Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

[Dimity]

I'm so sorry you felt unable to see your friend yesterday @NatureLover. I don't have your fears of contamination but felt vulnerable today, the first time I've ventured into shops and public transport unmasked. I think I'll continue to mask.

I didn't see my helper during the week either,  and hope I can make up the time with her.

These days I'm getting the washing up done most days. I tend to look after the bench tops in tandem with other things I'm doing in the kitchen rather than allocating a speciaI time. I try to buy only the things I'll be using so I'm not getting so much backlog of groceries to put away. I'll admit to a pile of mail and flyers I don't attend to often enough. For you it might be good to see if you can think of a workflow with the shopping bags after you bring them in  unless you have to prepare a meal immediately or have other commitments. A stack of bags to wash takes less space than full ones. We sometimes have to be creative  to get out of a wellworn groove, to outwit ourselves. I haven't worked it all out for myself yet so I really can't preach. But maybe if the benchtop is a blockage it's time to sidestep it and try something else for a few days. Whatever you choose I'll be barracking for you.

[NatureLover]

Thank you for your lovely reply, @Dimity . I also wear masks when out. 

You're right about not buying too much 'incoming' stuff. One of my problems is not much storage space here, and another is that I'm usually too exhausted after going out to put away groceries. My psychologist also wants me to work on the 'workflow' with the incoming bags. 

I actually had a great day yesterday, after I achieved nothing on Friday. I worked more than 15 minutes, I actually did a few hours on the house! I cleared the bench - but I didn't sort all of it, I stacked some stuff in a box at the end of the bench, on the floor. But it's much neater now, and I can use the bench for sorting. I think all this happened as I woke up with some energy. This is rare, and I know I must utilise it when it happens. But it's definitely my preferred way of working - to do it all in one hit, when I have the energy. 

Well done for keeping on top of the washing up and the benchtops. How long will you be helping your friend in crisis? And will you try to meet an extra day with your helper, so twice in one week?

Thanks for your support ❤️

[NatureLover]

Thanks for popping in @Bow  ❤️ Your hopes worked and I had a great day yesterday and achieved a lot on the house. Feeling much more positive. 

[Dimity]

Hello @NatureLover I'm very impressed. It's interesting because a few days ago you were wondering whether 15 min bursts or longer times would work better. If only you knew how to boost your energy more often? Maybe the fresh fruit and veg helped? They do help me. I did the free Life! program with Diabetes Victoria and I credit it with my turnaround. The telephone counsellor was lovely. They gently coach you re diet exercise and general lifestyle for six months. 

Yes I'm hoping to see my helper twice this week. I think I'll be navigating the crisis a while longer yet. I'll try to pace myself as it's very draining.

I think it's possible for workflows to be an enjoyable challenge.  (I did a bit of scitech work). Eg you use ingredients when you cook, picking them up off the bench. If it's more than one serve, instead of putting it back, put it away. And while things are cooking you might put a couple more away. Sneaking up on the problem through tricks and tweaks. It won't change things overnight but it might add up to a clearer bench before the next shopping trip. And you'll still have some time to look at the boxes.

I'm having trouble keeping up with the housework at the moment as my days are very long. 

I appreciate your support too.

[Dimity]

Hope ur OK @NatureLover .

We're making progress in supporting my friend.

[Shaz51]

@NatureLover , @Dimity , @tyme 

we have taken 2  trailer loads of rubbish to the dump 

one load yesterday and one load today 

when we got to the dump we had to separate the stuf into the right parts ( Steel, Iron, wood, rubbish ect ) 

it took ages but it is done now , lots of aching and sore muscles 

[Dimity]

That was a big effort, @Shaz51 , well done.

At my waste transfer station you can save a lot of money by sorting before you load the trailer as metals and electronic waste and some other recycling are free. They look at the load before deciding how much to charge you. It's easier to unload too. Last time I went we took garden waste in a separate load as that's a different price too. 

I've just been arranging collection bags for someone - they're the size of a small skip and the truck comes and picks them up.

[NatureLover]

Hi @Dimity , yes, I'm OK thanks. If I miss one day I'm OK, it just means I woke up late or ran out of time or am trying to meet the goal my psychologist set me of only 3.5 hours a week on the forums (to prevent another burnout). But if I miss a few days in a row here on the forums it means my depression's bad. 

That's good you and your friend are making progress on their hoard 🙂

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@Dimity wrote:

It's interesting because a few days ago you were wondering whether 15 min bursts or longer times would work better. If only you knew how to boost your energy more often?

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Yes, I'm sure the working on it in one big hit suits me better, but as you say, the energy is missing. The fruit and veggies help. 

When you were talking about workflows, it occurred to me that I'm not entirely sure what a workflow is! I know my psychologist says to put away the groceries the same day I bring them in...but ti sounds from your description that there is more to workflows than that?

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@Dimity wrote:

Yes I'm hoping to see my helper twice this week. I think I'll be navigating the crisis a while longer yet. I'll try to pace myself as it's very draining.

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It sounds like you have a lot on your plate, with your own stuff to sort, your helper twice this week, behind on the housework and helping your friend (which sounds exhausting). Are you getting enough sleep?

[Dimity]

@NatureLover glad everything's alright.

A workflow isn't a task like "put things away", it's a series of steps where you decide the order and timing. The definition is 

"the sequence of industrial, administrative, or other processes through which a piece of work passes from initiation to completion."

So it's something you plan and consider and revise. Often in a lab you draw a flowchart to list the steps.

Yes my sleep routine is out of whack at present. It's never been ideal but I'm pushing myself with early starts and the cat has been unsettled and started waking me well before dawn. I'll need to be careful as sleep disturbance is a red flag for my MH.

[NatureLover]

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@Dimity wrote:

A workflow isn't a task like "put things away", it's a series of steps where you decide the order and timing. ...

So it's something you plan and consider and revise.

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Ah, I see...that explains why my psychologist wants me to plan ahead to finish the "buying groceries and then putting them away" cycle.

I wonder if you can ease back slightly on your own stuff while you are helping your hoarder friend? Or would that 'waste' the time your helper is there? I'm thinking of your sleep routine...

I look forward to our conversation each day @Dimity  🙂