How do some people do so much?

[Anonymous]

I am really good at productively using my energy. Life is short. I've had health issues that have slowed me down, but I'm finally feeling as good as I did in my late 30s. Take rest when you need it, and get on with your goals.

[Anonymous]

I don't want to declutter, or garden, or hang pictures. I don't like shopping much so that minimizes the need to declutter. Not wanting to garden or go to Home Goods isn't a character flaw.

[Anonymous]

What do you do with your free time, OP? After the kid goes to bed and the dinner is cleaned up, during the week, how much time is that and how do you spend it?

[Anonymous]

Perhaps you can ask your husband for assistance re: decluttering the house.
Maybe he can give you the needed push to begin, then continue…?

Do you have a friend/relative/neighbor who likes to garden 🪴 as well?
Again having another person join you can help you get motivated!

I would also see a professional + get evaluated for ADHD.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Go to the UFYH website. I'm not sure I can spell out the URL because it has a "bad" word in it.

Unf-kyourhabitat.com Add a "UC" where the dash is.

This shares ideas for doing cleaning projects in 5-min (or more) chunks and then taking a break. I use the ideas to keep things manageable around here.

You might have ADHD. There's a flavor of ADHD where SO MUCH gets done ALL THE TIME, and that would be my MIL. I used to be more that way and have become more like you over the years. I know it's frustrating!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Write a daily to do list and break it into realistic, concrete chunks. So no “declutter the house” but instead, “organize kitchen pantry” or “clean out the linen closet” or whatever. This helps me quite a bit, but I get motivated by crossing things off my list, I know not everyone does.

+1

This is what I do also. Really helps.

But how do you actually make yourself do it when it’s a nice-to-do not a must do? I think I’m just lacking momentum.

You can’t force yourself. Force meets resistance. I just try to do the next right thing. Today is was put air in my bike tires and go outside and get on it and start peddling. I’m glad I did. Feel much better. It’s about willingness versus willfulness for me.

PP again. I also have ADHD. Not sure what I would do if I did not take a stimulant daily.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Write a daily to do list and break it into realistic, concrete chunks. So no “declutter the house” but instead, “organize kitchen pantry” or “clean out the linen closet” or whatever. This helps me quite a bit, but I get motivated by crossing things off my list, I know not everyone does.

+1

This is what I do also. Really helps.

But how do you actually make yourself do it when it’s a nice-to-do not a must do? I think I’m just lacking momentum.

Not PP, but I bribe myself. I can buy a new book but not until I clean the kitchen. Etc. Also I’ve found some podcasts I really like which motivates me to do chores because I want to listen to them but I’m no good at sitting still to listen. But also things just take me a while to get done now that I have two kids and I’ve made my peace with that. Vegging time is important too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You have ADHD. You are my husband. So many projects he wants to do. Now that he's medicated he is starting to get to them. Slowly.

100%

There are so many of us adults with undiagnosed ADHD.

What OP described was me exactly. It wasn't until I was talking about it with a therapist that she started asking more questions and recommended a proper screening.

Yep!!

[Anonymous]

Maybe instead of figuring out how to be more motivated, the OP can instead learn to be comfortable and happy with what sounds like a pretty awesome existence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Write a daily to do list and break it into realistic, concrete chunks. So no “declutter the house” but instead, “organize kitchen pantry” or “clean out the linen closet” or whatever. This helps me quite a bit, but I get motivated by crossing things off my list, I know not everyone does.

+1

This is what I do also. Really helps.

But how do you actually make yourself do it when it’s a nice-to-do not a must do? I think I’m just lacking momentum.

You can’t force yourself. Force meets resistance. I just try to do the next right thing. Today is was put air in my bike tires and go outside and get on it and start peddling. I’m glad I did. Feel much better. It’s about willingness versus willfulness for me.

PP again. I also have ADHD. Not sure what I would do if I did not take a stimulant daily.[/quote

Are little chores around the house and some extra socializing worth taking a stimulant every day, for your whole life? For me, there's no way. I just don't see what OP's problem is. If you want or need somethind done enough, you do it. I have ADHD. I do the things that need to get done. Life is too short to push yourself to do a ton of stuff you don't want just because you think it's the right thing to do. I'm with the PP who learned from Jesse Spano.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe instead of figuring out how to be more motivated, the OP can instead learn to be comfortable and happy with what sounds like a pretty awesome existence.

Exactly. I like my laid back imperfect life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe instead of figuring out how to be more motivated, the OP can instead learn to be comfortable and happy with what sounds like a pretty awesome existence.

Exactly. I like my laid back imperfect life.

According to this thread you must have a mental disorder. You should start taking drugs ASAP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe instead of figuring out how to be more motivated, the OP can instead learn to be comfortable and happy with what sounds like a pretty awesome existence.

Exactly. I like my laid back imperfect life.

According to this thread you must have a mental disorder. You should start taking drugs ASAP.

Ha!

[Anonymous]

I go through periods like this, but it's mostly that we are super busy with sports and I'm tired. I have framed art I'm been meaning to hang in our house and we've been here almost four years. I have been able to use the Apple reminders app pretty successfully to make a list of the hard things that I want to get done. Also I stay focused on one task until it gets done. I try not to flit from thing to thing, which has helped. One kid gets on the bus at 645 and another 740, so I try to do something productive in that window every day- fold laundry, organize one draw, whatever. I will hang those paintings this weekend!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You have ADHD. You are my husband. So many projects he wants to do. Now that he's medicated he is starting to get to them. Slowly.

I promise this isn’t snark just something I don’t understand - what’s the difference between being more productive with ADHD medication and “mothers little helpers” from the 50s and 60s?