I finally stopped fighting my limitations... maybe I can still get things DONE! Lol

[FirstLight]

I am breaking my tasks down into 15-20 minute increments... whether it be checking email/socials, food prep, laundry, etc... It's about how long I can stand before my low back locks up. ...and honestly, it makes the tasks seem less daunting because I removed the pressure to "finish" everything in one fell swoop.

Got a whole house to clear and clean, after my ex bought way too much crap and I gotta empty her shit...plus my own crap from the past however many years, trying to get the house painted this summer... so i'm just gonna take it piece by piece and not stress about the Big picture! And rest is part of those tasks too.

It's also good because it forces me to sit down and ground myself, re-assess my next steps, etc.

I gotta try and work *with* these body issues and my adhd too...

[Clouds Passing]

1. Excellent plan FL!

I do as much as I can tolerate before feeling in pain, exhausted and overwhelmed. Then sit down and rest until I get antsy. It’s okay if some days you get more done than others. Give yourself that space in peace without self judgement.

[FirstLight]

3. yes, patience is my big lesson n this life lol

...did a reading this mornng and one of my cards was "Pace" - "Adopt the pace of Nature, her secret is patience"

[FirstLight]

2. I'm literally having to re-learn how to adult... my ex controlled SO much!

So taking back the kitchen and my diet is a big part of this too. I'm easing back into my old ways, used to eat pretty close to macrobiotic diet in my late 20's, it was the healthiest I think I ever was.

Doing kitchen PREP is really coming into focus. I made soup, but saved half the vegies (now chopped) in a sealed container for makng breakfast vegie tofu scramble! I scrubbed a couple sweet potatos and am gnna bake them, so I just have to pull them out and heat them up...decided to go ahead and roast some little potatoes too, then I have more for my breakfast if I want!
This seems so "easy" but it's like a huge realization that I can make my healthy choices AND make it easier for myself too.

[slightlv]

4. That's a great plan, FirstLight...

and I hope you can achieve it. I haven't been able to do it so far, and I still end each day hitting that brick wall where I wonder if I'll even be able to make it my bed. My last bit was to redo my bedroom, wash all the bedclothes, clean out all the cat hair, and move my computer into my bedroom. Then I tackled a major job -- the linen closet. Also known as the closet where hubby dumps anything made of cloth he doesn't know what to do with. You'd take your life into your hands opening the door... you didn't know *what* was going to come falling down on your head when you opened the door. That one was a major issue for me. But it did spark two things I could do to make life easier...

First, I joined the Internet brood who've eschewed flat sheets on bed. All my flat sheets went into a box for the local store that directs all profits to the animal rescue.

Second, I gave up any thought of EVER making a fitted sheet look nice and flat when in the closet. I folded it as well as I could, and then I took it and all the pillowcases that went with it, and stuffed all of it inside one of the matching pillowcases. Looks much better, and now when I pull out a "package" it contains everything I need to make the bed. No more rummaging around for matching pillowcases. After I'd done this, I wondered why in the world I hadn't thought of this before! (LOL)

Just those two actions - the bedroom and the linen closet has had me exhausted and in pain for the last two days. I have my laundry to do, and I managed to get it close to the laundry room. Haven't moved it into the laundry room, nor even thought about getting it into the washer yet. I figure that'll wait until the weekend when I get some help from hubby and grandson.

My back sounds like yours... it'll lock up and when it gets to one particular pain point, both hips and my lower ribs are involved. Add that to it kicking in a lupus or fibro flare (or both) and I am just about to come to grips with the fact my house will forever look undone and messy. My goal right now is to just see straight ahead, and miss seeing most of the mess. I figure if my husband can do it for all these years, surely I can learn to do it, too, right? (gryn)

[FirstLight]

5. Great idea abt the pillow cases!

I often do stuff like a closet or something all at once and then knock myself down for a few days, so I totally understand. And I'm only one day in... we'll see what happens tomorrow... Right now I'm sitting with my feet up and feeling nauseous, so idk...i still might have over done it.

[cyclonefence]

6. Thank you for posting this

This is exactly what I need to do, too. In my case, the spirit is too willing, but the flesh is weak. I find myself getting depressed because I'm used to getting things done--*my* way (a little OCD)--right away. My husband once told me I'm "brisk," and I am, or used to be. One (timed) step at a time, although clearing out years of accumulations is daunting.

Hang in there.

[FirstLight]

7. It is a daily challenge... I laid in bed this morning and had a million things on my "list"

I thought "how do I wanna spend my 15 minutes today?".. it makes my brain break it down to bite size pieces. Otherwise I get too overwhelmed. Believe me, I got a LOT to clear and clean!

but for today, one corner at a time :hugs: