53 pages 1 hour read

KC Davis

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

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2022

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Background

Cultural Context: Cleanliness and Mental Health

How to Keep House While Drowning reflects contemporary shifts in societal attitudes towards mental health and self-care, which increasingly recognize mental health as a fundamental aspect of overall well-being. The book offers practical advice on managing domestic tasks while acknowledging the immense mental load that often accompanies such chores.

Davis’s approach is emblematic of a broader cultural shift away from stigmatizing mental health conditions towards a more empathetic and accommodating understanding. Historically, discussions around mental health were often cloaked in secrecy and shame. There is now a burgeoning recognition of the importance of mental health, paralleled by an increasing call for systems and routines that accommodate individuals’ mental health needs. Davis’s book contributes to this conversation by challenging the traditional paradigms of housekeeping that prioritize perfection over well-being.

Moreover, Davis’s text reflects a significant cultural acknowledgment of the diverse needs of individuals with mental health conditions. It dismantles the one-size-fits-all narrative that often dominates self-help and home management literature, proposing instead that self-care and maintenance routines should be adaptable to individual capacities and mental health states. This perspective is a reflection of a larger cultural movement towards inclusivity and accessibility in discussions about health and wellness.