Our homes should be a place where we can be ourselves, a safe haven to be at peace, charge our battery and heal. Now, how can you relax, ease your busy mind and shed your hectic day if your home is messy, dusty and full of clutter? Chaos and clutter are continuously present around you and inside your head, it’s taking over your life.
It doesn’t have to be that dramatic but what I like to point out is that when your home is clean and free from clutter it will certainly have a positive effect on your mental well-being. Taking care of your home is taking care of yourself.
How to turn cleaning and tidying up in to a mindfulness task and create space in our minds and lives.
You can turn a simple task like folding towels in to a mindfulness task, keeping yourself in the here and now by just focusing on the movement of your hands, the folding of the towel. Feel the warm water when doing the dishes (come on, skip that dish washer), focus on your cups and teaspoons, easing down the continuous flow of thoughts occupying your mind.
By just keeping your mind on what your doing, keeping focused on your task you minimise your thoughts which are passing through your brain repeatedly. Do you know that we have between 40.000 and 60.000 thoughts per day and 98% of it are the same thoughts as the day before? Let’s get rid of the clutter in our minds and make space for creativity, a bit of peace or maybe new fresh ideas!
By tidying up and cleaning your living space you’re not just practising mindfulness but you’re creating space and energising your home. Open the windows, get rid of the dirt and dust, letting go of old energy. Besides, a dust free and clean house is better for your health especially if you suffer from allergies and asthma.
Something that has been overlooked is mould, which you find mostly in your bathroom. Being exposed to mould you might for example develop problems to the respiratory tract (-infections) and it increases the symptoms for those suffering from asthma.
Turn on the music, open the windows and let’s get started!
Make space in your home, keep the things you really like and need, get rid of anything which are a waste of space. Open your wardrobe, sort out your clothing and make piles of clothing you wear frequently, for special occasions and throw out the ones you know you’re not going to wear. (the same for shoes and accessories)
*You can give your clothing/furniture to charities being mindful towards the environment and others.
Now you’re rid of clutter you can start your cleaning enlightenment! Be thorough, hoover beneath your bed, couch or other furniture. Dust from top to bottom and scrub your bathroom fresh and shiny!
You will feel satisfied after the job is done and you can relax on your couch with a cup of tea or coffee, your mind at ease and happy with your new home.