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

Davis explores the theme of the practical integration of mental wellness into daily routines by emphasizing self-compassion, redefining care tasks as morally neutral, and promoting functional approaches to household management. Central to Davis’s narrative is the idea that maintaining mental wellness is essential in the way we approach everyday tasks, particularly care tasks such as cleaning, cooking, and organizing.

Davis emphasizes the importance of self-compassion in managing daily routines. She argues that self-compassion helps individuals approach their chores with kindness rather than self-judgment. This perspective is crucial for those who struggle with care tasks due to mental health issues or other life circumstances. Davis shares her struggles with postpartum depression, illustrating how negative self-talk can exacerbate feelings of failure and overwhelm. By replacing self-criticism with self-compassion, individuals can reduce the mental burden associated with household tasks and improve their overall well-being.

Davis also redefines care tasks as morally neutral activities, challenging the societal notion that cleanliness and organization are reflections of one’s character. This redefinition helps alleviate the shame and guilt often associated with an inability to maintain a perfect home. According to Davis, care tasks are merely functional activities necessary for daily living: One's ability to complete them should not be tied to their self-worth.