House work vs free time

I love my little home but housework isn't the highest of my priorities. It's comfortable but the shelves are a bit dusty.
I make sure the kitchen and bathroom are clean and don't believe that I've poisoned anyone and that's the main thing. I hope that if it becomes dangerously grubby someone will be brave enough to tell me.

My husbands grandmother always said "there'll be no one to polish the handles on your coffin" god bless her and my motto is "great at having kids (we've got 5, 2 still at home) rubbish at housework" I do the bare minimum, life's too short and I'm lazy, my house isn't filthy or dirty x

Must admit i do less now than ever. I wasted so many years wanting the perfect house, perfect kids, to be perfect hostess etc. As I say. What a waste of time! . Even working full time everything had to be just so. Since retiring things get done when they need it. I have kept my lovely lady who has done my ironing for last 15 years ( supporting the local economy ?) and I pay someone to clean my oven when needed. Everything else is as and when

I do quite a lot of housework, and don’t intend to justify it.
I don’t consider my life wasted, I have time for some voluntary work and some hobbies, though it’s hard to get stuck into anything as I have caring commitments as well.
I hate those mottoes telling me to ‘seize the day’, ‘dance like nobody’s watching etc’, ‘boring women have tidy houses’.
I played with my own children, and love playing with my grandchildren. My only motto is to be kind.
When I was working, I found my job so horribly stressful it was a relief just to wipe my mind clean and do housework. My days off were during the day, so I had the house to myself.
I wouldn’t criticise anyone who doesn’t mind dirt, untidiness or complete chaos. People can keep their homes and live their lives as they like.

I have a fridge magnet that says 'tidy people are just to lazy to look for things'
I think I'd like the one Theoddbird has 'I cleaned my house yesterday......
I have two cats moulting as well.

I dont do the housework because we have a lovely cleaner. As I can no longer do very much she is a treasure and her 5 hours here also helps my foreign language skills as she doesnt speak English. My husband now does the washing machine and dishwasher duties and was having a moan the other day so I pointed out that I had done it all for 24 years so it was his turn now. Unfortunately our lovely lady hurt her back last week so didnt come. Yesterday the kitchen floor looked a mess with all the bits the dogs bring in from the garden attached to their fur. It's obviously not bothering my husband so looks as if I shall have to have a sweep up ....

My late mother in law often said that no one lay on their deathbed and said “I wish I’d done more housework!

My 7 year old grandson pointed out a while back that my kitchen floor needed sweeping and got the broom out! I was further mortified when he said he'd noticed I didn't sweep it very often & made me a sign to remind me to do it! The shame!! The sign did have a big red heart on it though! I had the best of intentions but they've slipped since not seeing him due to lockdown.....

My sole fridge magnet (a present from a friend) says 'housework is for people who don't garden'. That sums me up. But I do like the house to be clean so housework is for rainy days.
I have no compunction about going out for the day and leaving the house in a mess.

Well, DH switches the TV on, and I'm afraid I watch too much of it. Mind you I've usually done a bit of housework by then. I do the cooking in the house and baking and sewing and repairing things and of course checking gransnet!! It all keeps me busy!!

Im one of those that can’t get on with enjoying my time unless my house is clean and tidy. So first part of my day is cleaning and tidying then I can go and have my time to do whatever I want. Guess we are all different I have one DD that is exactly like me the other only does it when it’s needed.

I'm with pensionpat.

My magnet is on the windowsill and says, "Dust testing in process; do not disturb the samples!"

If the house needs cleaning it can wait,i would much rather be on Gransnet//youtube with a cup of tea or a glass of wine,
the latter would be the wise choice.

I cleaned my oven yesterday ....it took 5 hours to totally get it clean!! In future I’m gonna get it done professionally £60 around here , if you don’t want you hob done,.. too good a chance to miss... what’s money for!!

You ask what you can do with all your free tine, and the answer is ANYTHING!
If that is a little overwhelming, just have a crack at one thing at a time. Avoid anything that you cannot afford, or are unable to do physically.
Think what amused you when you actually had time off from work, and elaborate on that (if it's travelling, then amuse yourself with plans for later).
Perhaps, to start with, just let the weather decide for you: if it's raining, read your favourite/new book, if it's sunny, get out and about.
If you drive, then drive somewhere nice for lunch.
If you don't drive, take up cycling, and cycle somewhere nice for lunch.

Since retiring I have employed a cleaner fortnightly just to keep on top of things. My husband died 5 years ago. If I find the house/houswork too much I shall move to somewhere smaller so that I can still have a life!

When I got married 46 yrs ago my Grandmother gave me a word of advice, I never ever forgot!
"If you are Black Leading the grate and your Husband asks you to go out do go, because if you don't there are plenty of other women who will" ? ?

Wise words ladies? So I've always kept my housework to a minimum!

...he wasn’t amused!

My fridge is covered in magnets. Always buy one wherever we’ve travelled to, plus friends and family give us some too. It’s a personal choice and I love to see them.

I’m retired as well as my husband ( who retired at 50)...he does sod all... so now I just do what’s necessary. Washing... shopping.... and hoover when I see dirt only..... I now NEVER
iron anymore ... my daughter taught me that ...what a total waste of time and energy!!!! To think of the hours..and hours..and hours of frigging ironing I’ve done...non -appreciated , un-respected, un-paid. My husband would never do an hours work that wasn’t paid work. I now follow same ritual. I cleaned out the u-bend under sink the other day as it was slow running ...I took £50 out of his account and transferred it to mine! Told him a plumber would e charged £150 at least .

I normally have a cleaner each fortnight but haven't had her since lockdown began and won't have her until everything is back to 'normal'. I just try to keep the flat looking tidy in the meantime, vacuuming when necessary. It's the dusting that causes me the most pain as I find it very painful to stand and lean to dust, so that has been left mostly. But the flat still looks all right. And I'm happy with it and that's all that matters.

I usually have a cleaner but not at the
One good dude to Covid. I do some most days on a rotational basis but always do my countertop and hoover the kitchen/diner floors every day.
I’m not a joiner of clubs. I don’t play well with others.

Go visit places of interest, gardens, visit friends and family, pilates, choir, craft group, all the regular interests when times were normal. Tidy up daily ie put things back in place (10 mins); clean kitchen surfaces, bathrooms, vacuum, mop floors, dust twice a week, ( 1 hour unless I am distracted by something on my rounds). You'll find loads to do when life gets back to normal.

I too was not put on this earth to do housework. There are so many more interesting and productive things I can do, why waste time on repetive cleaning. My home is clean enough to be healthy and dirty enough to be happy.

Your free time is more important than the dusting or vacuuming. Provided your home is clean and tidy enough for you, that’s all that matters - now I’ve just seen a healthy layer of dust on my sideboard - better find the duster!