Many of us know exactly what we need to do to get our houses in order. We’ve read the home management books taken the home organization classes and hired the cleaning help — but we have yet to see any real progress. The hard part seems to be putting what we know into practice. It’s time to try a popular new approach. Cognitive behavioral therapy strategies can be adopted to help you make genuine changes in your home. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is about analyzing your thinking correcting unhelpful thoughts that arouse unhealthy emotions then translating your improved beliefs and balanced emotions into new action. This approach can help you understand your home management roadblocks address them and overcome them in a healthy and lasting way.

I Think Therefore I Can’t Clean 

  Kaylasighed as she picked up the familiar advertisement for those advanced painting classes. She had clipped this ad many times and once even called to inquire about the details. “It’s just irresponsible… there’s so much to do around here…” Glancing at the hampers overflowing onto the floor and the heap of clean laundry on the dining room table she crumpled the ad and threw it in the garbage.   As Peshy races to the phone she stumbles over the pile of toys torn books and scattered pretzels she swept to the side after last Shabbos. “Hi Mrs. Cohen can Shuli and I come for Shabbos?” I’d love to have girls over for Shabbos like every other dedicated seminary teacher. I just have to put the finishing touches on the new bein adam l’chaveiro program… Somehow I must redo my toy system and buy some more containers. Hopefully next week I’ll find the time so I can clean up this embarrassing mess. “Umm… I’ll let you know tomorrow after class.”   Hindy’s hand trembles as she drops the plastic green basket with a few rotten cherry tomatoes still inside into the garbage. Maybe Moishy could use this to hold his rebbi card collection she reasons as she pulls it back out. She pushes the broken CD player and pile of bus ticket stubs to the side to make room for the potentially useful basket.