Sign-In
Cart
Doing Housework When You're Depressed: Small Steps for Keeping Your Home Clean, Safe and Comfortable.
Paperback
CleaningMental HealthSelf-Help
Publisher: Sally Alter
Published: Aug 5 2026
Pages: 84
Weight: 0.27
Height: 0.17 Width: 6.00 Depth: 9.00
Language: English
DOING HOUSEWORK WHEN YOU'RE DEPRESSED
When you're depressed, even the smallest household task can feel overwhelming. A sink full of dirty dishes, an unmade bed, or a basket of laundry can seem impossible to face, leaving you feeling discouraged and trapped in a cycle of guilt and exhaustion.
This practical, compassionate guide offers gentle encouragement and realistic strategies to help you regain control of your home - one small step at a time. There are no impossible standards, no pressure to create a perfect house, and no criticism if you can only manage a little. Instead, you'll discover simple, achievable ways to make your surroundings calmer, cleaner, and more manageable, even during your darkest days.
Drawing on both personal experience with depression and years of practical experience, Sally Alter spent six years cleaning other people's homes and owned a home-organizing business called Sort it Out for three years. She understood not only how quickly a house can become overwhelming, but also simple, realistic ways to bring it back under control.
Whether you're struggling with depression yourself or supporting someone who is, this little book will remind you that progress is made one small step at a time - and that every step forward matters.
Also from
Alter, Sally
Get Well and Stay Well with Bipolar Disorder: Lengthen the periods between episodes
Alter, Sally
Paperback
37 Symptoms of Bipolar Depression: Things You Can Do To Get Well and Stay Well
Alter, Sally
Paperback
Also in
Cleaning
Feng Shui Your Life: The Quick Guide to Decluttering Your Home and Renewing Your Life
Morris, Tisha
Paperback
House Hushing: The Simple Method to Declutter and Decorate for a More Peaceful Home
Smith, Myquillyn
Hardcover
Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Handbook: The Essential Guide to Caring for Everything in Your Home
Stewart, Martha
Hardcover
Mundane Magic: A Lazy Witch's Guide to Hacking Your Brain, Building a Daily Practice, and Getting Stuff Done
Donlan, Molly
Hardcover
The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family from a Lifetime of Clutter
Magnusson, Margareta
Hardcover
The Mindful Art of Space Making: How to Declutter When You're Overwhelmed
Tandy, April Scott
Hardcover
Nobody Wants Your Sh*t: The Art of Decluttering Before You Die (New York Times Bestseller)
Condo, Messie
Hardcover
Uncluttered Faith: Own Less, Love More, and Make an Impact in Your World: A Minimalist Book
Becker, Joshua
Hardcover
So. Many. Planner Stickers.: 2,600 Stickers to Decorate, Organize, and Brighten Your Planner
Pipsticks(r)+Workman(r)
Paperback
Martha Stewart's Organizing: The Manual for Bringing Order to Your Life, Home & Routines
Stewart, Martha
Hardcover
Notice and Do: Raise Capable Kids, End Motherhood Burnout, and Lighten Your Mental Load
Kelly, Sam
Hardcover
501 Best Woodworking Tips and Hacks: Save Time and Money in Your Wood Shop, and Improve Your Skills
Settich, Robert
Paperback
The Essential Guide to Self-Sufficient Living: Vegetable Gardening, Canning and Fermenting, Keeping Chickens, and More
Gehring, Abigail
Paperback
The Daily Connoisseur's Guide to Living Well at Home: Making Everyday Life Extraordinary
Scott, Jennifer L.
Hardcover
What Stays and What Goes: Organize with Intention and Create Space for Grace
Roberson, Faith
Hardcover
Tidying Up: 100 Ways to Infuse Order and Joy Into Every Area of Your Home
Fuqua, Ea
DeLong, Meg
Hardcover
Danshari: The Japanese Art of Decluttering Your Space to Transform Your Life
Yamashita, Hideko
Hardcover
I Just Wish I Had a Bigger Kitchen: And Other Lies I Think Will Make Me Happy
Strickler, Kate
Hardcover
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing
Kondo, Marie
Hardcover
The Midlife Edit: A Guide to Decluttering and Organizing to Make Space for What's Next
Powell, Carrie
Hardcover
The Heart of the Homestead: Cultivating a Spirit of Simple Living Through Homemaking, Recipes, and Family
Zimmerman, Ruthann
Hardcover
Deluxe Recipe Binder - Favorite Recipes (Hydrangea) - Write in Your Own Recipes
New Seasons
Publications International Ltd
Hardcover
Decluttering at the Speed of Life: Winning Your Never-Ending Battle with Stuff
White, Dana K.
Paperback
Making Home Your Happy Place: A Real-Life Guide to Decluttering Without the Overwhelm
Wells, Katy
Paperback
Organized Living: Solutions and Inspiration for Your Home [A Home Organization Book]
Gill, Shira
Hardcover
Keep the Memories, Lose the Stuff: Declutter, Downsize, and Move Forward with Your Life
Paxton, Matt
Paperback
Reclaim Your Life from Hoarding: Practical Strategies for Decluttering Your Home, Organizing Your Space, and Freeing Yourself
Dacey, Eileen, MSW Lcsw
Paperback
Tidying the Abyss: A Practical Guide to Cleaning and Organizing While Exhausted and Overwhelmed
Dodson, Amanda
Hardcover
Building a Sustainable Kitchen: A Practical Guide to Prioritizing the Planet from the Heart of Your Home
Hansen, Naomi
Paperback
The Laundry Book: The Definitive Guide to Caring for Your Clothes and Linens
Pozniak, Jerry
Pozniak, Zach
Hardcover
How to Manage Your Home Without Losing Your Mind: Dealing with Your House's Dirty Little Secrets
White, Dana K.
Paperback
Essential Off-Grid Survival Projects: 50 Life-Saving Solutions for Shelter, Water, Food, and Safety
Furneaux, Ky
Hardcover
The Home Edit Workbook: Prompts, Activities, and Gold Stars to Help You Contain the Chaos
Teplin, Joanna
Shearer, Clea
Paperback
Baking Soda Power! Frugal, Natural, and Health Secrets of Baking Soda (2nd Ed.)
Korman, Patty
Paperback
The Home Edit: A Guide to Organizing and Realizing Your House Goals
Shearer, Clea
Teplin, Joanna
Paperback
Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up
Kondo, Marie
Hardcover
You Can't Take It with You: Foolproof Techniques for Tidying Up Like There's No Tomorrow
Condo, Messie
Hardcover
The Frugal Vegan's Happy Home: Crafts, Rituals, and Recipes for Every Season
Boomen, Lisa Van Den
Paperback
Wanda E. Brunstetter's Amish Friends Life Hacks: Hundreds of Tips for Cooking, Cleaning, Gardening, Wellness, and More
Brunstetter, Wanda E.
Paperback
Small-Scale Homesteading: A Sustainable Guide to Gardening, Keeping Chickens, Maple Sugaring, Preserving the Harvest, and More
Thurow, Stephanie
Bruhn, Michelle
Paperback
The Home Edit Life: The No-Guilt Guide to Owning What You Want and Organizing Everything
Shearer, Clea
Teplin, Joanna
Hardcover
The Calm and Happy Home: How to Bring Good Vibes Into Your Home and Life
Gallagher, Kimberley
Hardcover
A Beginner's Guide to the End: Practical Advice for Living Life and Facing Death
Miller, Bj
Berger, Shoshana
Paperback
A Healthier Home: The Room by Room Guide to Make Any Space a Little Less Toxic
Holman, Shawna
Hardcover
The Home Edit: Stay Organized: The Ultimate Guide to Making Systems Stick /]Cclea Shearer & Joanna Teplin
Shearer, Clea
Teplin, Joanna
Hardcover
Making Space for What Matters: Find Freedom from Clutter and Hoarding with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Krafft, Jennifer
Ong, Clarissa W.
Levin, Michael E.
Paperback
The Neat Method Organizing Recipe Book: 70 Simple Projects to Take Your Home from Chaos to Composed
Murphy, Ashley
Hagmeyer, Marissa
Hardcover
Bill Organizer - Includes 12 Pockets and Password Log
Publications International Ltd
New Seasons
Paperback
Mold Money: How to Save Thousands of Dollars on Mold Redmediation and Make Sure the Mold is Gone
Stih, Daniel P.
Paperback
Organizing for the Rest of Us: 100 Realistic Strategies to Keep Any House Under Control
White, Dana K.
Hardcover
Tidy Up Your Life: Rethinking How to Organize, Declutter, and Make Space for What Matters Most
Moore, Tyler
Hardcover
The Buy Nothing, Get Everything Plan: Discover the Joy of Spending Less, Sharing More, and Living Generously
Rockefeller, Rebecca
Clark, Liesl
Paperback
The Lazy Genius Kitchen: Have What You Need, Use What You Have, and Enjoy It Like Never Before
Adachi, Kendra
Hardcover
Get Your Act Together: 7-Day Get-Organized Program for the Overworked, Overbooked, and Overwhelmed, a
Young, Pam
Paperback
The Vintage Way: Creating a Scandinavian-Style Home with Pre-Loved Finds
Winther, Sarah Marie
Hardcover
Hydrogen Peroxide Cures: Unleash the Natural Healing Powers of Hydrogen Peroxide
Lane, Sandi
Paperback
The Minimalist-Ish Journal: Buy Less, Live Better, and Find Joy in What You Already Have
Mychas, Christina
Paperback
Mold Controlled: A Guide to Finding, Fixing, Preventing and Getting Help with Mold Problems in Homes
Banta, John
Paperback
The Little Way of Living with Less: Learning to Let Go with the Little Flower
Bennett, Laraine
Paperback
Declutter Your Heart and Your Home: How a Minimalist Life Yields Maximum Joy
Ubbenga, Julia
Paperback
Marie Kondo's Kurashi at Home: How to Organize Your Space and Achieve Your Ideal Life
Kondo, Marie
Hardcover
House Love: A Joyful Guide to Cleaning, Organizing, and Loving the Home You're in
Richardson, Patric
Miller, Karin
Paperback
Home and Hand Made: A Homesteader's Recipes to Help You Cook, Clean, and Care for Your Family
Norris, Melissa K.
Paperback
Outer Order, Inner Calm: Declutter and Organize to Make More Room for Happiness
Rubin, Gretchen
Hardcover
Tidy Up Your Life: Rethinking How to Organize, Declutter, and Make Space for What Matters Most
Moore, Tyler
Paperback
The Science of Cleaning: Use the Power of Chemistry to Clean Smarter, Easier, and Safer-With Solutions for Every Kind of Dirt
Bressanini, Dario
Paperback
Martha Stewart's Very Good Things: Clever Tips & Genius Ideas for an Easier, More Enjoyable Life
Stewart, Martha
Hardcover
How to Clean Everything: A Practical, Down to Earth Guide for Anyone Who Doesn't Know Where to Start
Russell, Ann
Hardcover
The Green Budget Guide: 101 Planet and Money Saving Tips, Ideas and Recipes
Birtwhistle, Nancy
Paperback
Beautifully Organized Home Planner: The Ultimate Step-By-Step Guide to Organizing Your Home Life
Boyd, Nikki
Hardcover
After I'm Gone Organizer: A Simple Journal about My Affairs and Last Wishes
Sourcebooks
Gibbons, Joshua P., Esq
Paperback
Reset Your Home: Unpack Your Emotions and Your Clutter, Step by Step
Spellman, Lesley
Jansen, Ingrid
Paperback
Clutter Rehab: 101 Tips and Tricks to Declutter Your Home and Organize Your Space
Wittmann, Laura
Hardcover
How to start a cleaning business - Start, Run & Grow a Successful cleaning company (Residential & commercial)
Neat, Angela
Paperback
The No-Nonsense Home Organization Plan: 7 Weeks to Declutter in Any Space
Jones, Kim Davidson
Paperback
Remodelista: The Organized Home: Simple, Stylish Storage Ideas for All Over the House
Guralnick, Margot
Carlson, Julie
Hardcover
Whole Naturals Liquid Castile Soap: Recipes, Tricks and Tips for Using Pure Castile Soap
Ohayan, Yohan
Shushan, Alex
Parshan, Lisa J.
Paperback
The Beginner's Guide to Tiny Houses: What You Need to Know about 400-Square-Foot Living
Stephens, Alexis
Parsons, Christian
Paperback
Find Yourself at Home: A Conscious Approach to Shaping Your Space and Your Life
Grosvenor, Emily
Hardcover
Swedish Death Cleaning Made Easy for Women Over 50: A gentle, step-by-step guide to letting go without guilt, overwhelm, or regret
Wilcher, Verda
Quill, Lighthouse
Paperback
The Naturally Clean Home, 3rd Edition: 150 Nontoxic Recipes for Cleaning and Disinfecting with Essential Oils
Siegel-Maier, Karyn
Paperback
Reimagine Home: Devotions, Recipes, and Tips for Loving Your Home Through Every Season
Galimba, Sarabeth
Hardcover
A Dirty Guide to a Clean Home: Housekeeping Hacks You Can't Live Without
Pateras, Melissa Dilkes
Hardcover
Genius Mom Hacks: The Tools and Routines That Will Give You Back Your Life, Time, & Sanity
Motroni, Amy
Hardcover
Best Termite Control: All You Need to Know About Termites and How to Get Rid of Them Fast
Eisner, Cameron
Paperback
Unstuff Your Life!: Kick the Clutter Habit and Completely Organize Your Life for Good, Updated & Revised 2nd Edition
Mellen, Andrew
Paperback
Organizing from the Inside Out: The Foolproof System for Organizing Your Home, Your Office and Your Life
Morgenstern, Julie
Paperback
12 Month Home Maintenance Book: Preventative Maintenance DIY Home Repair and Improvement Guide Book
Wells, Harper
Paperback
The Weight of Our Things: Navigating Possessions and Emotions After the Loss of Your Loved One
Martella, Julie
Paperback
Naturally Bug-Free: 75 Nontoxic Recipes for Repelling Mosquitoes, Ticks, Fleas, Ants, Moths & Other Pesky Insects
Tourles, Stephanie L.
Paperback
Space Clearing, Volume 1: The art of clearing and revitalizing energies in buildings
Kingston, Karen
Kingston, Richard
Paperback