Tidying the Abyss - by Amanda Dodson (Hardcover)

About the Book

"When we see people in desperate situations, we are quick to sympathize but also quick to explain to ourselves why that couldn't be us. We could never live in squalor-we're just too responsible! We could never get a disabling illness that prevents us from easily enacting life skills-we're always so good about exercising and taking our supplements! And we certainly couldn't spend our lives in endless, menial suffering-we plan to be blessed! But the truth is, desperation and chaos are just a few unfortunate events away for any of us. Keeping your life clean, orderly, and peaceful involves skill, but it also involves privilege, luck, and having access to a responsible adult with the bandwidth to teach you. Even then, responsibility does not save us from chaos. And when our lives are upended, our dishes, our laundry, and our bills mercilessly persist, piling around us, an oppressive burden. In Tidying the Abyss one-time clinical social worker and current professional organizer Amanda Dodson provides a gentle, step-by-step guide to keeping house even when one's life is turned upside-down by an unexpected and permanent change to their, or a loved-one's, ability. Dodson advocates for the abandoning of perfection to make room for creative, livable solutions, no matter where one falls on the spectrum of being chronically ill, neurodivergent, or hopeless at home maintenance"-- Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

A gentle, hands-on resource offering mental health-sensitive, disability-informed advice for those who do not have the privilege, bandwidth, or access to keep their home--and life--in a perfectly-ordered state.

Amanda Stuckey Dodson prided herself on her ability to maintain a peaceful, clean home: there wasn't any mess that couldn't be fixed by plastic organizing bins, spreadsheets, and a can-do attitude. When her life was upended by chronic illness, leaving her unable to maintain her elaborate cleaning systems, she learned that the hardest part wasn't becoming organized, it was staying organized. Facing an unusually messy home, she knew she needed a different approach.
Tidying the Abyss is a gentle, step-by-step guide to keeping house when everything around you is falling apart. Dodson, a clinical social worker turned professional organizer, advocates for the abandoning of perfection to make room for creative, livable solutions. No matter where you fall on the spectrum of being chronically ill, neurodivergent, or hopeless at home maintenance, you need more than just organizational tips- you need a practice. Within these pages you'll find guidance for:

• Managing motivation and overwhelm;
• Addressing your basic needs with systems for trash, kitchen & dishes, and laundry;
• Creating order in your most-used spaces (think bedroom and bathroom); and
• Common life complications like pet-related chaos or managing housework as a caregiver or as a parent

When the dishes, the laundry, and the bills mercilessly persist, piling all around, Tidying theAbyss empowers you to face the chaos and define new standards for your home. With a little bit of compassion and patience, any mess can be cleaned up, one piece at a time.

Review Quotes

"If you've ever felt you hopeless, ashamed and overwhelmed, for whatever reason, as you struggle to make order out of the chaos of your home, this book will feel like a warm hug. Amanda guides you to get real, get going, and create a home management system that isn't perfect, but is perfect for you."--Kathleen Nadeau, Ph.D. author of ADD-friendly Ways to Organize Your Life

"So wonderfully easy to read, compassionate and the advice is simple. So often books such as this pile on the pressure, Amanda helps calm things down so you really feel you can manage."--Ann Russell, author of How to Clean Everything

"Say goodbye to elaborate storage bin organizational systems that will never last- say hello to sustainable solutions that will work for YOU!"--Dr. Amanda Hasselle, clinical psychologist and professor of psychology at Rhodes College

"Tidying the Abyss is a breath of fresh air for anyone who's ever looked around their space and felt utterly overwhelmed. With wit, warmth, and a deeply practical approach, this book gives you permission to organize your home in a way that actually works for you. Whether you're juggling a busy life or simply exhausted, this guide meets you where you are, tackles real-life messes with compassion, and shows you how to move forward without shame."--Tessa Stuckey, licensed professional counselor and author of For the Sake of Our Youth

"Amanda Stuckey Dodson's deeply empathetic and refreshingly honest guide is a must-read for anyone who has ever felt paralyzed by the chaos of everyday life. Far more than a cleaning manual, this book is a lifeline for those grappling with exhaustion, emotional overwhelm, and the silent burdens of domestic expectations."--Laura Taylor, PhD, LCSW, psychotherapist

About the Author

Amanda Stuckey Dodson, LCSW, is a clinical social worker, professional organizer, and artist. Amanda trained as a psychodynamic therapist, with a specialization in eating disorders and trauma. She worked in a variety of settings as a social worker, focusing on creative interventions and existential meaning-making. In 2021, Amanda created her business, Nesting, to fill an underserved niche: functional organizing for people with mental illness, developmental disorders, and chronic physical conditions. Her TikTok channel, @nestingyourlife, gained her a reputation as a compassionate fixer for a range of cleaning, organizing, and administrative woes. Amanda is a sought-after organization coach, helping chronically disorganized clients across the world create order in their lives.