Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

I'm sorry your boundaries aren't being respected and you feel you can't stand up for your needs @NatureLover . Trying to mollify angry people may be only a temporary fix, especially if they're being unreasonable. I'm not sure what's the kindest thing to do in that case... I feel it triggers my fight/flight/freeze responses and thus lack of control to turn the situation around. It's humiliating (maybe that's a trauma response).

Did work perk you up like you hoped? I'm trying to get more done. I did another couple of hours of housework. If I can keep it up I might get back on track soon. I'm tired and sore but it's manageable. I just seem to be very slow.

I haven't thought yet about New Year's resolutions - what about you?

Hi @Dimity , how was your social event yesterday? I thought of you, but took a day offline yesterday as my hours this week are already over the limit my psychologist set me after I burnt out in 2020 on here.

Yes, work perked me up on Thursday. Yesterday was a write-off, but today need to go to the library to return books and also the supermarket.

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@Dimity wrote:

Trying to mollify angry people may be only a temporary fix, especially if they're being unreasonable.

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This was helpful, thanks.

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@Dimity wrote:

I'm not sure what's the kindest thing to do in that case... I feel it triggers my fight/flight/freeze responses and thus lack of control to turn the situation around. It's humiliating (maybe that's a trauma response).

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I'm sorry to hear 😢 But as usual, you've given me things to think about...

I am sending wishes for your tiredness and soreness. Well done for doing all that housework.

I don't generally do New Year's resolutions as I never keep them, so it's demoralising. In fact, I saw a post that I liked on Facebook that said we put too much pressure on ourselves with making New Year's resolutions, and it would be good to just make one resolution to be kinder to ourselves. I liked that.

I hope your event yesterday went well and that today is a good day for you...

I can understand what you say about NY resolutions @NatureLover but for me it's yet another opportunity to commit to growth and improvement... after multiple failures, but unless I try I'll wallow in my SI (don't worry, I'm safe).

Yesterday's lunch was pleasant on the whole, with only a few awkward moments. I feel quite lonely in the aftermath of all the festivities and family tensions.

Today was difficult with 4 neighbours feuding over the ongoing demolition of the common garden. There were high tempers and foul language, and the usual denials that anything untoward was happening and refusal to address it.

I picked up a garbage bag of litter from around the block to sooth myself... being careful of my back. I hadn't done it for a while.

I hope you got your errands done today. I'll try to do more tomorrow, today was a bit miserable.

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@Dimity wrote:

but unless I try I'll wallow in my SI

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Ohhhh @Dimity , I hadn't realised you had constant SI 💔 I'm sad for you, my dear friend 😭

I'm glad you're safe 💚

And I'm sorry yesterday was miserable for you 😢 The vicious fighting over the communal garden sounds awful. 😣

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@Dimity wrote:

I can understand what you say about NY resolutions @NatureLover but for me it's yet another opportunity to commit to growth and improvement...

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This is so positive...another admirable instance of you keeping plugging on forward.

I went out for my errands yesterday despite not wanting to, and did about 45 minutes of tidying in the late afternoon. Like you, am hoping to do more today. At least it's sunny outside, which helps my mood and motivation. I also need to prepare my calendar for next year, writing in all the important dates, all the various bin dates, work days, etc - it's a big job! I rely on my calendar to organise my life, and always choose the one with the biggest squares, to write things in.

I did wonder whether you would feel a sense of let down after your festivities. Which is normal, I would say... I'm glad your lunch on Friday was mostly pleasant.

Good luck with today - I hope it's a good day, not miserable. 🤞

P.S. @Dimity I'm not sure how I'm going to go with tackling the house today, as all I want to do is be outside on this gorgeous day!

Hope you enjoyed the sun today @NatureLover as well as achieving your goals. I haven't marked the bin dates on my new calendar yet. Actually I have 2 calendars to choose between this year.

I've muddled through the day, not getting much done, and had another unexpected visit this afternoon.

Well done with your tidying. Mine is bothering me so I'll have to keep chipping away.

Happy New Year @NatureLover. Good health and prosperity. And fortitude to see you through the challenges.

What a lovely post to wake up to on New Year's Day, @Dimity , thank you. Fortitude is a lovely wish. Happy New Year to you too! 💚

That's nice you had an unexpected visit yesterday - at least, I hope it was nice?

I got out my new calendar yesterday only to find that the weeks start on a Sunday not a Monday, which will throw me. Not sure what to do. This year was the first time I chose one online as my local newsagent no longer has the ones I've been using for years. I always choose the calendar based on how big the squares are, for writing all my stuff in. These squares are big, but the Sunday thing is bothering me - maybe I'll get used to it. Nice you have 2 to choose from.

Yes, I loved the sunshine yesterday!

I managed 2 hours and 45 minutes of tidying yesterday and cleared away half the bags in my lounge-room that I was having to step /jump over. Today is work and doing laundry.

Hoping your New Year (all year) proves an improvement on last year for you, and you can achieve the goals and resolutions you've set. Wishing for better health for you, and happiness. 💚

Thanks for those wishes @NatureLover . 2023 certainly had some difficult challenges.

Your big effort yesterday inspired me to get another 2 hours done today. One thing I did was I shredded some lab notebooks and recycled a number of photocopies I'd clung to for a very long time, from a past life I couldn't return to. Now I've started on those archives I should be able to continue.

Yes, the visit was nice but I fell short again. One day the house will be in a fit state and I'll entertain properly... I'm very rusty.

Off to my walk before dark. Have a good day tomorrow. Hopefully it shouldn't take too long to get used to the new calendar format if it's labelled clearly, but I can imagine it's a bit disconcerting.

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@Dimity wrote:

Your big effort yesterday inspired me to get another 2 hours done today. One thing I did was I shredded some lab notebooks and recycled a number of photocopies I'd clung to for a very long time, from a past life I couldn't return to.

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Well done 🙂 I know it took me decades to finally let go of things from past lives.

I'm glad your visit was nice despite you feeling a little inadequate 😢

Today am feeling very dopey and doubtful. Hoping I come good a bit later this morning and don't go back to bed after this.

Good luck continuing with your archives, if that's today's task...

@Dimity

P.S. Your D alliteration was delightful in itself 😃

Am going to try a walk now then if that doesn't work I'll go back to bed.

I trust taking things quietly helped @NatureLover. The weather was very unsettled this afternoon. I held off shopping for hours while thunder rolled in the distance and BOM radar showed heavy rain was imminent but it went around my patch and only arrived quite late in the day. I did some more decluttering - there's lots to do but hopefully I'll nibble away at it again. Yes the letting go isn't easy but maybe it's a winnowing and I'll also find stuff that matters.

I know you prefer to do things in bursts - a downswing now is maybe just an interlude. Take care of yourself - I hope you can rest tomorrow if you need to.