My house has been a wreck for about 2 years. The dishwasher broke around then and since my husband installed a granite countertop without taking the dishwasher into consideration, it cannot be removed without busting the countertop. I cannot stand and do dishes without feeling like my body is crushing in on itself. I think I need to buy a barstool so I can sit and do dishes.

My house is cluttered but not filthy. I don't beat myself up anymore....I'm too sick for that. But I do need to improve via increasing stamina SLOWLY. If I try to tackle too much I crash and am in so much pain that working up courage to try again can take months. I got a "fly lady" cleaning book and it has useful suggestions I wish to incorporate into my life.

The best advise I've received is to set a timer for 15 minutes each day and do as much as you can. Slowly increase the time. Due to chronic pain I do 5 minutes 3 times a day. It's not much but it's something and my toilets are cleaning in 5 minutes. A room is dusted in that time. A load of laundry started. If the timer goes off and you feel you can do more, go for it. But careful not to overdue it or it all could backfire. Baby steps can lead to giant steps.

Please remember that people with tidy homes are no better than those with messy ones. Messy desks are a sign of high intelligence and so is laziness. **** retentive people are usually highly judgemental people. But I also know that a clean environment for many of us is so important to overall well being. Make a list of realistic things you can accomplish and if you cross one off the list, it can create a dopomine release which leads to a snowball effect of accomplishments.

(((Hugs)))