Cleaning with Low Energy

[batgirl]

As lots of you know I have cancer and obviously it makes me tired, but some of you have other serious medical conditions, plus PTSD can make someone tired too, so I'm hoping I can get some suggestions.

I'm kind of a neat freak, I like things neat and tidy. But in the last few weeks I just haven't been able to keep my room clean at all. It gets really untidy, and then I am overwhelmed by the untidiness of it, and finally my family gets sick of the mess and cleans it up for me. I feel bad that they do that, like guilty, but honestly I'm not expecting them to I want to do it myself. Just sooo tired.

Anyhow I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions for cleaning with low energy. Anything you tried that worked. Thanks.

[becvan]

I struggle with this all the time. My damn back just hurts too much most of the time.

So, I try to do little bits everyday. (don't count this weekend though! LOL) One day I will vacuum, next dust, next pick-up etc.. start out though once it's already been cleaned so that you can keep it up.

Best way I know how to do it!

bec

[She Cat]

Evie,

This may seem hard to do at first.....But if you take something out, move it, use it whatever...Put it back when done. Messes, and clutter will make a room look unclean. Just try and keep things tidy, and in their place most of the time, and it won't look so dirty.......I do this and actually only clean 2 times a month. Bathroom more often, but to vac and dust, no more than twice a month....

Wen

[Damiea]

I make a list of the things I need to do.. then check them off as I do them! As Bec said I do one thing at a time no matter how much of a mess it is even if its just something like putting all your dirty clothes in a pile.. then take care of them the next day! .. this takes some of the overwhelming feeling away. The list helps me see how much I have already done and that I AM making progress even if its hard to see right off! Also make sure you do take a day or two to just do nothing!! it helps!!

[anthony]

Evie, your looking for ways to do it yourself, though your asking people who only have PTSD at the present, not PTSD + cancer. Big difference and I think maybe you should just accept your families help during the times when cancer is being treated. You need your rest if you ask me.

[batgirl]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone, I'm going to save them all to try. Anthony your point never even occurred to me, but maybe you're right, I should just rest and let my family clean up after me. Just I feel guilty about it and I want to do things for myself as much as possible. But I don't know... maybe I need to let go of that and just let them help me. I really am tired. Tonight I woke up (it's the middle of the night here), and I didn't even want to wash out my mug because it means I have to walk across the room to the sink. I literally have no energy... I'm typing from bed right now.

[veiled]

I agree, you need rest so take it. When you get better you will do this again. Let your family support you and care. That is what they are for. Stop and think what would you do for them if the shoe was on the other foot. Not meaning get lazy but understand you need time out for you and it is OK to let others help you.

[Jim]

Agreed Anthony and Veiled. Needs to just let us help. Christ she can barely make it across the room at times. Understand her need for independence. However. Last time she had surgery, she was up trying to make pancakes for herself the next day. Ridiculous!

Jim.

[Nicolette]

Pushing yourself when weak and ill Evie only creates extra stress for your body. Give yourself plenty of rest as your body needs it. Take the help when you need it so you can get better as that is what everyone wants for you.

[mouse]

Evie,
Sit back, relax, heal, and enjoy the fact that you are so well loved that your family want to help you out, You won't always feel this sick so let those around you help so that you feel better faster. Besides how often do you get to have others wait on you, not very. Take Care Evie, we all miss you.

[Kathy]

Last time she had surgery, she was up trying to make pancakes for herself the next day. Ridiculous!


Oh dear not that pancake story again! That happened close to 6 months ago. Dearest husband can't seem to get over that one... :wall:

[batgirl]

OMG... the pancake story rears its ugly annoying head ... AGAIN! I swear to God, everytime we have pancakes now I have to endure that story... and now it's spread to the forum too... it's like some evil curse...

:rofl:

[She Cat]

So can we ALL hear about the pancake story, or is this a family secret.........LOL:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:Pancakes ....Come on now fess up abut the pancakes...

[batgirl]

It really is no great exciting story Wendy, just one time after I had day surgery (I had a small incision in my abdomen), I got up the next morning craving pancakes, and no one was up yet so I started making some, and Jim came in the kitchen and was pissed at me about it because he thought I should be resting. Anyways ever since then, whenever we have pancakes he talks about me getting up after surgery to make pancakes. Like, "Christ remember when you had to make bloody pancakes the day after surgery? Should have still been in bed not making f*ing pancakes. I told you to keep your arse in bed. Are pancakes worth popping a stitch over? Are they worth getting a blood clot? Ridiculous!" And so on ... and if you try to say it's in the past he just bitches more lol...

Seriously though, thanks to all who have replied, I guess most of you think I should rest and let my family help me, maybe that is so, I will try to do that for now I guess.

[nobody]

if you aren't in any pain, but have low energy, why don't you try putting on some music & dancing and singing while you clean? :drugs:

whenever I'm in pain and have low energy I just do some body weight exercises. like my back feels out of alignment sometimes cuz of my crappy bed so when I stretch out my arms and do some pushups it seems to make me feel better and less tired because my shits all running in another gear. Maybe its because Im a guy and have more adrenaline than a female but I wouldn't think that would be a major difference. There are some exercises that are a little too stressful for that though, like if your knees are bad I wouldn't do squats.:boxing:

[2quilt]

Evie,
I hope you are sleeping better tonight.
If Kathy or Jim were in bed and feeling the way you are feeling right now, you would probably be happy to clean up anything they requested of you. All they would have to do, since you can't read minds, is say the word, right? That's love.

When you have the strength to do it yourself, then do it yourself. Until that day comes, sleep and heal. We all are out here thinking about you all the time.

[batgirl]

Oh thanks nobody and 2quilt... I forgot about this thread. I have to say, it's been 2 weeks since my surgery and my attitude about cleaning has changed dramatically since the surgery. I guess I'm still recovering, maybe this surgery was just harder on me than the others, but honestly I don't give a rat's ass about my room being tidy anymore haha. I've been so tired, I'm just happy when I'm well enough to things I LIKE, nevermind cleaning. And I didn't try to make pancakes this time, either. Though someone made pancakes for me!! ;) Thanks Bec for your suggestion, it worked, Dad totally fell for it!!

[becvan]

*grins*

I'm so glad it worked well! hehe...

Glad to hear you are not worried at all about the cleaning either! Recovering is a first priority!

bec

[Jim]

Aha! So. It was you who gave her the idea. Naughty naughty! ;-)

[cactus_jack]

I prefer waffles or french toast. Never could stand pancakes.

[becvan]

LMAO.. yes but it was such a brilliant idea, no?

;) bec

[Kathy]

Well Cactus, Jim makes excellent waffles also, since I bought him a new fancy waffle maker. He loves playing with his toys! :rolleyes:

[batgirl]

Actually I prefer the waffles but the pancakes were very satisfying because of tricking Dad into making them! ;)

[EmoxxKid]

i sit in a chair...and put on music...and do what I can!

[batgirl]

Really, in a chair? How do you manage that? Does the chair have wheels?