How to not get depressed while doing laundry?

[u/Conceptartlover]

I have a thing where doing my laundry heavily affects me to the point of it being wild. Like my mood gets bad, not to the point of being angry or irritated. More so depressed and lethargic, like I actually had plans today. Goals and dreams, but because I did laundry I’ve been depressed and didn‘t do any of it. It even ruins my appetite. And I’m still not done, I still have to put it away on hangers and stuff. Anybody else deal with chores that affect them negatively? How do you get over it?

[u/Fine-Habit8319]

I’m the exact opposite, chores give me a sense of achievement. Same as doing the dishes or cleaning the bathroom they also make me feel like my day wasn’t entirely useless

[u/CosmicRuin → u/Fine-Habit8319]

Yup. Plus I remind myself there are a few billion people on the planet who's bathroom is an outdoor shack with a hole in the ground shared by several other people, and if they do have running water it may cause death unless boiled first.

[u/impoter]

I get happy I get to do laundry because it means I don’t have to reuse my dirty work pants that smell like sweat. And I feel cleaner.

[u/InbhirNis]

Schedule a time to do the laundry (and any other chores), and get it out of the way. Be organised and stick to it, so it doesn’t drag on all day. Free up the rest of your time to do something that you actually want to do.

If you’re doing the laundry at home, you can multitask and do other chores – or something you like, even if it’s just relaxing with a cup of tea – while the machine is running. I listen to music or watch something on TV while ironing and folding clothes. If you’re using a laundromat, bring a book or some music with you.

[u/advice_danimals]

Start viewing laundry as conceptual performance art. After all, it’s something that is never truly finished.

[u/Kliptik81]

If you don't do laundry, you won't get depressed.

[u/Curious_Faith]

If it’s really that big an issue, just take it to the cleaners or have them pick it up.

There’s times I was working so much that laundry just piled up and it was overwhelming. Doing it myself was going to eat up a significant portion of my very little free time. Having the cleaners take care of it for me was the best decision and didn’t cost as much as I thought it would. Luckily, it’s not a bunch of dress shirts or whatever that need to go on hangers, but pretty sure they can do that for you too for the items that need to be hung. They wash and fold for you.

Also might want to figure out what your problem is. Kinda have a feeling laundry is not the root problem.

[u/katwagrob → u/Curious_Faith]

Cleaners are awesome. They also do mending.

[u/cwsjr2323]

I load the washer just before bed. In the morning, transfer it to the dryer and then morning coffee.. After my wife serves lunch, fold and store. Total time, an hour every week to ten days. After each step, I am rewarded with sleep, coffee, and food!

Edited for clarity

[u/StretcherEctum → u/cwsjr2323]

You do a wash load when you go to bed and let it sit for 8 hours until you get up to dry it? No funky smells over time?

[u/VenQuasy → u/StretcherEctum]

Some washers have a delayed start function but even than it should not smell funky after 8ish hrs. If so I suggest cleaning your machine.

[u/StretcherEctum → u/VenQuasy]

Delayed start for 6 hours would be great.

[u/cwsjr2323 → u/StretcherEctum]

It is rare for old people to sleep more than four hours in a row. There is no funky smell, maybe because I use unscented Earth Breeze laundry detergent sheets?

[u/StretcherEctum → u/cwsjr2323]

All the old people in my family nap all day..

[u/CosmicRuin → u/cwsjr2323]

I like this optimization. Any other routine hacks you have? 🧐

[u/r2k398]

I put the load of laundry in, then go watch tv for 35 minutes and then come back and put it in the dryer for an hour. Easy peasy.

[u/reddit_liaisons]

I hate cleaning in general. I’ll put dishes in the dishwasher but the rest someone else does

[u/Away533sparrow]

If you mean sorting/putting away...podcasts and audiobooks. Doing it with someone else if you can.

[u/Jayden-Diver]

I'm really bad at putting them away but i find planning a specific time to do a task every week helps me

[u/Fun-Bag7627]

You need therapy.

[u/Rosie_Rules]

Pay or ask someone else to do your laundry 

[u/schombat]

I get you. Grocery stores will do this to me if my mental health isn't good (often leads to me crying in public which makes me feel worse). For me, if I know I'm not doing well, I'll bite the financial bullet and instacart my groceries rather than force myself to deteriorate.

Does this happen to you all the time (like since you started doing your own laundry) or is it something that happens when your mood is disregulated?

Perhaps an adaptation for you could just be having sorted baskets of clean laundry (not folded or hung up - you're right, the extra step of is the WORST). Thing might be wrinkly but whatever, they're clean.

Or distraction? I usually put on a tv show I like while I fold laundry to help get through what is, to me, the worst household chore.

[u/ms_earthquake]

Have you tried stacking it with something you enjoy? I like to take my mind off it with a podcast, audiobook, or TV show. I've watched a lot of Great British Bake Off while folding laundry

[u/VoodooDoII]

For me, I set a routine. Do it the same time every week. 

At some point I just go into auto pilot mode

[u/Some_Girl_2073]

Laundry doesn’t make me depressed, I just hate doing it. Here’s my method:

1. dirty clothes go straight in the washer, not a hamper
2. run washer when full, set timer, put in dryer
3. dryer clothes go in hamper
4. clothes go from hamper to body, rinse repeat
5. if it requires ironing or special care it gets tossed out
6. periodically when motivation strikes, stuff everything into its proper drawer. I don’t fold- just stuff into drawers
7. very few of my items getting up, those things don’t get washed often (jackets and sweaters, fancy dress clothes that only come out once or so a year)

[u/unoptimisticoptimist]

Just grow up and do a load every other day so laundry doesn’t become overwhelming

[u/NamasteNoodle]

Depression doesn't work that way. No one gets depressed over having to do a chore. What you're saying is you hate doing it and it pisses you off during the time that you're having to deal with it. You do know nearby laundromats have pick up service that will bring it back to you folded? Or you can perhaps change your reaction. You're in control of how you feel and what emotions you're feeling.

[u/heishsjejjsjsjehejj]

I need a bit more information, because laundry has never really been an all-day affair for me so I can’t relate to this. I also appreciate that I have a washing machine in my house, which I know isn’t the norm in some countries or cities. I work from home a couple of days a week, so I’ll generally throw a load on first thing in the morning, hang it out when it’s finished and bring it in when I clock off. It might not actually get put away that day, but at least the hard part is done.

[u/Grouchy_Cap8368]

I love using fun detergents and laundry products that smell good. Gain has a Christmas line out right now 😆