Depression and housework

Depression makes everything harder.  Housekeeping is no different.

Depression makes you not look at the cup in the sink, even after it becomes two cups, a bowl, a colander, and several pieces of Tupperware.  Depression causes making the bed to seem pointless, laundry to sit in the dryer unfolded, and cat hair to clump on furniture.  Depression can make you wonder why you are putting in the effort at all.

However, even depression leaves a choice.  Even through the depression, I washed the dishes.  I vacuumed.  I am doing the laundry.  It's later than I would like, and it's going to have to be done again in the morning, but at least at some point today I will be able to look around and say, "it is finished."  Even if I had not finished, doing something, anything, is better than doing nothing.  And, since I have a schedule of what needs to be done each day, I'm not overwhelmed by everything.  For instance, today I don't have to think about the bathrooms, or the kitchen.  All I have to think about is laundry.  And if laundry takes five hours rather than two, then at least it is done and won't be hanging over my head tomorrow.  I am highly impressed by how much having a cleaning schedule helps me, and I highly recommend it.

I am so thankful for my friends.  If it were not for one contacting me today to go to lunch, I'm not sure if I would have been able to get up and do what I have today.  Everyone needs something to help them when they are down.

For tonight, it is almost done.  I can sleep tonight knowing that my house is once again clean.