Today's ADHD cleaning episode

believer · 12-01-2014, 12:28 PM

You know, the kind that starts when you clean one thing, but then get distracted by something else which needs to be cleaned etc...?
Who else besides me does this?
So, today I have the day off work and I cleaned the bathroom, then went on to the kitchen. I cleaned off the countertops and the breakfast bar always gets too cluttered because people put stuff there. Makes me nuts. Today, there was kitten medicine which I thought surely could fit into the kitchen cabinet if I only cleaned it out.
So, I opened the cabinet and threw out some medicine and vitamins that were past date, and decided that I should put shelf paper in there while I was cleaning it. I had shelf paper in the bottom of the pantry. When I went to get the shelf paper, I realized that the bottom of the pantry needed to be cleaned out so I pulled things out of the pantry. Then I papered the shelves in the cabinet and put things back in. I just now realized that I did NOT put the kitten medicine in there

. In the meantime, I decided that the entire pantry really needs cleaning out too. There is now stuff all over my kitchen counters.

RiverRock · 12-01-2014, 12:51 PM

Oh no! I can relate, and the fear of this process often keeps me from starting to clean. That's my excuse why I have been thinking about cleaning for about two hours already.

Aerynne · 12-01-2014, 12:52 PM

I totally do that. While the before and after isn't as satisfying, I do think it's productive and a good use of time. You are cleaning, after all.

believer · 12-01-2014, 01:03 PM

Thank you. I did throw away a bunch of glass jars - I save them for food storage, but save too many, and some old flour that was in an unlabeled jar - have no idea what kind of flour it was or how old and some other things. So, things are getting a bit cleaner.

Blue-EyedLady · 12-01-2014, 01:05 PM

FlyLady says that any cleaning, even imperfectly done, blesses our families. While I ditched her and her crazy emails a long time ago, that's one tidbit I still use.

WanderingJuniper · 12-01-2014, 01:12 PM

We call those mouse-cookie days. It helped my hubs understand how my brain works. I had him read "if you give a mouse a cookie" to the kids years ago and it was an aha moment for him.

I have atleast learned to contain my cleaning add to one space.

believer · 12-01-2014, 02:19 PM

Well, the kitchen counters are clean, two cabinets are cleaned out and the pantry is cleaner. The kitchen recycle trash can is full and the kitchen trash can is half full. I like the mouse-cookie comparison, I was thinking about that as I typed up what I had been doing and saw the connection then.

RiverRock · 12-01-2014, 02:23 PM

I'm cleaning two rooms at a time right now, and it is working well for me. I don't feel captive to a single space, but I still need to stay somewhat focused. I had bathroom cleaner in my hand and had to force myself to put it away. I am not cleaning bathrooms today. I am going to instead finish the rooms I started. Those last two sentences have played in my head a few times in my attempt to stay focused.

PlateauMama · 12-01-2014, 03:02 PM

Oh man, I so know what you mean.

OnlyBelieve · 12-02-2014, 06:16 AM

Yes. I do that all the time.
I am happy you got some things completed though.

Hopetobe · 12-02-2014, 01:27 PM

Yep. It's pretty unhelpful when company is coming and I get carried away in an area they won't even see, but is on my mind right now and seems like a must do immediately.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

sunflowermom · 12-02-2014, 08:54 PM

This is part of why I love GCM so much. I absolutely do this too and I enjoy knowing I'm not alone. I love the thoughts that cleaning even imperfectly still blesses my family and the mouse cookie brain.

I definitely relate.
Sometimes when DH comes home and the house is a disaster, he'll smile and say 'ah, I love it when you clean. Disaster, disaster, then magic!'

I'm so glad he understands the process better now. He used to get anxious about all of the messes I was creating in the name of cleaning.

sweetpeasmommy · 12-02-2014, 11:40 PM

Is there another way?

RiverRock · 12-03-2014, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetpeasmommy

Is there another way?

mommychem · 12-03-2014, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RiverRock

Oh no! I can relate, and the fear of this process often keeps me from starting to clean. That's my excuse why I have been thinking about cleaning for about two hours already.

BINGO!!!

12-01-2014, 12:28 PM	#1
believer Rose Garden Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 8,130	Today's ADHD cleaning episode You know, the kind that starts when you clean one thing, but then get distracted by something else which needs to be cleaned etc...? Who else besides me does this? So, today I have the day off work and I cleaned the bathroom, then went on to the kitchen. I cleaned off the countertops and the breakfast bar always gets too cluttered because people put stuff there. Makes me nuts. Today, there was kitten medicine which I thought surely could fit into the kitchen cabinet if I only cleaned it out. So, I opened the cabinet and threw out some medicine and vitamins that were past date, and decided that I should put shelf paper in there while I was cleaning it. I had shelf paper in the bottom of the pantry. When I went to get the shelf paper, I realized that the bottom of the pantry needed to be cleaned out so I pulled things out of the pantry. Then I papered the shelves in the cabinet and put things back in. I just now realized that I did NOT put the kitten medicine in there . In the meantime, I decided that the entire pantry really needs cleaning out too. There is now stuff all over my kitchen counters. __________________ Dana INTJ widow of Big Bear, mom to: B. - 16 y.o. dd J.-19yo ds M.- 25 (MIL to) A - 24 2 white cats, 3 dogs http://becauseisaidsothathswhy.blogspot.com/ Last edited by believer; 12-01-2014 at 02:17 PM.

12-01-2014, 12:51 PM	#2
RiverRock Moderator Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms. Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: In green pastures Posts: 9,770	Re: Today's ADHD cleaning episode Oh no! I can relate, and the fear of this process often keeps me from starting to clean. That's my excuse why I have been thinking about cleaning for about two hours already. __________________ RiverRock, mom to a 24 year old diamond, 22 year old granite, 19 year old pearl, and 16 year old tiger eye. Married for 25 years to a rugged boulder and resting together on the one true Rock.

12-01-2014, 12:52 PM	#3
Aerynne Rose Garden Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 27,361	Re: Today's ADHD cleaning episode I totally do that. While the before and after isn't as satisfying, I do think it's productive and a good use of time. You are cleaning, after all. __________________ Erin born of water and of the Spirit 4/96 married 5/02 Mama to: 2004 2007 2010 2012 2017 2019 Jan 2, 2024 And many I hope to hold in heaven one day

12-01-2014, 01:03 PM	#4
believer Rose Garden Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 8,130	Re: Today's ADHD cleaning episode Thank you. I did throw away a bunch of glass jars - I save them for food storage, but save too many, and some old flour that was in an unlabeled jar - have no idea what kind of flour it was or how old and some other things. So, things are getting a bit cleaner. __________________ Dana INTJ widow of Big Bear, mom to: B. - 16 y.o. dd J.-19yo ds M.- 25 (MIL to) A - 24 2 white cats, 3 dogs http://becauseisaidsothathswhy.blogspot.com/

12-01-2014, 01:05 PM	#5
Blue-EyedLady Rose Garden The Lion Cub Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Northern Arizona Posts: 10,798	Re: Today's ADHD cleaning episode FlyLady says that any cleaning, even imperfectly done, blesses our families. While I ditched her and her crazy emails a long time ago, that's one tidbit I still use. __________________ Mama to The Engineer (7 yo) "When I grow up, I'm going to build Highway 100!" The Imaginative Adventurer (4.5 yo) "I'm going to rescue you!" and The Lion Cub (1 yo)- Smart, cute, strong, and unstoppable! Sister to BlessedBlue forever Co-Founder and Lead Writer at Food Allergies On Ice

12-01-2014, 01:12 PM	#6
WanderingJuniper Rose Garden Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 10,819	Re: Today's ADHD cleaning episode We call those mouse-cookie days. It helped my hubs understand how my brain works. I had him read "if you give a mouse a cookie" to the kids years ago and it was an aha moment for him. I have atleast learned to contain my cleaning add to one space.

12-01-2014, 02:19 PM	#7
believer Rose Garden Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 8,130	Re: Today's ADHD cleaning episode Well, the kitchen counters are clean, two cabinets are cleaned out and the pantry is cleaner. The kitchen recycle trash can is full and the kitchen trash can is half full. I like the mouse-cookie comparison, I was thinking about that as I typed up what I had been doing and saw the connection then. __________________ Dana INTJ widow of Big Bear, mom to: B. - 16 y.o. dd J.-19yo ds M.- 25 (MIL to) A - 24 2 white cats, 3 dogs http://becauseisaidsothathswhy.blogspot.com/

12-01-2014, 02:23 PM	#8
RiverRock Moderator Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms. Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: In green pastures Posts: 9,770	Re: Today's ADHD cleaning episode I'm cleaning two rooms at a time right now, and it is working well for me. I don't feel captive to a single space, but I still need to stay somewhat focused. I had bathroom cleaner in my hand and had to force myself to put it away. I am not cleaning bathrooms today. I am going to instead finish the rooms I started. Those last two sentences have played in my head a few times in my attempt to stay focused. __________________ RiverRock, mom to a 24 year old diamond, 22 year old granite, 19 year old pearl, and 16 year old tiger eye. Married for 25 years to a rugged boulder and resting together on the one true Rock.

12-01-2014, 03:02 PM	#9
PlateauMama Rose Trellis Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Trying to find my bearings again in Texas. Posts: 2,341	Re: Today's ADHD cleaning episode Oh man, I so know what you mean. __________________ L My princess Nisi (Jan. '06) My silver and gold Havi (April '07) My wild flower Zan (June '09) My hon bun Loam Loam (Oct. '16)

12-02-2014, 06:16 AM	#10
OnlyBelieve Rose Garden Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Southwest Illinois Posts: 7,301	Re: Today's ADHD cleaning episode Yes. I do that all the time. I am happy you got some things completed though. __________________ ~Sue~ Daughter of the Most High Wife to dh, JD (1994) Mother to ds, JJ (July 2001), dd, AJ (July 2004), dd, F (March 2014) and three (m/c) I hope to hold in Heaven (1997 - 10 weeks, 1998 - 13 weeks, 2002 - 11 weeks)

12-02-2014, 01:27 PM	#11
Hopetobe Rose Garden Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: "Sun, sun, sun, sunny day" Posts: 3,844	Re: Today's ADHD cleaning episode Yep. It's pretty unhelpful when company is coming and I get carried away in an area they won't even see, but is on my mind right now and seems like a must do immediately. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ Probably on my phone, and Andrea INTP, DYT 4/1 Wife to B ~9yrs Mom to E 3yo & L 1yo 10/13/09

12-02-2014, 08:54 PM	#12
sunflowermom Rose Garden Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Oregon Posts: 3,579	Re: Today's ADHD cleaning episode This is part of why I love GCM so much. I absolutely do this too and I enjoy knowing I'm not alone. I love the thoughts that cleaning even imperfectly still blesses my family and the mouse cookie brain. I definitely relate. Sometimes when DH comes home and the house is a disaster, he'll smile and say 'ah, I love it when you clean. Disaster, disaster, then magic!' I'm so glad he understands the process better now. He used to get anxious about all of the messes I was creating in the name of cleaning. __________________ Mae Married my DH in 2/2008 Gave birth my DS 3/2012

12-02-2014, 11:40 PM	#13
sweetpeasmommy Rose Garden Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 30,329	Re: Today's ADHD cleaning episode Is there another way? __________________ Amy eNFp Wife to ISTJ DH 1997 Mom to one Sweet Boy 10/2004

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