Escape reality through cleaning

Have you ever seen someone who is clearly under distress immediately grab a sponge, or a broom, or a vacuum and start cleaning? Like viciously cleaning. Like cleaning something that is already clean. I’m one of those people.

On hold with the airline? Cleaning. Arguing with someone? Cleaning. Stressed about schoolwork? Not doing my schoolwork and.. you guessed it.. cleaning. Although it can seem ridiculous, cleaning is a completely healthy and normal coping mechanism. I have this crazy thing where I believe that if my room is clean, I’ve got all my ducks in a row. If my room is not clean, I don’t even know where half of my ducks are.

Cleaning can be a really nice, easy, and efficient way to escape reality. There is even research that proves that cleaning can be a great form of meditation, and even exercise. When you are cleaning, your mind doesn’t wander very far. The farthest it goes is trying to figure out where you put the dust pan 20 seconds ago. When you’re trying to get grease off the stove, its if theres any spots left. It helps to contain your thoughts and keep you focused.

Cleaning can also be a great way to take a break from something that is stressful.

Sometimes when I am studying for a big exam, a way to take a break without falling asleep or wasting too much time is to pick up a little bit. It gets your blood flowing, your body moving, and it refreshes your mind.

With a clean room also comes good smells. Good smells alleviate stress. Aromatherapy. When everything is nice and tidy, my favorite part is lighting a candle at the end or spraying the

room with some kind of freshener or opening up a window to let fresh air in. It really puts the bow on it, trust me. A good smell like lavender or lemon or my personal favorite, cinnamon, can leave you feeling really positive and light.

I know you’re probably rolling your eyes, having flashbacks to your childhood chores list that your parents or grandparents used to give you, but when cleaning is on your own terms and you are using it to benefit yourself, it comes easier and much more enjoyable. The first step to allowing it to be enjoyable rather than a chore is to NEVER put cleaning on your to do list.

Let it come naturally and do what feels right rather than forcing yourself to do it. That just promotes a negative attitude and ruins the whole point of escaping reality. The second and final step is to never clean for longer than you want to. It gets exhausting so keep doing it and taking breaks and going back to it, you’ll like it a lot more if you take your time.

Good luck and happy cleaning!