I need help with being more productive

What makes you productive? I need tips/ideas/tricks.

My apartment is a mess, but I'm too lazy to clean it because I'm unmotivated. I cleaned a small bit of it (mostly taking stuff off my countertops in the kitchen), but I haven't done much overall. I try to do little things here and there to make progress, but somehow I manage to make a mess elsewhere once I clean up an area and put things away.

I can never win; that's why I'm unmotivated. I wouldn't say I'm "depressed," but when depression hits, it's much worse.

I fear that my apartment complex's management will come into my apartment to check my smoke alarms since I've been here for almost a year, and well, my apartment looks atrocious. (Trust me, it looks REALLY BAD: (clean) clothes everywhere, electronics, messy counters, several boxes that aren't empty, carpets that haven't been vacuumed in 2 months, and plenty more. Stuff ALL OVER THE FLOOR.)

I would break it down into manageable parts . I start with dishes then clean kitchen that way the most important task is accomplished in my opinion. Then I take out trash and recycling, then the dining room one room at a time usually. Other times I start laundry and look for easy tasks first throughout the house . If the whole house is a disaster I’d do maybe one room a day etc staying busy for just 1-2 hours a Day also could put a huge dent in it . If you saw all the food you had to eat in a lifetime you’d give up but looking at just one meal 3 meals a day helps so much.

I'm so sorry, bluebicycle I agree with USMCBIPOLAR7. Just try to divide your goal in smaller goals. The least you can manage. You could clean up one room at the time, for example, or take care of different activities (the clothes, the kitchen). Try to do that until you've completed them all. At that point, you should have completed your main goal! Just take it one step at the time. Take baby steps. You can do this! You're strong, I know that. I believe in you. Feel free to PM me anytime. Let me know if I can do something to help you. Wish you good luck! Let us know how it goes. Sending many hugs to you

Chip away at one job at a time. Tidy up every day so that cleaning is easier.

I feel the same everyday, I find no motivation in anything I do and my life's just a boring routine. I like reading books and articles and writing, but I rarely do or finish doing these things, however, when I listen to music I find motivated to do these things. Maybe you could try by doing that things while listening to music you like (not necessarily "motivational music", that's fake).

Do the 15 min timer deal , set it , wash a sink of dishes or load the dishwasher, wipe down all your counter , timer dings you stop. Take a break and set the timer again.

Surface clean that a good way to start. Things that don’t belong in the living room put in a laundry tote , take a break. Rest set a timer for you to just put away half your clothes away done for the day.

The next day start using a timer again it’s honestly amazing what can be done in 15 mins.

Within a couple days your place is much neater.

Make small 15 min attainable goals

I personally have to break down my steam cleaning floors to every 15 mins as it’s hell on my frozen shoulder. But with in the hour it’s done , and my house is far too big now for just my husband and I.

Also greatest invention ever is the swifter duster thing.

I agree with everyone about the manageable goals. You might make a list to check off so you feel good when it's done. Although, for me sometimes cleaning a bunch at once is easier than in small spurts because I get distracted and will never get it done if I don't just do it at once.

Perhaps do something you enjoy once you are done. I also listen to music or podcasts to keep me entertained while I clean because sometime it is just boring! Also, you could work on making a habit of putting stuff away as you go once you clean a section.

My apartment was terrible when I was really depressed this past year, I got it clean and once it is clean it is easier to just keep it that way if I maintain it. It is hard to get started, but I find it gives me momentum once I get going, because then it feels so nice to see it clean and it improves my mood. It even got me motivated to decorate a bit. I know it's tough, though, when you are depressed.

Make a list of what needs to be clean the most; start small and work your way up from there. Organize one thing at a time; but start small. vacuum a room and take a break and switch to something more organizational like a dresser. Mix it up a bit but don't overdo yourself.

Also cleaning is way more fun if you have music to listen too while getting things done.

Music, you need, wonderful, LOUD music to get into your groove. If music doesn't do it for you, I really don't know what to say.

ONLY 2 months?

Seriously, I do not vacuum at all - what little carpet is not covered by furniture in my bedroom does not get vacuumed. I rent a room.

I think my case was much worse than yours and I mean much! And I had apartment managers complain of filth, but now we are down to roommate complaining of two utensils left in the sink overnight and that already makes me feel very crummy. So I have made tremendous progress over the last few years.

One of my solutions is The Container Store and although I was in the past known to go overboard during hypomania and later would get dismally embarrassed when I had to go back and return what could still be returned, overall things from the Container Store are some of my best friends. They are extremely well made, pleasant to hold and look at, carefully thought through and designed, and make caring for clothes, organizing, storing, and cleaning literally pleasant.

And we know from both experience and cognitive science that what is pleasant is what we actually want to do.

If you have some budget for it, I will be happy to post links to some of the things I use again and again with the descriptions of what they do and what they are great.

Note that The Container Store is much, much higher quality than Ikea.

I also love The Container Store most of my makeup organization is from there. In an Ikea storage unit though.

I smoke pot and listen to loud music. That only works sometimes. I am very unmotivated.

I plan to start using makeup and bought makeup organizers from the Container Store. Do not use makeup yet - do not have time to learn how to, but the organizer is already hugely helpful in containing my dental care items, sunscreen, Retin-A, moisturizer, hairbrush and stuff. And I have extra space for makeup in the future.

I actually took pictures of before and after this organizer in the bathroom, but unfortunately has lost that phone since, otherwise would post now.

Watching cleaning videos on Youtube motivates me.

What helps me is making lists and breaking down the tasks.

Another thing that helps is giving myself a reward for doing things. For example, If I read these 2 chapters in my textbook then I let myself watch a favorite show on Netflix or play a videogame for awhile with a nice drink like coffee to take a break and relax. Then after that do one or two more things and keep going like that

I struggle with motivation but find if I just get started on something (which is really the hardest part) the rest usually follows and I get more motivation as I go one. The trick for me is pushing past the apprehension and just start on anything, doesn't matter how little

Do you have stuff everywhere that you don’t really use? Maybe try putting things into piles? That could clear some space quite quickly.

Three piles:

Definitely keep pile
Might keep pile
Definitely get rid of pile.