Getting started ...

I used to do major cleans but it started to get overwhelming and, like you, I would procrastinate. So now I have started to do what my Mum used to do and have certain days for cleaning rooms, changing the bed etc and it really helps. Giving the kitchen a good clean on Mondays gets one of the worst jobs out of the way, a quick tidy up and vacuum then the rest of the day is free. Since I have done this I find I will start the clean early rather than put it off. I detest ironing so now I iron things on the day they have been washed and dried so the ironing basket doesn't get depressingly full.

Love yourself Imperfect27 - it's your life and you only get one go at it. As long as you don't create a major health hazard then so what?

Live, girl, just live!

I'm just SO grateful for my visitors and overnighters are a double whammy in that I have a deadline for my shame. Advice from my Mother (when she came to terms with how embarrassingly undomesticated I was) was to keep the place tidy and it gives an initial 'impression of clean'. Think she had a degree of accuracy there. Thank heavens she loved me in spite of my inadequacies.

Take a woman as a lover, you'll be surprised at how quickly the housework, cooking, shopping even car cleaning gets done.

Just been swimming (my best avoidance tactic!) If I've got Mon-Fri off, I put the cleaning down for Friday because I know I'll do it on a shorter timescale, but then I try to do bits in between the week's activities which makes me feel virtuous and leaves less to do on Friday.

I loathe housework and though I'm retired yes, I do have to give myself a kick to get on with it! Each time I sort it out, I promise myself it'll be done weekly so that it won't get really bad, but somehow I find excuses all the time to read, visit friends, go rambling, go shopping, surf the net..... or any other displacement activity I can find.

Why do you have to do a major clean Imperfect27? The sky won't fall down if you don't - at least that's what I've discovered and it was a revelation! I just do bits at a time because as sure as eggs is eggs little people will undo all my good work the minute they come in the door. Life's too short I've decided; though that said I would like to get rid of the downstairs carpets which are way past their best. Yesterday I went round with a broom taking down cobwebs and today they've all popped up again. It just ain't worth it - especially when the sun's shining.

My to do list sometimes motivates me, but then I find myself adding things I've already done just so I can cross something off!

I do make lists of urgent jobs to do, I work hard at it all day, but when I sit down to cross off jobs at the end of the day, nothing I did is actually on the list! Next day I usually give up and go shopping. (Too tired to do any more chores, but not to tired to shop .)

Oh Katey it's all or nothing with me ...all the biscuits gone and nothing substantially clean yet!

Wow!, I'm impressed that you are up and dressed and cleaning! I'm up, on the settee, dressing tea and still in my pj's.

Look what I found (Twitter is my chief procrastinator aid) - and I can use it on this thread!

Have saved the image for future use!

I work best to deadlines so find I am setting them for myself now. I will do x,y,z this morning then I can catch up with Outlander on TV this afternoon. Sad or what

NanKate LOL!

Two lots of washing done ...
Oven 'muscled' ...
Still hoping my daughter will interrupt me (she messaged last night to say could we have a catch up today?)
It helps if I stand the cleaning materials in full view ... a bit ...

I have a DH who doesn't have an idle bone in his body. I am the complete opposite. Well I have to balance the relationship out.

Kittylester, I know you're not on the gin, but when folk put 'gn' that's how I read it. You can see there's no hope for me . I'm still in bed drinking my first cup of tea, but I do have a pile of ironing waiting downstairs, and a carrot cake to make, and some volunteering this afternoon.....

Well, I have stirred my stumps - publicly outing and shaming myself really does seem to be the way forward ! I am dressed after a fashion - hoping the postie doesn't come today and find me in my embarrassingly holey 'work clothes' AND I have Mr Muscled the oven(other cleaners are available) ... and sent my daughter a picture of me with the box / waering the dreaded blue gloves and a 'Save meeeeee!!'message. Hopefully she will interrupt me soon .

I don't bother much with cleaning, but the job I struggle with is cutting the grass. It takes me several days to get around to it.

I could easily gave posted that imperfect. As you can see, I'm still on gn and I have loads to do!