there is the struggle.

@GroundingLight - you are seen. I live a VERY busy life. I like everything to be neat, yet clean clothes live in baskets and on the bed lol Clean off my bed has been on my to do list since I got back from Paris 3 weeks ago and the suitcase and clothes are still there! BUT today was productive for me! I went to 2 church services (1 in person and 1 virtual), walked almost 2 miles, cooked breakfast and dinner and in working on my to do list! Here's to productive days!

@CaramelNotes 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽 this! My suitcase from my Miami trip 2 weeks ago was still spilling out on the floor until yesterday!!! 🤣🤣
And yes, cheers to the rare productive days that make us feel just slightly more put together 🥂 🤗

One time, I was so desperate for a beer that I snuck under the bleachers and ate the dirt.

If I didn’t have my dog, Princess, my bed would be loaded with clothes. As it is now, I sometimes put stuff on top of my pillows when I leave for work. Cause I know she won’t lay there, lol.

@TiredAndBored Be careful… that desperation will get you in a chokehold… and after you ate that damn dirt I bet you were even more thirsty 🤦🏽‍♀️

@Bear our pets definitely run the show around here too 🤣🤣 however, I don’t let them on my bed anymore…. They would take up the whole damn thing and I wouldn’t get any sleep! My bedroom door stays CLOSED!

@GroundingLight Princess is pretty good when it comes to laying on the bed. She’ll either lay on the far Kitty corner of the bed for me. Or occasionally, if one of us is feeling off, she’ll come and do her circle, and pluck right behind me back to back. Then usually when I get up in the morning, I’ll rub her belly to give her attention before I get ready for work or before I leave at

Now I used to have a border collie, Australian cattle dog mix. I should say part Billy Goat because he would chew up everything. I couldn’t let him sleep with me because he would constantly wanna lick my face. I felt bad but I understand the need for Sleep. Since he was home all day I don’t think he minded, lol.

I think you are doing very well! There are only so many hours in a day and ONLY one of you. I have a mini zoo so I am familiar of your struggles. 🙂

Tell us about the zoo! I love hearing about animals. 🐾 😊

@GroundingLight thank you kindly for sharing so honestly. I'm a minimalist with OCD. I can't really procrastinate when it comes to laundry. I purposely have enough towels and linens for the week, so those I launder weekly. Clothing I can wash every other week. I don't wash the laundry unless I know I have time to fold and put it away because I can't handle wrinkles. With laundry specifically, I'll fold each load out of the dryer so I don't get overwhelmed with a pile. I'll take a short break after folding to do something enjoyable, then come back and put it away before the next load is calling my name. What I have found helpful to prevent procrastination has been, chunking tasks down to digestible sizes. I can't clean for hours, but I can do 2-5 minutes tidying to maintain a clean space before it turns into a monsterous mess that requires all of Sunday.

@natasya148 thank for the kind words!!! Appreciate you for that. And like @EvaAlexander said, yes please do share about this small zoo of yours!! 😊

@TattooSqueeze I like the idea of folding right outa the dryer! That might work for me actually 🙌🏽
We tidy all throughout the week but Sundays are definitely days to refresh for the week. First half of the day is cleaning top to bottom with music distractions 🤣

@GroundingLight very relatable also have ADHD. Except my tween had a sleepover like 2 weeks ago and they went in my room and knocked the clothes on the floor and they have been there ever since. I’ve gotten better about keeping up with doing the laundry and folding not leaving a huge pile on the couch for a long time. However, the putting away is still the hardest step for me. But I’m two steps closer than procrastinating laundry. The dishes and kitchen is another story right know. Total chaos and overwhelm.

Tomorrow I’m getting on Focusmate to do a coworking video session or more like several to get the dishes and kitchen completed. The body doubling helps me the most. I’m also a part of a Clubhouse group that who works together on an audio only app. If you’re interested there’s often rooms going through throughout the day and evening. I can also get you a free trial I believe of Focusmate! Or anyone for that matter. I’m new on this app and I’m so loving the community so far and seriously, considering becoming a professional Cuddler in the near future.

@Lunalove9 You are spot on with the total chaos and overwhelm. If I come home from work and the house “feels” a mess to me I absolutely canNOT relax! I have to clean up first.

I’m definitely gonna be looking into some of these apps soon that everyone has been suggesting.
So far phoning a friend is working! 🙌🏽

@EvaAlexander @GroundingLight I have 11 species of animals, which consist of: 3 dogs, 5 cats, 1 tarantula, 1 scorpion, 1 frog, 3 males betas and school of fishes (how may you’d asked…? Not sure 🤔), 1 tortoise, 2 bunnies, 4 chickens, 2 snakes (another 2 loose), and 7 lizards. That’s my little zoo…

I used to hate putting away clean laundry. I learned that if I do something else enjoyable while putting away laundry, it won't feel like such a loathsome chore. So I started listening to standup comedy or putting a bingeworthy show on. I no longer procrastinate clean laundry stowage!

@natasya148 WOW 😳 you really do have quite the little zoo 🤣 or farm to say the least! Love that!

@GhostMass Comedy might not be a bad idea 🤔 I like it! I’m usually a music person but then I start dancing around and singing like the little weirdo I am and 3 hours later still barely got shit done 🤣🤣🤣