Getting it done

[joany]

I've added a link to a well-written article on copd.net.  It's a good read for those of  us, like me, who have regrets every day because I don't "get it done." - in fact somedays I get negative nothing done and am hard on myself because of it!  As my Mother would say "I'm going to turn over a new leaf." - watch this spot.  (I read what many of you do daily so I know its possible.  One of these days I'm going to post that I finally moved the refrigerator into the hall closet (smile).)

copd.net/living/bite-sized-bits/

[skate4life]

Joany - great advice. Add to that a time limit. I learned that trick when I didn't want to go to the rink to practice. I gave myself permission to limit my skate to 15 min and then go home and not feel guilty. Frequently, of course, once on the ice I did more. But now I use the same thing that in a way correlates with 'one bite at a time.' I give myself permission to do only one load of wash, or Swiffer one room instead of the whole first floor. And anything that might take longer, I just make note of when & where I stopped to resume on another day. Being increasingly cognitive impaired, I took an index card and listed all the major tasks and drew columns so I could just right the date I did them....sort of like what you see in rest rooms in stores for the cleaning people. Now I can see how long it has been since I cleaned the toilet or changed my bed linen. Living alone in a 2 story house and the fatigue of copd has stretched out some of the tasks that years ago I would have done on a more regular basis. Works for me......

[joany]

Hmmm, skate4life, I like the plan of scheduling a beginning AND an end time.  Today, I did re-arrange several shelves in the kitchen cupboard.  I found a package of several boxes of biotene dry mouth gum date 2/2014.  I didn't test it.

[jim]

I have a written list of things to do, each day I look at it and see if there is a job I think I can do, it is so satisfying to be able to cross a job off, even if it was only a small one.

[jarca]

good tips!
i used to make a list & cross off as i did each thing; but then i got frustrated as my list seemed to grow longer & longer---so i quit making lists; i like the list with columns so i can see when i last cleaned the toilet & when the last time i vacuumed as it seems i'm always doing it or doing nothing; there must be a happy medium that i can learn & NOT have the guilt!
thanks for the ideas!

[skate4life]

Glad to offer my hint
Jarca, I also have (for years) a old fashioned spiral Steno Pad on my kitchen table (I live at that table....) and do write a few items I want or need to do that day, and a stack of scrape paper held with big metal bulldog clip that I write date and time I started computer & off (usually twice a day, mine doesn't like on/off frequently.)

Inside my kitchen cupboard is another larger index card that long ago I listed those items and dates that need batteries with size (like fire/CO alarm, remotes, caller id, clocks, thermostat, ans machine) and another card with those annual items like do a hot water vinegar washing machine run to clear the hoses, clean under refrig, vinegar clean coffee pot, open/close outdoor faucets, dates that various services did their inspections/servicing (AC, furnace, generator.) I update every couple of years as items change. It saves me from bending over to dig through all my various manuals for dates & type of batteries needed in my stash.

I know this sounds very OCD, but I like having all this info in one spot Years ago I also typed a list of all the various grocery & household staples and have it taped inside the cupboard door...easy to look at the list and see if I missed checking something, especially when doing my PeaPod order for home delivery of groceries.

Please don't tell me I am nuts - I already know that........Daffy Skate

[joany]

skate4llife, WOW! I'm impressed.

[jarca]

those are good tips skate!

 years ago i heard a hint to 'change smoke & 02 alarm batteries on daylight savings; so every fall i do the smoke & co alarms (feel safer in the winter with heat on knowing smoke alarms are up & running)---so they are done yearly, but all those other household things that need done i forget about (like drain some hot water out of water heater) 
I always have my computer on as i sit a bit, then get up & do a bit, then sit a bit---so maybe i'll start a yearly list tomorrow (it's "bill/paperwork" day tomorrow so i'll start my 'year list' tomorrow)---just reading these great tips!!!
i also keep a steno pad that I write groceries as i think of them & things i need to shop for when i do my 'monthy' online shopping....but i've also kept post it notes next to my table & i've gotten in a bad habit of writing things on the sticky pads then they pile up & i end up throwing away the clutter & all my notes

good tips!

ps. i did get my coffee pot cleaned with vinegar as i have one that tells me when to clean it. & today i cleaned my "pur' water filter as it has a reminder when to do it... but i never even thought of running vinegar thru my washing machine! Keep the tips coming as i'm going to copy some of your great ideas---oh inspiration instead of guilt!!! i like it! 

[mary57]

Great ideas, I used to use a 'desk' calendar as my place mat at the table, kept me organized and on top of things. I like to batch cook multiple meals at once (on a good day and with Liz's help) that way I have meals in the freezer for the 'bad' days. I also keep small caddies of cleaning supplies in each room so I can do a job when I see one to TRY to stay on top of things. We have 'coffee mornings' here every Mon., Wed., and Fri., so I take a load of laundry down with me and get it done while enjoying a morning chat. The laundry room is very close to the activity room.
If I think of more bits I'll post again.

[skate4life]

Hi everyone - glad to see your own takes on 'getting it done!' we can learn so much from each other and how to make life a little bit easier especially things that might help conserve our energy. I hope more people will contribute

I may have mentioned this before, but since I just changed my bed linen and realized I did not have a clean set should I spill my bedside water glass, I laundered my sheets that were waiting on the landing, tossed them down the stairs. I sat in my favorite rocker reading during the wait times. Anyway, my hint is take a magic marker and mark the 2 corners of the contoured sheet near the edging. This way, when you unfold the clean sheet, you can easily see which way to lay it out before tugging it into place. I invariable found I had it the wrong way so now I don't waste my energy having to redo it.... Changing linen is a high energy task and I found it helps to increase my O2 flow. I also have a wheelie padded stool (I have hard wood floors throughout) that I sit on and use my legs to propel me around the 3 sides of the bed working the sheets, etc. into place. With practice, you learn how to work your O2 tubing during this task. If I am not having the greatest breathing day, it also keeps me seated to pace myself and PLB.

When not is use, I keep on the stool a small bucket with rolled up medium and small towels. Sometimes my meds really have my hands trembling and I have knocked over more than a few glasses of water - this way, I can quickly grab the towels and throw them on the floor, then sit on the side of my bed to PLB until my heart rate comes back to normal:) My 26' grabber/reacher then helps with the wet towels. The Spiriva makes my mouth sooooo dry that I am sipping water round the clock including my frequent awakenings.

Now I realize, many of you have help but there are some out there that do live alone and I hope this inspires you. Even I procrastinate and should have done those sheets sooner

[jarca]

I have found that when doing housework it is easier to put on my 02 fanny pack that I use for outdoors; it is so much easier to vacumn, make beds etc without having that long line to trip over.

i like the rolling stool for doing the bedding, but not sure it would roll good on my carpeted bedroom.

I am such a clutz with drinks by my bed that I refill water bottles & re-use them (i also have a few sets of the flip top things for water bottles that I wash & re-use on the cheaper bottles without them).
Gatorade bottles are great for washing & refilling as they have big enough openings that a bottle brush fits inside easily for cleaning.....In the summer when working outdoors I freeze drinks in the gatorade bottles as they fit great in my little cooler that i take out on my ATV.

the small (12oz)& 'middle size' (20oz)  bottles of gatorade I find so many uses for. they are made out of plastic that is thick enough to wash & reuse for many things. 

[skate4life]

jarca thanks for the value of the different bottles!

Someone also suggested using a child's sippy cup to limit spill.....

[jade]

Thanks ladies, you are motivating me. I start to remind my self lately ; If you do stuff, stuff gets done. 10_15 minutes makes the difference .

[jarca]

ran across this post yesterday ...........
this post has some good links at the end of page about 'bloating', 'feeling tired', 'not sleeping well', 'winter mental health'----a few things i deal a lot with.

what  i didn't realize is that it had so many links about so many things! if one just keeps clicking down at the bottom instead of backing up to click another link as i did before.
it's kind of an endless list of things to read about---interesting

i'm not sure how I got back to this point, but there is a 'menu' that can be clicked on;

copd.net/living-with-copd/

[lavishgail]

Get washed, get dressed, finish coffee, and hope to be ready by 11 today! So I had better get off my duff, and get going,
Always late for everything!

I here the babies in the roof rafters! Also we have 2 very beautiful swan on our pond, they took over the whole lake, scaring away all the Canadian geese, I feel kind of bad cuz I love to see the keys parade their babies around the lawn when they're done having them took over the lake. They are sitting on their nest so I'm sure I'll be able to see some babies of some sort, I have never seen Swan babies so I wonder the mama bird just came out of the nest she has an orange beak and she's black I don't know what type she is black around her neck a little brown and more black looks like a barn swallow but I don't know. Okay I have to do my duties love Gail XOXOXOXO