How to Keep House While Drowning: A Gentle Approach to Cleaning and Organizing

The “9 Square Tool” is Davis’s practical method designed to help individuals prioritize and manage their self-care and household tasks. This tool involves creating a grid with nine squares, categorizing tasks based on their impact on well-being (high, medium, low) and the effort required to complete them (high, medium, low). By organizing tasks in this manner, individuals can visually identify which activities are most important and require immediate attention, and which can be deprioritized during stressful times. This approach helps reduce feelings of being overwhelmed and provides a structured way to ensure that essential tasks are completed while maintaining self-compassion.

Davis introduces “closing duties” as a nightly routine designed to make the next day run more smoothly by taking care of essential tasks before going to bed. These duties are inspired by the concept of closing duties in the service industry, where employees complete specific tasks to prepare for the next day. For Davis, closing duties include tasks such as unloading and reloading the dishwasher, picking up toys, packing lunches, taking out the trash, and making cold-brew coffee for the morning. The goal is to create a functional environment for the next day, which helps reduce morning stress and ensure a smoother start.