This post was originally published on July 9, 2019.
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I dunno about you, but I quite like my housekeeping routines.
Sure there are days when I’m just like UGH! But I don’t wanna! Especially during those 40+ hour work weeks with a commute that’s like a part time job in and of itself. Trust. I get it!
I think it’s the routine of housekeeping that’s so satisfying. There’s a natural rhythm and harmony you fall into when keeping your home.
Can I get a show of hands of who likes routines around here!
I mean, who doesn’t like routines, right? There’s a reason why human beings are called creatures of habit. Some more than others, sure.
I know I like routines because they’re known, familiar and comfortable. It’s a comfort zone. I get to control my routines, they’re predictable, and, at the end of the day, routines provide contentment. Right? It’s a super easy way to feel good about not just yourself but the environment you create for yourself. As someone who enjoys that sense of well-being, what better way to start than at home!
For me, my housekeeping routine starts first thing in the morning. I make my bed. Right off the bat, I’ve accomplished something and can get on with my life. That day, anyway!
I’m also a putter-away-er. I love love love having everything in its designated place. It maintains order and what kind of German would I be without order!
I always unpack right after a trip. Maybe that’s weird, but whatevs!
Evening routines revolve around the kitchen. There’s the prepping and cooking dinner, the washing of dishes, wiping down counters, sweeping floors, programming coffee for the morning, the turning off of the lights.
One of my favorite things is a clean, tidy kitchen to wake up to. It hit me one night, as I was putting my clean dishes away in their designated home, the felicity of the rhythm of housekeeping.
Sure, these same motions repeat every day. Sure, sometimes it’s a major drag to do when I get home past 9pm. And sure, sometimes things don’t get put away right away. But it’s done and it was up to me to do it.
I suppose the repetitive maintenance of it makes sense when I know it will bless my friends who come to visit and spend time.
I’ve been experimenting with other routines to better maintain my domestic life. I’ve been working on a weekly cleaning routine, which you may think is common sense. But, let me explain. Being single and working full time with a crazy long commute, things got done on an as needed basis or one big, huge spree at a time. Also, I’m just not that dirty. My laissez-faire approach just wasn’t working for me anymore. So, I decided to schedule out regular cleaning activities on a weekly/ bi-weekly/monthly basis. To start.
I completely failed the first week. The second week didn’t go very much better. However, the third week I finally made some progress and was only one day behind on one task, on point for another, and, drumroll, please! Early for the other stuff!
I’m totally celebrating the progress! And, I’ll totally share it all with you after I’ve experimented a little bit more. Promise!
I find that the rhythm and routine of housekeeping allows for taking pleasure in small things. Sure, small things that can add up to big things. Or, they can just be thousands of tiny things that build a gratitude muscle. Housekeeping provides a sense of accomplishment, pride in ownership, which adds to your own sense of responsibility and confidence in your capabilities. It’s such a small thing but, really, quite impactful!
But, getting back to the small things. For me, I have such a feeling of warmth and contentment when I walk up my stairs and see my made bed and the few items on my dresser and nightstand neat and orderly. I love seeing my living room, again, tidy but oh! so inviting and beckoning, partly because I know the effort involved to make it that way. I’ve created the allure. It’s an allure that’s specific to me, so of course it speaks to me! But, you’re welcome to come over and have it speak to you, too!
I heard someone say once that home is an investment you make in yourself. And that’s what housekeeping is. It is an investment in your home, which, in turn, is an investment in yourself. So let’s learn to invest wisely!
If you struggle with the whole housekeeping concept, perhaps instead of looking at it as a have to, look at it as part of self-care. Everyone feels better living in a clean environment and when you’ve put in the elbow grease to get it that way, you appreciate it even more!
How about you? How do you keep motivated if housekeeping isn’t your favorite thing?
