Research shows that keeping a clean home can be advantageous for your mental health. It makes it easier to focus, improves your mood, and in the case of a clean bed and clean sheets, it can make you sleep better. The trouble is that, for many people, struggling with mental health can lead to difficulty with tasks such as cleaning and self-care. All of the cleaning product roundups in the world can’t replace the acknowledgment of mental health as a factor. So, what can you do? If you’re having a hard time with cleaning, there are answers, and you do not have to struggle forever.
Tips For Maintaining A Tidy Home
When the going gets tough, here are some tips to help you maintain a tidy home:
Do what you can.
Taking things one step at a time can be incredibly beneficial for those struggling with mental health, someone with a busy schedule, or someone facing anything else that gets in the way of cleaning.
You might elect to tackle one room per day, or you might decide to work on a specific task (loading the dishwasher, taking out the trash, or something else, depending on what’s most urgent) and focus on doing one of those things alone per day. Breaking tasks down into smaller steps can make them a lot less overwhelming. If you’ve ever had a large work project or a large school project, you know this to be true. Don’t judge yourself based on how much or little you can do; break it down into actions that are manageable for you, even if they’re small.
Ask yourself “what can I do to make it fun?”
If there is something you can do to make cleaning more fun, don’t be afraid to do it. This might mean listening to a podcast, playing music while you clean, asking someone to help, or treating cleaning like a game. There are cleaning games out there that people use to make it easier for kids, and there’s no shame in using those things as an adult.
Remember that it doesn’t have to be perfect.
If perfectionism is something that tends to get in your way when it comes to cleaning or other areas of life, you aren’t alone. Sometimes, the idea that something needs to be done perfectly or in a particular way can hold you back from doing it at all. If that’s the case for you, remind yourself that it doesn’t have to be perfect. Celebrate what you get done, and if taking the “easy route” makes cleaning more accessible for you, celebrate that, too!
Ask for help.
Asking for help is never weak. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. If you have friends, family members, children, or someone else in your life that can help you with cleaning, it’s okay.
Additionally, if you have the financial resources, there is no shame in using professional cleaning services – especially if the current state of things is overwhelming and it will make upkeep easier afterward. If mental health is an ongoing battle for any reason, it’s important to seek the help of mental health professional.
Overall, it’s essential to challenge shame and stigma when it comes to struggles with cleaning or other ways that mental health may impact your life. Acknowledge your feelings and remember that what you’re going through is valid. If you are struggling with mental health, you aren’t alone, and support is available.
Find Support
Finding support from a professional can be advantageous for many different reasons. Whether you’re struggling with a mental health condition such as depression, interpersonal relationships, a breakup, stressors related to family, work, school, or something else that’s going on in your life, or anything else that’s on your mind, seeing a therapist or counselor can help. Therapy is a non-judgmental space to talk about whatever is on your mind, and there are a number of ways to go about finding a mental health professional to see if it’s something you’re interested in or may benefit from doing. You can ask your doctor for a referral to a therapist, search the web, utilize an employee assistance program, contact your insurance company, or use a website such as Mind Diagnostics that can help you find a provider in your area. All that you have to do is type in your zip code, and you’ll see a range of providers near you. Regardless of how you reach out for help, be proud of yourself for taking the first step.