The Pandemic Motivation Diaries - Chapter 1: The Clean Home Effect

Submitted by AS

The pandemic has completely transformed our lives in ways we could never imagine. As we all continue to deal with the uncertainties the pandemic has imposed on us, I thought it would be a good idea to share some Monday motivation blogs. With work from home being the new normal, I intend to share in my first blog the significance of living in a clean comfortable home and how it has impacted my state of mind. We have all had those grimy and grubby days - greeted by empty walls, clutter around the house, sink overflowing with stained and greased utensils, floors strewn with hair flakes, dirt and crumbs clinging to bare feet. The sight is demotivating to say at the least. Now imagine waking up and walking across a clean living room flanked by wall art, picture frames and indoor plants; an immaculate and inviting kitchen exuding mild scents of cleaning spray; an outdoor space filled with colorful plants and birds flocking around routinely to feast on sunflower seeds. The scene immediately brings home the warmth of a morning hug and the tranquility of a spa resort. The cleaning process itself may seem long and overwhelming, especially if you haven’t cleaned in a while. This simple 5 step checklist works best for me: Step 1 - de-clutter: remove stuff you don’t need, donate and make use of rental storage spaces. Step 2 - organize clothes and accessories. Step 3 - remove bathroom and kitchen trash including food in the fridge that has been sitting for weeks. Wash and dry dirty linen. Step 4 - wipe surfaces clean and vacuum. Step 5 - decorate with art, sculptures, candles, picture frames, etc. Maintaining a clean home is tiresome no doubt, but the end effect packs so much positivity that stays with you all day. You feel motivated, more productive at work, at peace with yourself and clear headed. You can feel the de-cluttering translating into clarity of thoughts and decision making. If you are guilty of skipping your workouts, like I usually am, think of it as torching as many calories you will burn in a single HIIT work out session. Let’s top this with the hygiene factor that a clean home brings to your health and lifestyle. Like many others, I used to miss working in office spaces and coffee shops. Now I prefer to work at home with the the whiff of a home made egg omelette and morning chai plated and served on an unblemished kitchen counter with the news playing on the background. After a long day of tirelessly working on multiple screens and endless phone calls, I now look forward to my clean bedroom time, tucking myself under smooth bedsheets still warm from the dryer. I stare at the Buddha art which has a calming effect on my senses. The clean humidifier air and aroma from the candles make no effort in putting me to sleep. Tomorrow, for sure, is going to be a better day.