I know this sounds like a weird title but it’s true. Housework is my ‘anchor’ activity. By housework, I mean any household chores including cooking, cleaning, laundry, decluttering and organising.
Source of control
Housework grounds me in times of change or difficulty. It’s something I can control.
There are routines I’ve developed and (mostly) stick to. When things are crazy or disappointing, I know that I can quickly feel accomplished by completing my routines and this gives me the confidence to do or deal with other things.
Source of positivity
I feel happy knowing that I’ve taken care of my family and my home. It’s also a form of physical activity. Both help me have a positive outlook.
Source of calm
When I’m on top of my laundry, my house is clean, I have a meal plan and a few meals in the freezer, I feel less stressed. I’m not wasting brain cells worrying about what we’ll eat after work or that I’ll have to use half of my weekend cleaning up and battling my way through piles of washing.
Source of balance
I also use the lack of or being significantly being behind in my housework as a sign of overwhelm or focussing too much on work. I know something is up…but I also know how to quickly fix it and restore some balance in my life.
Time out
I need to qualify one thing though. It’s actually not good for me to be constantly switched on all the time, either working or doing house chores. I’ve taken the anchor thing to the other extreme a few times and made myself feel bad when I haven’t tended to something at home, which is not very helpful.
I have learned to let myself relax my routines when I feel I need to…or just because. Saturdays are now my ‘time out’. I do whatever I want and pretend I don’t have any responsibilities, which my wonderful husband fully supports. I drink coffee and watch YouTube in bed or we go out for breakfast. And I don’t make myself do any chores in the afternoon unless I feel like it (I usually do). It’s great.
Any thoughts?
What’s your anchor? What tells you you’re doing well when you engage in the activity or that something is wrong when it’s absent? Is it a daily run, meditation, journalling, reading to your kids every night? Contact me and share your thoughts.
Thanks for your time.