08 Sep 5 Mindful Ways To Clean

It’s very common to hear people  humming to themselves while cleaning. I certainly do it all the time. Simple rituals like cleaning, cooking, or washing can be calming when you throw yourself into it completely. For me, cleaning is to what someone else might feel when they garden. Whichever task you Something about these household activities that de-clutter and beautify the surroundings, can bring a very mellow state of mind.

Here’s how you can reach that state of mind by practicing mindfulness at home:

Make Your Bed And Set The Tone for The Day.

It’s very tempting to leave the sheets crumpled up as you rush to doing your morning chores. Consciously make your bed in the morning. By doing so, you allow your mind to take enough time needed to move from one task to another. This also aligns your mind to more peaceful state, because instead of scrambling you get to experience and enjoy that moment. Plus, you would look forward to sleeping more often if your bed looks clean and comfy.

Wash Your Dishes Slowly. 

Let go of everything and solely experience the activity of making something dirty clean again.

Thich Nhat Hanh explained it well in his book The Miracle of Mindfulness:

“To my mind, the idea that doing dishes is unpleasant can occur only when you aren’t doing them…I enjoy taking my time with each dish, being fully aware of the dish, the water, and each movement of my hands.  I know that if I hurry in order to eat dessert sooner, the time of washing dishes will be unpleasant and not worth living.  That would be a pity, for each minute, each second of life is a miracle.”

Let Cleaning Teach You Acceptance. 

Cleaning your toilet is something we all try to avoid. It won’t clean it self an yet (sometimes) we procrastinate or we outsource the job to someone else if possible. But it’s always better to accept that we have to do things we dislike, instead of spending energy trying to run away from it. Yes, a huge part of being an adult is to suck it up and do things! But, when you spend less energy trying to avoid or run away from things, you will be more peaceful.

Let Your Senses Light Up In The Shower. 

It’s very relaxing to stand under a steam of water, perfectly set to the temperate you like. Use this time to light up your senses. Pick a soap with an intoxicating scent. Experience the sensations of water on your head, your back, and your calves. Feel the how soft your body feels after you dry yourself. This kind of meditative shower can be relaxing, rejuvenating, and mindful all at the same time.

 Notice Your Home

As you clean up your home, or if you’ve bought a new plant etc, notice things about your home that you may not have seen before. Notice the different colors or shapes. You can even do it outside of your home. Being one with your beautiful surroundings, makes it easier for you to sink into deep relaxation instead of wishing you were elsewhere.

So, which one of these will you try today? I’m starting with the shower!

Nehita Abraham

Nehita is a mindfulness expert who writes extensively on lifestyle management, wellness and ways to lead a healthier and a happier life. She is a part of Aware’s expert team on meditation. She is also an avid artist who spends most her time dribbling amazing stories through art.