So... I've moved out! Into the real world! A full hour away from my parents' home out in the exurbs, into the big ol' scary city.

And... I'm doing okay! I figured there would come a moment in which it all became terrifyingly "real," and I'd start panicking and crying and falling to pieces. But it just hasn't happened. I'm paying rent and bills, buying groceries and keeping myself well fed, decorating my awesome new apartment, caring for my cat, the whole nine yards.

The downside is, I've had to pick up a lot of extra hours at work to finance all this. Now, a full-time job is a totally normal thing to have, most adults do it. But doing almost full-time when you're on your feet the entire time and you have a bad back? Not so easy. Even worse when the job involves lots of lifting, stooping, bending, reaching, and all sorts of little things that really build up into major pain by the end of your shift. So when I come home at night, I make myself some dinner, then crash on the couch with some Netflix until it's bedtime. Then the next morning it's time for a shower, coffee, and back to the grind.

So if I go a long period without a day off (as I often do)... things don't get done. Dishes pile up, the floor gets covered in cat hair, and all the little tiny chores, like taking recyclables out to the bin or washing the sheets, pile up into this huge unmanageable mess.

So, my question is... how the hell do you balance a physically demanding job with normal household upkeep? I catch up on my days off, sure, but the apartment gets pretty gross before then, and I hate living like that.

for me its all about juggling routine with 'when it needs to be done.' quick tidy up when I get home from work sorts out the 'morning rush' mess, another quick tidy before bed makes breakfast easier to find, then big tidy up Saturday morning to quash the rebellion. trash men come monday, don't even think about trash till Sunday night. dishes, bleh, I can't stand doing the dishes so I either wash as I use or let it pile up until I run out of plates. so to sum it all up, as long as there's always loo paper in the bathroom, I'm good to go.

I tend to just peck at things. If the dishwasher needs unloaded I'll grab a couple of things while I wait for water to boil or food to microwave.
The best thing I can offer as advice, is to just pick at big tasks when you're just sitting there waiting for something to happen.
Usually by the end of the week even just picking at it, the dishwasher is empty and I can reload it with a new full load.

Yeah, that's a pretty good strategy... It always works for me, but then I forget about it and don't do it and things pile up. I tend to view tasks as Big Ordeals and get overwhelmed by them, rather than by breaking them down into small, manageable pieces.

Working as you go is another good strategy I often forget.

Do you follow the unf*ckyourhabitat tumblr? They give a lot of good practical reminders that are easy to forget about on your own: Make your bed in the morning, put 2 things away that are within reach, pour some cleaner into your toilet, etc. Not to mention that a lot of the posts are cleaning/organization porn: It's so satisfying to see a dirty room suddenly become neat! Sometimes that's just the inspiration you need.

I get what you're going through right now - I've working two jobs and have a couple 12 hour days each week. But if you have a plan and know what you need to do everyday, it gets a lot easier. Make lists, put up some post-its, etc. Look forward to the satisfaction of getting stuff like that done.

I always make my bed right before bed... or my cat messes it all up.

I know the feeling cherry... I tend to wait too... usually I eventually just suck it up and get it done before anyone has a chance to see it.

Make a bed... Why? You're gonna mess it up again that very night. 😏

Hahaha, this is funny. xD

Make your bed!
Excuses are boring.

Maybe consider using paper plates for a while....to cut down on dishwashing....until ya get a better routine established.
Maybe post a list of chores on your fridge....a reminder of things you want to get done every day.....Once you set a routine and stick to it, you won't feel so overwhelmed.
Good luck to you!
Oh....and congratulations on moving out on your own! That's a big step!
(And keep in mind that most folks can't "do it all" all the time, either...so don't be hard on yourself when ya just don't feel like "keeping up" on the housework!....it will be there when ya get to it!)