cleaning tips for the depressed
- wake up, stand up and make the bed right away. Bedroom looks better and I hate to mess up the bed by getting back in.
- —Guest Joyce R.
Cleaning tips for those depressed
- I make a list, then break it into small chores, a little at a time and then give myself a check for everything I do. When I do the dishes, I do small amounts at a time, and then sit down for a while until I regain my strength. When I wash floors, I wash only a few rooms at a time, then take a break, before I keep going. It helps me to take a rest inbetween chores. Then, I reward myself with something, and feel much better afterwards.
- —Guest Elena Faith Cohen
Roomba
- I set my Roomba to vacuuming. The battery lasts about 40 minutes. While it vacuums I do things around the house. I still have to use a regular vacuum on occasion but I find that at least I feel I have accomplished something. When it is done I am done.
- —MaryMariah
cleaning tips for the depressed
- I have a list of the basic everyday stuff (take a shower, wash dishes, clean kitty litter etc) The absolute basics for every day, and i get to cross them out- great sense of achievement for crossing something off like brush teeth. I do the basics even if it takes all day. On better days, I add stuff to the list eg do washing. I like lists
- —Guest angela
best thread ever
- Thankyou so much for this thread, I love all the posts so far they are so helpful. I don't think people without depression have any idea how hard this stuff is for us. This http://housekeeping.about.com/od/timesavingideas/a/15MinuteClean.htm is an awesome page on this site about how to do a 15 minute basic clean so a room is presentable, there's one for each room of the house, it's helpful if you get a bit OCDish about cleaning because you can just limit yourself to the small list of steps and then you're done, please have a look at it 'cos it's really good. Hang in there everyone xoxox
- —Guest glitter girl
cleaning tips for the depressed
- I find a favorite movie or television show that has commercials. I get up and do what needs doing during the commercials and watch the show in between
- —caregive
coping with cleaning
- I have been diagnosed with depression and borderline personality when I was 13 after my first suicide attempt...Iknow what helps but it's hard to put it in perspective when you are so down..but if I give myself 15 minutes to clean or whatever...small steps , so I don't have to deal with the guilt of not doing anything..the guilt starts the vicious cycle all over again.
- —Guest the impaler
I can help!
- Hi ladies, I'm a life coach and I specialize in strengthening worn out women who want to live more balanced lives. My first idea is to delete, rather than add on, when you feel you need to make a change in life. If you are overwhelmed with responsibility, think of what you can stop doing, trim back, get rid of. Our tendency is to buy something to make it easier, read a book to learn how to "fix ourselves", etc. But adding things and ideas and tasks and time consumers, no matter how healthy for us, is UNHEALTHY when we are overwhelmed. Try seeing what you can stop instead of what you can add to make things better. Simplify!
- —Guest Nancy Woelfer
Fight your feelings and GET UP!!!
- I have been feeling down because i have made a big move. I moved to another country and feel alone, so this had me depressed and did not feel like getting up or cleaning my house, but i still did it. I want to share with you what has helped me. No matter how i'm feeling i fight it and get up and do things around the house. I put music and start enjoying what i'm doing. I don't let my feelings get in the way of my work. I put my feelings aside and talk to them saying i'm strong and have health thank God, I'm not going to sit here and feel sorry for myself I'm going to get up and get moving. I stop my feeling before they convince me that i feel bad and don't want to do anything. I hope it helps!!
- —Guest meli
Using a Timer Works!
- I am having a hard time with doing the chores. I saw a post on here that I think will help. Use a timer...clean for 10 minutes, then do something you like for 10 minutes, etc. I think this may work!
- —Mag68mg
cleaning tips for the depressed
- I've been dpressed over 3yrs, and I find th e inspirational music helps me too pick myself up and get the job done gospel music is a great push for me. There are days when I couldn't fathom the idea of beginning to clean my room, just being in there makes me nutts, yet when I visit a friend I dont feel depressed and could clean for days. I think that my home is dpressing to me, because of the situation there, and people around me on a day to day basis. You should get out and away sometimes when you can
- —Guest lovely
Getting motivation
- I just read alot of the different comments on here and I got alot of ideas. I have been struggling with depression for 9 years now. Right now I have many of the same symtoms everyone else has. Laundry piling up, dishes not getting done, don't want to cook. Just want to sit on the couch reading a book. I am going to try some of the tips. I also have found that if you have a understanding partner in your life helps with getting you out of a depression. Talking to my husband and one thing that I have found very helpful is writing in a journal how I am feeling, what is going on with kids etc. That really works too. Then we talk about it.
- —71jaa
no motivation to take a shower-much less
- It's hard for me to talk myself into taking a shower. Cleaning this house is major, but I've got to because company will be here for a week for Christ. My son & new daughter-in-law who live very far away will be here. Plus there will be alot of cooking to do, which in a normal state of mind, I would be so happy. How does one go on in this kind of existence.
- —Guest elizabeth
Just keep going
- I find that when i'm really down i just can't be bothered to even care about the housework, but then i remember how it feels to have someone come over and see how bad i'd let it get, if you're like me, you don't like others to know the full extent of how you are feeling, you want everyone to think you are coping well....that, although it sounds bad is my inspiration, i invite people over....not too often but when i know i really need to pull my finger out. If i know people are coming over i think 'well i don't mind living like this, but i'll be danmed if i'm going to let my friends sit in this clutter and junk' so i know i have a time limit to get it done, i start slow, then i just seem to get stuck in, before i know it the whole kitchen is done and i'm thinking....right.....bathroom here we come! it takes alot of effort but feels like a massive accomplishment when i sit down and look at how my house is sparkling, i feel good knowing my friends are gonna say, god it looks good today!
- —Guest lynsey
Don't think, do
- There's a saying that goes, "If you're ever going to get anything done, do it yourself." I know you are thinking, what does that have to do with anything? That's the thing. Don't think, just do. Almost literally push your body out of your position and run through the house with the burst of energy. You see, when you do something as random as that, you don't have time to understand. Don't exert yourself, though. Your subconciouse mind knows what it has to do, so doing it quickly without thought is pretty easy. And for me, I can't process my thoughts too quickly anyway.(Either that, or they go on a rampage)Also, doing such a random act may make you feel silly enough to want to do it again. Throw yourself across the room, grab the vacuume, and let it guid you across the floor. Spray your furniture with a fuity freshener to improve the overall feeling(and smell)Make it enjoyable! Schedual a date with a friend. Doing so is a motivation to get things done. And the compliments are nice too.
- —That_Strange_Girl_287
