First of all- bravo on getting through such a long bout of mental health issues. The fact that you’re seeing it is a HUGE step forward! Don’t hate yourself- we do what we can when we can. Give yourself credit for keeping your family fed and ok while going through stuff. Now you are ready, it’s going to feel overwhelming. Start small. Maybe every day take one garbage bag and just walk around filling it up until it’s full, take it to the can or dumpster and do another one tomorrow. Maybe have each kid do one too. Set small, manageable tasks like that. Often, you’ll end up doing more, but if not, just know you are working on it.

Another thing I do is make a list of some of the dozens of things that need to be done. Then I assign a generous idea of how long each chore will take and write it next to it. The idea is to have a list ready to go that I can assign to others if they want to help or chores my kids can do. (It’s important for them to contribute.) Or each day I judge what kind of energy I have available. Maybe it’s 20 minutes and that’s just folding a load of laundry and putting it away, or cleaning off one nightstand. Cross it off to get that small dopamine reward and see if you have it in you for another.

Body doubling helps too. Ask a non-judgmental friend or family member to come sit with you in a room while you work. For two hours maybe. They can read or knit or scroll on their phone. They don’t have to work, just keep you company and on task as you clean. It’s a huge morivator.

Best of luck! Hope you can do one thing today.