Difficulty with cleaning and tidying up
Do you find that cleaning and tidying up are increasingly being left undone? Perhaps you do want to do them. But you are unable to because of pain, tiredness or a lack of organisation. Or you start something and realise halfway through that you’ve run out of energy. This can cause anxiety, especially if you want to feel comfortable in your own home. A clean and tidy home is important to many people. Not because everything has to be perfect, but because a pleasant environment brings a sense of calm. If housework becomes too much of a burden, it can affect your daily life. You might feel embarrassed about having visitors or feel as though you’re constantly playing catch-up.
What do you notice?
Cleaning and tidying can be tricky in many ways. Sometimes the tasks are physically demanding. Sometimes it’s difficult to get started or to keep track of everything.
You may, for example, notice that:
- if vacuuming or mopping is too strenuous;
- bending, reaching or lifting causes pain;
- you get tired quickly whilst doing household chores;
- ‘opruimen’ remains untranslated;
- you don’t know where to start;
- you put off tasks because they feel too big;
- if you experience symptoms after cleaning;
- you avoid visiting because you feel ashamed;
- Your home becomes less safe because of things on the floor.
Sometimes, on good days, you try to catch up on everything. That might seem handy, but it can mean you then need days to recover.
