Wow I just saw this on the frontpage and thought I sometimes feel like this too, although about slightly different things and without that much heart-racing. I’m late and there are already many good answers, but here are my extreme and possibly horrible lifehacks for when I’m struggling/feeling lazy during the pandemic:
tldr: Like others said, get away with less chores.
I haven’t ironed or folded clothes since like forever. (If you really cares about that, maybe find clothes that look OK without ironing, idk). I don’t go out or exert myself that much, don’t change clothes that often if I don’t want to, and bought plenty of similar clothes (online, in bulk or used) so I can let laundry pile up more and do more at a time (assuming I can use a washing machine; if you don’t have one or can’t easily access—say the laundromat is too far from your home, there are other tricks for hand washing). Maybe unethical tip: most people don’t need to shower that often either(just be less self-conscious unless someone important in your life minds it) and can use dry shampoo(or body powder/corn starch), alcohol and wet wiping etc to delay the need of showering and shampooing, in case these tasks are unappealing to you; also silk clothes are known to absorb oil from the skin better and can last longer before having to be cleaned—you can get lots of used silk shirts for cheap, and they are comfortable too if you have sensory issues or hate static.
I rarely need to “do dishes” as I cook for myself and can take shortcuts/lower standards. You could use disposable plastic cutlery and paper dishes, but I don’t like them. Instead I use quality nonstick pots and pans (imo important!) that just need a gentle wipe, and 1-2 microwave-safe containers if necessary, and either cook one-pot meals, or batch cook things like stews(or order family-sized delivery for savings, if it’s something I like and can’t easily cook myself) and portion and freeze them to be reheated on the plate in a microwave or added to the pot. You can cook starch(like rice/pasta) and veggies and add seasoned raw protein or frozen stuff on top, in a pot (or Instant Pot, or a large ceramic bowl in the microwave), so no need to wash separate containers. If rinsing just 1 pot and 1 bowl/plate per meal is too much or if you can’t rinse immediately after the meal, you can just wipe the pot with a paper towel (with a bit of water if you must), and store used plates in a separate plastic bin (not in the sink itself) and soak/wash them in a batch, without making the sink unusable for other tasks.
Like others said, most other chores can be simplified or automated (like robot vacuum or rearranging storage so things are dropped at appropriate places more naturally), or at least you can get away with doing less. Dust build-up can be reduced by air purifier (especially one that’s next to the window, and it’s good for you too), and most people don’t really need to wipe most surfaces that often. The only time I really need to make my bed is after changing sheets. You didn’t mention storage/organizing, but I struggled a lot with it. YMMV because storage needs and habits vary wildly. Some are just minimalist and will never want to have all that stuff I keep. Some prefer drawers so they don’t have to see the stuff. I prefer (large, metal) shelves/racks and other open storage, and open boxes/bins organized by category (OK, mostly) on top of that, so I can maximize the amount of stuff stored for the amount of visual clutter while keeping things easy to access and put back(important imo, if it’s not easy I might as well not have the item/storage).
I can’t say much about food shopping as tastes and environments are different, and I personally don’t mind shopping that much, but having a list of favorites/repeated purchases (especially for online shopping), ordering larger amounts and batch cooking (and/or freezing) may help. If cooking larger batches seem difficult, maybe choose ingredients that need less preprocessing (like veggies that need less/no peeling), and an Instant Pot and/or hotplate/electric griddle with digital temperature controls can help take out the skill/guess factor. Canned/non-perishable goods are helpful too. Just be careful about nutrients like protein and fiber if you decide to make changes to your diet for convenience; also you can freeze almost anything—frozen fruits/veggies are great and better than sad refrigerated leftovers imo.
As for having to work, I’m sorry but I don’t have better ideas other than choosing a job/environment that suits you more, ideally one that is fun and meaningful to you so it doesn’t feel like it’s taking time away from your life that could be spent doing more meaningful things, or at least one that is not unpleasant and leaves you plenty of time and energy to do other things you like. And be sure to have fun and avoid burnout no matter how meaningful your career/cause is.
Wow I just saw this on the frontpage and thought I sometimes feel like this too, although about slightly different things and without that much heart-racing. I’m late and there are already many good answers, but here are my extreme and possibly horrible lifehacks for when I’m struggling/feeling lazy during the pandemic:
tldr: Like others said, get away with less chores.
I haven’t ironed or folded clothes since like forever. (If you really cares about that, maybe find clothes that look OK without ironing, idk). I don’t go out or exert myself that much, don’t change clothes that often if I don’t want to, and bought plenty of similar clothes (online, in bulk or used) so I can let laundry pile up more and do more at a time (assuming I can use a washing machine; if you don’t have one or can’t easily access—say the laundromat is too far from your home, there are other tricks for hand washing). Maybe unethical tip: most people don’t need to shower that often either(just be less self-conscious unless someone important in your life minds it) and can use dry shampoo(or body powder/corn starch), alcohol and wet wiping etc to delay the need of showering and shampooing, in case these tasks are unappealing to you; also silk clothes are known to absorb oil from the skin better and can last longer before having to be cleaned—you can get lots of used silk shirts for cheap, and they are comfortable too if you have sensory issues or hate static.
I rarely need to “do dishes” as I cook for myself and can take shortcuts/lower standards. You could use disposable plastic cutlery and paper dishes, but I don’t like them. Instead I use quality nonstick pots and pans (imo important!) that just need a gentle wipe, and 1-2 microwave-safe containers if necessary, and either cook one-pot meals, or batch cook things like stews(or order family-sized delivery for savings, if it’s something I like and can’t easily cook myself) and portion and freeze them to be reheated on the plate in a microwave or added to the pot. You can cook starch(like rice/pasta) and veggies and add seasoned raw protein or frozen stuff on top, in a pot (or Instant Pot, or a large ceramic bowl in the microwave), so no need to wash separate containers. If rinsing just 1 pot and 1 bowl/plate per meal is too much or if you can’t rinse immediately after the meal, you can just wipe the pot with a paper towel (with a bit of water if you must), and store used plates in a separate plastic bin (not in the sink itself) and soak/wash them in a batch, without making the sink unusable for other tasks.
Like others said, most other chores can be simplified or automated (like robot vacuum or rearranging storage so things are dropped at appropriate places more naturally), or at least you can get away with doing less. Dust build-up can be reduced by air purifier (especially one that’s next to the window, and it’s good for you too), and most people don’t really need to wipe most surfaces that often. The only time I really need to make my bed is after changing sheets. You didn’t mention storage/organizing, but I struggled a lot with it. YMMV because storage needs and habits vary wildly. Some are just minimalist and will never want to have all that stuff I keep. Some prefer drawers so they don’t have to see the stuff. I prefer (large, metal) shelves/racks and other open storage, and open boxes/bins organized by category (OK, mostly) on top of that, so I can maximize the amount of stuff stored for the amount of visual clutter while keeping things easy to access and put back(important imo, if it’s not easy I might as well not have the item/storage).
I can’t say much about food shopping as tastes and environments are different, and I personally don’t mind shopping that much, but having a list of favorites/repeated purchases (especially for online shopping), ordering larger amounts and batch cooking (and/or freezing) may help. If cooking larger batches seem difficult, maybe choose ingredients that need less preprocessing (like veggies that need less/no peeling), and an Instant Pot and/or hotplate/electric griddle with digital temperature controls can help take out the skill/guess factor. Canned/non-perishable goods are helpful too. Just be careful about nutrients like protein and fiber if you decide to make changes to your diet for convenience; also you can freeze almost anything—frozen fruits/veggies are great and better than sad refrigerated leftovers imo.
As for having to work, I’m sorry but I don’t have better ideas other than choosing a job/environment that suits you more, ideally one that is fun and meaningful to you so it doesn’t feel like it’s taking time away from your life that could be spent doing more meaningful things, or at least one that is not unpleasant and leaves you plenty of time and energy to do other things you like. And be sure to have fun and avoid burnout no matter how meaningful your career/cause is.