I've lost my cleaning mojo

Covid left me devoid of all energy. Couldn’t be bothered to do anything. Just very post viral.

My cleaner says that she gets real pleasure from making things "sparkle". I paid her for extra after the plasterer had been because there was dust all over the kitchen. She seemed to enjoy cleaning it up whereas I had not touched it for 2 days.

She is forbidden to clean in my office or stockroom. She asked if she could "just dust the computer work station" as it would really annoy her to have dust on it. I told her "I will be really angry if you do. I know where everything is in there and I dont want anything moving an inch."

"But there is dust on the keyboard. I dont know how anyone of your level of education can just ignore it!"

"The higher your level of education the more likely you are to ignore it because you can find more interesting things to do with your time."

Sometimes it seems a bit poinless when you live alone, but I do keep on top of it. I write list and tick off task as I do them it this helps motivated

Summer is coming, I can't wait to sit in the garden with a book...

Hopefully I won't be fussing about the state of the garden lol

I used to dust / polish vacuum every day, now I do housework in stages , 😊
Also I can't pull things out to do behind them ,I still hoover every day as I have a dog and cats, wash floors 3 times a week, but I'm not as pernickity as I used to be,

I wish I took pleasure in cleaning! I hate all housework! I find it boring exhausting and repetitive and would much rather lounge around with a book or sit out in the garden or by the sea with a coffee! I am probably lazy but in my very limited free time I do not want to be slaving over a hot mop or duster, however I do like a nice clean home I just can’t find the motivation or energy to put in the endless labour required🙄

I was a cleaner and I became very ill and had to give everything up, But I rested and I chose to do things when I wanted, I find if you stand at your windows with a cloth in your hand you automatically start to wipe, then you move on to something or not it doesn't matter.

I am always the strong one, I'm always the one who never cries, always good in a crisis, always the one who just gets whatever it is done. I'm always the one who forgives until I get pushed too far, always the one who bounces back

So was I until the day my mind and body imploded; completely burnt out and it took a very long time to readjust.
I don’t like mess and muddle so I do try to keep on top of housework. I find having one really good go once a week and a quick tidy the other days keeps on top of it. If I don’t feel like it then I don’t; nothing terrible is going to happen if I miss a day or two or three!
So long as it’s basically clean a bit of muddle won’t hurt 🤗

I'm sorry you feel the way you do Violet. It does seem that you are feeling tired and 'down' after your illness. My advice to anybody is always "Listen to your body and ignore your conscience". Your body needs time to recover and that's that. So long as you can muster the energy to keep on top of the important areas (bathroom and kitchen) and keep your sitting room tidy (for your peace of mind more than anything), the dusting and vacuuming can wait until the urge is upon you. Now in my 80s and fit and healthy, that's the way I live and it doesn't seem to be doing me any harm! Just be kind to yourself x

I am glad to see others the same as me - never had one to start with!

It's a phase it may stay or go, don't sweat the small stuff. As long as you keep essentials clean, bathroom kitchen, all els will still be there when you do decide to get going, or maybe not? . Paint some pictures/knot or sew/write some stories down. Busy mind is key. Dust? According to Quentin crisp it stays constant at around four centimetres anyway!!

Blossoming

If anyone finds my cleaning mojo, please keep it.

😂😂

If its late Spring post-illness cause - be your own 'Mum' tell yourself 'it will come'. But if you genuinely want to get going and need a push - read a bit of 'Fly Lady' - its about setting short achievable goals so you do get there, but in manageable bursts.

Susie42- Neither did i 😂

I think covid has had an effect. Down the years we had regular visitors/overnight so a blitzt of cleaning and smartening up would happen ahead of them. I viewed the house thru others eyes and would notice a lampshade that needed replacing etc. With covid we have had few pass over the threshold save workmen so am less bothered to tidy place up etc.

My advice is just listen to your body and if you don't feel like it don't do it. Just trust that one day you will wake up and find your old self has returned. I do this when I get depressed and it always lifts eventually. Just trust x

I’m on your wavelength nipsmum. I like my house clean and tidy but loathe getting it that way. I do have a cleaner who just does basics for an hour but like you i can happily bake and cook and shop for groceries. I also like sewing but it’s a big fat NO to housework!

Sorry about that Violetsky. I have never had a housework mojo. It's my one dislike at home. I like the house to be tidy but I never ever enjoyed cleaning and dusting and hoovering. When I worked I had a cleaner but now I am retired o cannot justify or indeed afford one now. I will cook and bake happily for hours. But housework was never something I enjoyed. It is and always has been a terrible chore to me.

Susie42

I never had one to start with.

Me neither, Susie!

Don't know what your illness was, but if it was viral you may have post viral fatigue, which can last for months apparently! I looked it up because I felt tired, lethargic and depressed after having a coughing virus which lasted a whole month. I never had a cleaning mojo but I just couldn't be bothered with anything (even my grandchildren!). I am pleased to say that I am now getting back to being "glass full" (rather than nearly empty - nothing in half measures here!) but even so, my energy levels still seem compromised - I still have to sit down after each job I do. I think you just need to accept that you are still recovering and that the housework is not going anywhere - it will still be there for you when you feel like tackling it!

I nibble away at the edges of it and pretend I'm not really doing anything. Put one book away. Throw a few things in bin. Move something that's bothering me out of sight at least.
Sometimes I ignore everything that's going to.get done in the end anyway, like washing up, and tackle one of the things that's needed doing for ages but hasn't been done. If no energy at all sleep.or read a book.

Susie42

I never had one to start with.

Nor me Susie42 and in my considered opinion far, far better without

Where did you find that picture of me Maw? I thought all copies had been destroyed,

Maw .

It hasn’t found its way here I’m afraid!