Many people don’t look forward to cleaning the house even though we know it needs to be done. If you are prone to depression, cleaning can feel like a daunting task. You might have a feeling of dread that makes the thought of cleaning so overwhelming that you procrastinate until it becomes a giant project to tackle.
A messy house can often exacerbate depression and trigger crippling anxiety. Once you decide it is time to dive in and start cleaning, each thing you do can incrementally make you feel better. The simple act of taking the garbage out or doing the dishes can lift your spirits and get you motivated. A clean home can feel like a safe and nurturing environment. Let’s explore a few tips for how to get motivated to clean when depressed and keep up with the routine.
8 Tips for How to Get Motivated to Clean When Depressed
We absolutely aren’t exaggerating when we say that not cleaning your home can and will ruin your life. Not only is it unhealthy in every way you can think of, it can also have broader effects on many other aspects of your life.
Here’s what you can expect if you never clean your place:
Prioritize Your Daily Hygiene Routine
Spending a few minutes every day to straighten up the house can have a profoundly positive impact on your cleaning routine and mood. Addressing smaller daily cleaning tasks will ensure your home feels safe and comfortable. It also means that cleaning chores don’t pile up and contribute to that feeling of your life being out of control.
A good rule of thumb for how to clean when depressed is to concentrate on what is within sight and within reach more often. Tackling basic tasks regularly will greatly simplify your life and your cleaning process. Try to do as many of these suggestions each day as you can realistically handle.
- Make your bed as soon as you wake up
- Place clothes and linens in the hamper or the washer
- Wipe down the vanity top and sink after brushing your teeth
- Wash dishes or place them in the dishwasher after meals
- Wipe down kitchen counters and sink
- Place garbage and recycling in outside bins
- Put the kids’ toys away at the end of the day, or have them do it
- Empty the litter box and rinse out pet bowls
Now that isn’t so hard. This short list is the foundation for keeping your home tidy, sanitary, and pest-free. You will sleep better knowing that you are going to wake up to an organized home and return to a clean environment at the end of the day. The list is manageable and will become a healthy habit.
Divide Your Major Cleaning Projects into Categories
Grab a pad of paper and a pencil or your laptop. Make a list of all the cleaning projects you need to tackle, small and large, that aren’t on your daily list. These are the tasks you want to tackle weekly, monthly, and seasonally. At this point, it is just an aide to allow you to see what needs to happen. It is not intended to intimidate you. Later, you’ll prioritize the list and add it to a calendar. This activity is best done while having your morning coffee or tea on a weekend so you are relaxed.
Weekly Cleaning Tasks
- Wash and put away sheets, towels, and clothing
- Dust furniture, shelves, light fixtures, and window blinds
- Mop Floors
- Vacuum carpets
- Scrub bathroom fixtures
- Clean mirrors and glass shower enclosures
- Water plants
Monthly Cleaning Projects
- Launder washable bath mats and small throw rugs
- Polish wood surfaces
- Clean tub and shower surrounds/walls
- Wipe down kitchen and bathroom cabinets and hardware
- Clean out the fridge and wipe down kitchen appliances
- Flush sink drains with baking soda and white vinegar
- Vacuum curtains and upholstery
- Wipe down baseboards, doors, trim, and window sills
- Sanitize light switches, TV remotes, keyboards, and mice
- Hose out garbage and recycling bins
- Scrub tile grout
- Clean out bathroom and kitchen cabinets
- Toss expired food, cosmetics, and medications
- Clean the range hood and oven thoroughly
- Wipe down ceiling fans and change HEPA filters in air purifiers and vacuums
- Launder pillows, blankets, and bedspreads
- Vacuum and flip mattresses
- Have carpets professionally cleaned
- Clean windows and framed artwork glass
- Swap out clothing and donate what you don’t wear anymore
- Organize and sweep out the garage
Make a Schedule
Now it is time to get out your calendar. This can easily be done on your Outlook or Google app. You can also do this on a paper wall/desk calendar or appointment book.
Write down the weekly cleaning tasks, one on each day of the week so you aren’t overwhelmed. Each cleaning project will take less than an hour each day. Alternatively, you can tackle the weekly events in one or two days all at once.
Add the monthly cleaning chores to any day or days you want to address them. Do the same with the seasonal tasks. For instance, clean out the garage one Saturday in the fall and swap out clothing once in the spring and then again in the fall. You get the idea. Preparing a schedule will keep you on track without exhausting you.
Stay Focused
It is so tempting to look at your cleaning schedule and say, “I’ll get to that tomorrow.” Before you know it, tomorrow becomes next week and you have a pile of things to do and a messy house. Procrastination can be a trigger for depression and low self-esteem.
Do your best to stay focused by sticking to your schedule. It is often helpful to do your cleaning first thing in the morning so it is out of sight, out of mind. This is one of the most productive tools for cleaning with depression.
Make it Fun
One of the best ways to get through cleaning the house is to make it enjoyable by playing your favorite music. Blast it if it won’t annoy the neighbors. You might even find yourself singing and busting out a few dance moves. Make the routine a workout session so your exercise also gets done – double the benefits.
Reward Yourself
Another way to make cleaning more fun is to plan a reward for when you have completed one or more projects. Having something to look forward to is excellent motivation. You might promise yourself a designer latte after cleaning the bathroom or allow yourself a new pair of jeans once the garage is cleaned.
Don’t Beat Yourself Up
It is very important to cut yourself some slack for not getting everything done. No one is perfect and sometimes you are simply too exhausted or not feeling well. Remind yourself that it will get done when you are feeling better.
After the laundry is done and folded, it isn’t going to ruin the day that you haven’t put it away yet. At least it is clean. The same goes for the bathroom. It needs to be clean but not sparkling to the point that you can eat off of the floor every time you wipe down the surfaces.
Try your best to keep every room tidy and free of the things that can affect your health negatively, such as the buildup of mold, dust mites, and pet dander. Poor health due to a dirty house can exacerbate depression.
Get Help
If the thought of cleaning is simply too formidable and you don’t know where to begin, enlist help. You can do this either by delegating different jobs to the other people you share a home with. Or, you can hire a professional team to get the process started. There is no shame in having someone else clean your house or sharing in the process. Often, having your home cleaned by professionals at least once can be enough motivation to get you to continue to keep it clean and tidy. There is nothing quite as rewarding as having a completely clean and sanitized living space.
Let MaidThis Los Angeles Clean Your Home
A good way to get motivated to clean your home when you are experiencing depression is by having a professional cleaning service start the process. If you are feeling stuck and don’t know where to begin, we can do a thorough or partial cleaning of your home so you can have a clean fresh start in a tidy and sanitized home. MaidThis is available to do periodic initial cleanings, regularly scheduled cleanings, and seasonal cleaning projects. Contact us today or click below.
