How to get things done?

I do sympathise Cabbie21. I am just the same since retirement.
I find it difficult to believe that I once had a weekday job, a weekend job, a house to run and young children yet I seldom fell behind with 'To Do's".

I’m exactly the same now retired! Faff for England!

I blame Gransnet and similar online distractions!

Cabbie21

I blame Gransnet and similar online distractions!

🤣🤣🤣
I blame school holidays.
Prep is essential, so gets done, but housework needs visitors.

Yes, if I know someone is coming my house gets a good clean. Even at short notice, in ten minutes I can quickly tidy up and check the bathrooms are respectable.
But clean the windows? Sort my clutter? Complete my tax return. Procrastination is the order of the day.
Even things I enjoy doing can be put off.
I can’t blame school holidays, but I do blame lack of structure to my week over the summer when many of my routine activities are not happening. Or just my laziness, though that is a contradiction, as I like to be organised.

Oh the tax return Cabbie21!
Thanks for the reminder.

My motto these days is never do today what you can put off till tomorrow.
I used to do things as soon as they needed doing in work and at home.

If I know I'm having visitors in the afternoon, or at a push the next day, I can clean everything, put laundry away, run dishwasher, make a cake and iron my clothes in record time.

If not, I spend an hour in the morning telling myself I must do all the things I was going to do yesterday...every morning! And every evening I promise myself I'll do it all tomorrow.

My manager used to say if you want something done ask a busy person - before passing the task to me. grin].

I’m just the same as others now, because there is a tomorrow to do most things a lot are never accomplished and you know so far the world keeps turning.

If I know I'm having visitors in the afternoon, or at a push the next day, I can clean everything, put laundry away, run dishwasher, make a cake and iron my clothes in record time

This is me but got caught out today as we have no water - guests are going to have to rough it, no time for it coming back on

I have nice things on my mental to-do list, sewing my own clothes is one of those as is cycling for exercise. I always do something, interspersed with breaks. Housework is my least favourite thing but sometimes there is something with a longer-term feel good factor, like sorting out a cupboard or arranging items in storage canisters

I think key might be to have nice things interspersed on that list, so that there is always something engrossing to do, something to make you upbeat and fulfilled, something that you want to do and is better than just sitting wasting the day

Personally I need to be busy otherwise life as a widow is just too lonely. my peace and contentment comes from me being able to live in the moment and doing things that occupy my brain and thoughts. Re mess, I don`t see mundane things that need doing and my break is exactly that, a break, a flip around youtube, then if it is going to be a long evening, I go up to my sewing room, today I am making a complicated cycling jacket for autumn

I have done it!
My Tax Return. It has done my head in as I hate to anything with figures. I have to do one because of a tiny French pension, which varies each month, so I have to go through my bank statements and tot up the sums. France sends me an annual statement but their tax year runs from Jan-December. How sensible!
Yes, a good idea to intersperse an unpleasant tasks with an easy one, or a break to do something pleasant.

I have a permanent To Do list. I do and tick off the ones I enjoy doing (such as buy some plants for the garden) and leave other ones (like clean the ensuite or do the ironing). The ones I don’t get done go onto the next list and it starts again. For instance, I have been meaning to sew a missing couple of stitches in a jacket for nearly two years! That just stays on the list as basically I can’t be bothered. I’m definitely lazy compared to my younger self.

I dont welcome visitors but if they do come they take the place as they find it. If they dont like it I will happily show them the door.

I am a procastinater, small window of enthusiasm for chores everyday, if I miss that window thats it for the day.

Would rather be out and about, or with my head stuck in a book.

Living alone in a small flat dosent get really grubby, and tidy by nature means I am usually visitor ready, just need time for brain to process they are coming and be welcoming.

I'm very tidy too. My lovely Mum said 'it gives the impression of being clean' when she despaired of my lack of domesticity. I also agree with achieving little where no deadline is involved. However, that no longer seems to trouble me. Hallelujah!

Add me to the list of faffers

I've become a major faffer recently. Not sure what is going on but the last few weeks I've spent the afternoons sitting around doing nothing. I think I am waiting for Summer to arrive.

Skydancer I do that! I have a notepad.. Monday - wash floors, clean hob - then I just move it to Tuesday, dreadful. Single Mum for five years, worked full time and travelled abroad with work, how?

I relate to this Cabbie21. If there is a deadline, then I’m dynamic, but tend to procrastinate otherwise. However, I like to know in advance what I’m doing the next few days.

I am the worst procrastinator! I'm always full of good intentions, and have a 'To Do' list, but things can take weeks to get ticked off! I'm currently in the situation of having to do a darned good clear out, as we'll be moving home in the coming months, but I feel so overwhelmed at the huge task ahead of me, as I simply don't know where to begin!

I do tend to work better under pressure, when time is short, and I know it'll all get done eventually, but I so wish that I was the type of person who can just get stuck into it!

I have a couple of friends who love cleaning and de-cluttering, and they are always bounding about, full of energy, on to the next job! It makes me feel really lazy, so I'm so glad to see it's not just me who suffers from 'procrastinitis'.

I am definitely in the list of procrastinators , and when I was able to garden easily the house got short shrift if there was something to do outside. Recently there have been two reasons for the putting off. One simply practical , that my back was so painful and wasnt sleeping well because of it, so that it was a matter of doing things that I could manage and that I could think what to do about, but then there were things that I was worried about or that needed dealing with and I just could not make a decision and also when it meant spending money worrying about the decision as I could not afford to make a mistake and pay twice etc. Well still struggling with my back and fell and really hurt my knee which is causing me problems still, but have been away and coming back it has helped me to work some things out. I always think that first time you step back into your home you notice things and jobs that you hadnt bothered with much before. Also on a rather depressing but practical note have accepted that well yes I am disabled and no I will not suddenly be able to do the various jobs that I have told myself that when I feel a bit better I will get round to. At least that has made me see what things I can give away or throw out as they will wait for ever for me to do now! Then I am planning (whether I do it is another thing!) to go through my wardrobe and take out all those clothes that I have been keeping in the hopes that I shall lose weight or come to like again and get rid. I have some really good cotton blouses in great condition , but when my hands hurt I tend to wear cotton t shirts as easier to put on and no buttons to do up. Things like that. I also bought in the sale a good winter jacket, waterproof and warm and am pleased with it and so I may finally get rid of three or four jackets , which are just fleece or just waterproof etc and clear a bit of space that way. Well I will let you know by christmas if I actually do any of those things. But right now I think it is more important to get outside whenever the weather allows it as things get colder and the days shorten. Wont be today it is grey raining and high winds . Well I could make a start - but just need a coffee and a look at the paper first !

I have ADHD, retiring was fatal for doingthings. While I was working and had externally imposed deadlines, the effect carried through into my non-work life, but now.............

Well starting this thread has spurred me on to doing two tasks I had been putting off, but I have neglected others, even ones I enjoy. There’s no cure.