Day 14: How to Make The Little's List Work For You

Well, it's day 14 and I hope you are seeing some real progress in your own mindset and in the space you've chosen. Before we get started on today, let's check in!

How are you liking the space that you've chosen? Think through the things that you've been able to tidy and/or keep tidy in this space and give yourself a mental round of applause for the effort!

How are dishes and laundry going? Are you settling into a schedule for these that works for you? Remember that when something isn't working, you have permission to change based on your needs. Validate your unique needs by accomplishing these each day that you can, with the limits of your body in mind.

Were you able to do some difficult "normal" cleaning like vacuuming and mopping? If so, you are a rock star!! Keep these tasks in mind on days when you have some energy and you'll soon find a pattern of living that works for you.

Today we're checking in on the littles list. This is the list of small, but annoying, deep cleaning tasks that we make on the basis of our bodies. I'd recommend trying to make at least one littles list a week, more if you feel super amazing.

So, how can we make this list work for our unique situations and our unique bodies? Here are some tips that I find helpful.

1. When the wave hits, ride it. If you are like me, nothing is more frustrating that wanting to feel strong and capable and having a day where that just doesn't happen physically. On the flip side, I adore it when I unexpectedly see a deep clean issue (like maybe needing to wipe down a particularly dirty mirror) and realize that my body has the strength to DO IT. When these waves of strength and capability hit, ride them. Make a quick littles list and work to see how many you can cross off before your body needs a break. These waves are like little miracles, so relish them and celebrate them to help accomplish the littles list you've made.

2. Be smart when making and completing your list. Not all days (or weeks or months) are created equal for perfectly healthy people, and they are certainly not all created equal for chronic-sufferers. Be smart about what you put on your list, and how you complete it to accommodate the difference. Weak on the couch? Maybe your little list for today consists of two items- clean/sanitize your mobile phone and the end table next to you. Maybe you grab a Clorox wipe or two and work on these little tasks bit by bit over an hour. Guess what?! That is still deep cleaning! It's still getting things done that make your home cleaner and make you feel productive. Give yourself all the credit in the world when you cross those littles off, and know that good days will come again....someday.

3. Try, try, try (and relish your tenacity). My body often does NOT feel like it can get up, walk across the room, grab a rag and go complete a little that I've listed. My arms feel weak, and just thinking about it, I swear I start to feel a bit dizzy. The more I think about doing a task, the more it seems like I'm asking my body the impossible. It's important to be safe, but it's also important to just give it a try. Just start by sitting up, then by standing. See how you actually feel starting on a task and let this determine if it is a safe time to try or not. Sitting around thinking about it, for me, causes my body and mind to become paralyzed with fear that I'll fail or fall or whatever. Just starting to put one foot on the ground, then another, I often find that I do have the strength for a little something, and I feel AMAZING when I sit back down and I've completed a task that I was unsure I could do. Even when I can't complete it, I congratulate myself on trying and set a timer to try again after I rest.

4. Mentally Break it Down.  The littles list is meant to be small. No item should take more than five minutes. Maybe for you, this seems way easy (it's certainly not meant to be overwhelming) but for me, sometimes I need to break it down even more. So, I take a little (say dusting) and mentally I start to break it down (and chant it in my head to keep me focused). This is what it looks like when I'm mentally talking to myself :)

Me: First, grab a rag, next wipe off the piano, then wipe off the shelf, last sit down.

Literally, I will repeat this four step process in my head, removing each item as I complete it. It just so motivating to know that in four short steps I will have finished a task!

Here's hoping that these tips will help spark ideas on how to make the little's list work for you!



31 Days to a Chronic Clean

Day 13: What is "Deep Clean"?

Today, we're touching on a subject that many cleaning books and schedules will go over, often with monthly or bi-weekly tasks that keep deep clean items on a regular rotation.

So, what is the definition of deep clean? Basically a deep clean is all the tasks that a regular clean wouldn't cover that you'd be expected to complete before selling your home, or leaving your rental. We're talking wiping down the insides and outsides of cupboards, cleaning behind the stove and fridge, cleaning the inside of the dishwasher, washer, dryer, etc.

These tasks only need to be done every six months to a year. They certainly aren't a main priority for people with  chronic conditions (unless your condition requires a hospital-level of sanitation). They are something to keep in mind, however, as some of them can help extend the life of your home appliances.

Today, we're going to determine what deep clean items we want to worry about, and which items are less important. This way, we can customize a schedule that suits our family, our budget (if we're hiring this out), and our unique needs.

Here are some things to keep in mind:

Some appliance cleaning tasks will help extend the life of the appliance. Certainly this is a great place to start with your deep cleaning schedule. See this guide on what tasks will help your appliances last as long as possible.

Some cleaning tasks will make an impact on you personally and your condition. These positive-impact items should be done more frequently to help you give yourself the tools you need to do your best with what you have. (Think washing windows inside and out to get a clear, beautiful view outside, sanitizing all around the bathroom if you have a condition that drags you in there all the time, ensuring your home's filters are changed/cleaned regularly if allergens pose a threat).

Hiring out a deep cleaning may be a great way to get caught up, or just check these items off. According to Angie's List expect to pay an average of $227 for a whole-home deep clean. See day 6 to see how to earn money from home to help cover this expense.

Here is my deep cleaning schedule, based on my needs. Yours may look very similar or quiet different, just be sure to think through what your circumstances need.


Every-Other Month

• Clean and sanitize:
• Fridge
• Cupboard fronts (and insides as needed)
• Bathtub/showers
• Behind and around the toilet
• Oven inside
• Wash:
• Windows
• Doors
• Walls and baseboards as needed
• Run a sink full of water and cleaner down disposal

Every Six Months

• Replace/Clean
• heater/A/C filter
• Filter in washer/dryer
• Dryer hoses
• Dishwasher filter
• Oven filter
• Clean
• Blinds/drapes
• Storage Areas
• Replace fire alarm batteries

Every Year (or so)

• Hire/get help to do a thorough deep clean

Keep in mind, these are predicated upon my body's needs. What once I may have done monthly or bi-weekly, I'm now doing bi-monthly. Is it ideal? Well, no. Is it functional, yes! Surprisingly most people don't go around inspecting your blinds and such for dust when they enter your home, especially when you are stuck on the couch. 

Learning to live with your condition isn't expecting perfection, it's accepting yourself and the way you work with love. 

So, look around you, look at your individual needs and put together a schedule that although imperfect, is workable for you. Then remember that much of the deep cleaning that needs to be done can be helped by family and friends. The next time someone asks you "what can I do to help?" tell them, my blinds haven't been cleaned in ages, do you think you could do just a couple for me?

Then be sure to show your gratitude, no matter the answer. If needed, your blind's dust will wait for you to have a good day to get to it! 

31 Days to a Chronic Clean

Day 18: Begin Organizationish

Back when I was fully capable of any and all everyday activity, I loved organizing things. I would organize our pantry every month or so, ensuring that all the cans and boxes of food were facing out, the shelves looked freshly-painted white, even labeling things (clearly I needed a life).

Organization, when you deal with a chronic condition that limits your ability is much more practical. I mean, I'm pretty sure I can figure out where the boxed pasta is, without a label directing me, you know?

So today, we'll start becoming organized in ways that are super helpful for life in our circumstances.

First thing we'll tackle is what I call condition-related organizers. These organizers are not for those without physical difficulties, they wouldn't know what to do with them. They are for those of us who need things like medications, tissues, activities to do, pain journals, etc.

To begin, think about where you spend the most time, and where you do different things. Maybe it's the kitchen, maybe you're like me and there is a couch or recliner where you often are, maybe it's your bed. Wherever the majority of living happens when your condition is at it's worse is where we're working today.

To organize this space, you'll first need to determine everything you'd like to have within hands reach. Here's my list to help you formulate your own (with explanations as needed).

List of Items for Condition-Related Organizer (next to recliner)

• Medications
• Lotion
• Hairspray, spray-bottle, brush (to do hair with)
• Mascara, lip gloss, hand mirror (to get ready) 
• Tissues
• Journal, pens and pencils (to help record life)
• Scissors (Surprisingly always handy)
• A couple grocery sacks (for quick garbage containers)
• Sunblock (so I can put it on the kiddos when they want to play in the back) 
• TV remote
• Water bottle

My laptop also could be added, although it's kept separate from everything else. 

Other ideas could include wet wipes, non-perishable snacks, other medical supplies, etc. 

So, all of this stuff is SUPER handy to have within hands reach. Having it already set-up for me ensures that if I wake up in the morning and start feeling weak, I can get to the couch and not have to worry about whether or not I have what I need. I basically have everything I need to survive several hours (except maybe a toilet...). 

All this stuff is also a total mess just left out on the end table, but it makes life so much more efficient. Today we'll ensure our life is efficient AND organized by finding a simple organizer for our items. Desk organizers work GREAT for this purpose. I found one that's pockets fit my medicine bottles perfectly! You can find basic ones inexpensive, or splurge a bit on a decorative organizer that goes with the space you love (keep in mind, you will be using this frequently!). Just be sure that everything fits easily, with a bit of excess room for that item you are sure to want to add later. 

Depending on your circumstance, you may have two condition-related (or more) spaces. Perhaps there are a million things you use in the bathroom, or when you wake up. Wherever you need a lot of random items to make life work smoothly with as little extra effort as necessary, set-up an organizer and get everything you need, right where you need it. 

It's just another way we can make ourselves more independent, and save our energy for the important things in life :) 

31 Days to a Chronic Clean

Day 12: Enjoy the Lush Feeling of Falling on Clean Surfaces

Yesterday we talked about how to approach more difficult tasks, like vacuuming and mopping (although for each chronic condition, these chores may be more or less difficult).

Today, we're making space for our bodies to be complicated by enjoying that progress.

So, whenever your body hits this day, enjoy the feeling of having cleaned your space. As much as I hate being stuck on the floor during a cataplexy attack, it's so much nicer when the floors are clean. It reminds me of what I can accomplish, even though some days are hard.

So when you need to take a break, look around your chosen space, and rejoice in the daily tasks of cleaning you've been doing each day to help keep this space a space where you can be, without stress, on bad days.

We'll hit it again tomorrow!

See 31 days to a Chronic Clean.

Day 11: Vacuuming, Mopping and other "Normal" Cleaning

Hello all, and welcome to day 11. Today, we're going to talk about something that for non-chronic sufferers is a one-line to-do item.

For those of us unique enough to struggle with chronic conditions, it's a bit more complicated than that.

It's time to discuss normal cleaning chores like vacuuming and moping and other chores, that for you may present challenges.

I used to love vacuuming. Something about the smell of cleaning, mixed with all those pretty straight lines in the carpet, I dunno, it just spoke to me, I guess. Mopping?! Yeah, I was a sucker for shiny, beautiful floors.

On hard days, with my chronic condition, these normal cleaning activities are frequently ignored. Why? Because my walker can still easily navigate floors that don't shine. Floors left untidy are a bit more difficult, so they are a bigger issue for me. Also, these chores require time, often standing/walking. That can be hard to do when I'm weak. It's just not a quick 5 minute job. Finally, the noise of the vacuum can be a trigger for my condition, and we all know that part of respecting chronic conditions is learning how to pro-actively treat them.

What normal chores do you struggle with? They may be these, they may be others.

Today, our focus is on adjusting our life to accept our limitations, and still accomplish these normal chores. I'll walk you through the adjustments I've made, and hope they help you to honor your own situation and still maintain a level of clean.


First, it's important to note what "the issues" are for your situation. I've already talked through this, but here's my listing for both vacuuming, and mopping.


Why Vacuuming is Hard

• Time it takes (about 20 minutes for the main living areas) 
• Physical strain of standing/walking/pushing and pulling
• Additional time spent unrolling cord, plugging in, emptying container, re-rolling cord, etc.

Why Mopping is Hard

• Physical strain of pushing mop hard enough to remove dirt/standing/walking
• Set-up time required
• Time it takes to complete

Writing this list, I realize that pre-condition me wouldn't have thought twice about these issues. Remember though, that's why we're here and not reading the latest cleaning best-seller. What is easy for people with bodies that function predictably day in and day out, isn't as easy for us. 

That is alright! We're smart enough to work around it. 

Once we understand why the tasks we've identified are hard, we can start to find solutions. Keep in mind, calling in help is an acceptable solution, depending on your situation. 

I decided that rather than stress over always having perfectly clean floors, I'd accept that these two tasks wouldn't happen as often. Is the inner clean freak panicking? Remember that being limited is part of our lives and choosing in what way to limit yourself is infinitely more satisfying than allowing your condition to make the rules. 

Now, I do time cleanings to try to align with when people might come over, as well as when my family and I have strength to do them. Rather than set a weekly time that my body is sure to break with, I instead tackle these tasks whenever I have the strength to do them, and record when they were done so I can monitor how often I'm doing them and adjust as needed. 

I've also adjusted the tools I use and how I use them. For example: 

• I replaced the regular sponge mop with a light-weight steam mop (steam mops can simply go over a trouble area multiple times to remove, without needing to use elbow grease). 
• I use a stable, wheeled chair when mopping instead of standing (be wise with this, obviously).
• For my birthday I asked for a robotic vacuum (this model) when it was on sale.
• Vacuum more efficiently (see this great, how-to) 
• Get assistance (I've trained my kids to help with these tasks, and it's seriously paying back big!)

Finally, I try to keep the need for cleaning at a minimum by using wet wash-cloths on sticky spills right away and using house-slippers instead of shoes that may track dirt around. If you can minimize the mess from the start, you're only helping yourself! 

A final note, we don't have pets that add to the problem, but I understand that pets can require much more vacuuming and such (not to mention care overall). Keep this in mind if you are a chronic sufferer looking to get a new pet and try to choose something that again, minimizes the need for additional work, if possible. 

See 31 days to a Chronic Clean. 

Day 10: Evaluate the Space Puzzle, then nap

Say, what?! 10 days in already?

Give yourself a pat on the back, you've been getting yourself to a chronically clean for 10 days already, that's no small feat.

Today, we're going to check in on one of the most important aspects of a chronic clean, our chosen space puzzle.

Remember, we chose a space to empower us to live a full life in the narrow space that is caused by chronic conditions. We honored ourselves by selecting the most important space to focus our limited efforts and energy.

So the first step in evaluating our space puzzle is to first, evaluate our chosen space. 10 days in, how are you feeling about the space you've chosen? Did you choose correctly? Is keeping this space tidy helping you feel more dignified? If so, well done! Let's keep with it! If not, re-evaluate. Here are a few questions that may help.

Where do I spend the most time when I am feeling my worst?
What space would empower me to feel more comfortable with my condition?
Is there a space I can keep tidy that will make me feel more confidant around others or when asking for help?

Your individual condition and limitations are your own, so you may need a more narrow or wide space than I do. That's the reality of the life we live. Honor yourself and your limitations and abilities by choosing a space that works for you!

Next, let's look at our actual puzzle. Here's mine again for reference:

How is your space puzzle working for you? Did you forget an important item? Are you struggling to complete most of your list over a 2-3 day period? If so, you may have overextended yourself a bit. Is each item manageable (less than 5 or 10 minutes)? Break down tasks that need additional break down in order to keep things simple and achievable on bad days.

At this point, if things seem to be working well, you may consider making note of which tasks to start with. This is a very personal decision and can be based on many different factors. For example, you may select the hardest task to do first or the easiest. I recommend considering doing the task with the most impact for you personally first (I'm a sucker for a cleared living room floor, it makes it so I can navigate my walker around easily). Ordering your tasks to get you the most benefit out of what you are able to do in a given way is just another way we are empowering and honoring ourselves and our condition.

Once you've evaluated your space puzzle, check to see how you are feeling. I sometimes get a burst of excitement after such an improvement and may want to start right away on my new space puzzle. If this evaluation has left you sleepy, exhausted, or in pain though, feel free to take a break, a nap, or whatever else you need to take care of your unique body's needs. We'll hit it again tomorrow!

See 31 days to a Chronic Clean.

Day 9: Dishes and Laundry

Here we are again, back to dishes and laundry. Why? Because I believe this habit can make the biggest impact on feeling capable and independent when talking about cleaning.

Habits are powerful, but they take time to develop. The popular saying that it takes "21 days" to make a habit, has been shown to be an underestimate, with researchers now indicating that building a habit depends greatly on the individual, and the new habit. The average time is 66 days, but harder habits could take up to 8 months before they come naturally, without thinking.

Don't get discouraged by this time frame though, since researchers also found that occasional missteps in building habits don't do much to dilute your efforts. This means for us that continually doing dishes and laundry each day will eventually form an easy-to-remember habit even though bad days are bound to happen for chronic sufferers.

The good news is, that dishes and laundry get a little easier each day you successfully complete them, so each day we're moving forward! For today, get each of these tasks done and recognize that you are moving a step closer towards your goals of an achievable, chronic clean.

We'll continue to revisit these two tasks, to ensure that this is one habit that slowly, over-time will become second-nature to even the most chronic sufferer.

Because everyone deserves to have clean clothes and dishes!

See 31 days to a Chronic Clean.

Day 8: Break

When you struggle with a condition that limits your ability to do there are a few important rules to remember:

First, do a little each day to help you feel dignified and productive.
Next, celebrate any and all accomplishments.
Finally, embrace the fact that you are in control of your attitude, not always your ability. Make room for days when you lack the ability you long for by preparing your attitude.

That's what day eight is all about. Day eight is about preparing yourself for bad days, for days when things don't go as planned. By planning breaks into your cleaning schedule, you give yourself permission to handle life as needed.

Taking a break can look different, depending on your needs. Let's look at some examples.

Today, I'm currently feeling quiet weak. I'm not able to do a load of dishes, or get laundry in at the moment. Mentally however, I'm feeling just fine. I don't feel emotionally burned out, which is great for me as well. Today, taking a break may mean forgoing doing the cleaning items I normally do to re-evaluate my approach. I'm thinking I'll look at maybe changing up when I do dishes and only worry about getting a load of laundry in in the morning, since I've had a few rough mornings lately. Then maybe I'll take time to read a digital book or my favorite fun blog.

Perhaps you may be having a day where everything just seems to be falling in, maybe physically you are struggling more than usual and that is making it hard to handle the emotional and mental stress. Maybe today, re-evaluating just sounds too hard and depressing. Maybe today's break needs to include some healthy pampering with your favorite movie or snack, or calling in a friend or family member to chat or to take you out for a bit. If so, take the break you need!!

Here are a few tips in taking breaks that will set you up for future success:

1. Give yourself permission, maybe even aloud if need be.
2. Take breaks that build you up. (Binge eating a chocolate cake may taste good in the moment, but may leave you with feelings of self-disgust or other unhealthy feelings. Let yourself indulge a bit in a healthy, moderate way. Maybe order in from a favorite sandwich shop if it's in your budget, or ask a friend to pick you up a favorite beverage to sip on.)
3. Use breaks as building opportunities. I love to spend time reading inspirational quotes and committing my favorite to memory. You may have your own loves that help you feel like you can do what needs to be done, maybe you are an ultra-planner and you can spend time planning a fun outing with a friend or family member. Using down-time to build yourself up often shortens down-time!
4. Take breaks as needed, but keep trying to get back to "real-life". Don't live in a limbo of "I'm taking breaks". Take a break, an hour, a day, and then get back to trying again.

So whether the break comes today, or tomorrow, take it when you need it and then move forward with the momentum you create when you love yourself enough to take care of the real you!

See 31 days to a Chronic Clean.