I thrive off to-do lists. My planner is stuffed with color-coded grocery lists, Gentle reminder calendarand small checkboxes and monthly touchpoints. Checking those mini boxes, numbering the items in order of importance, and writing everything down gives me a good hike. I thrive on writing things off. Sometimes, I write down what I've accomplished Just so I can check the box. I have to live a life of manageable structure.
And I'm lucky because I love housework so much. Because being an adult is a never ending to-do list. But, is that a bad thing? I do not think so.
We can find joy in household chores. And in a way, we have it.
Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh once said that you should "wash the dishes to wash the dishes" rather than wash them just to do it. And if you think about it, other than dirty soapy water, it's pretty. I imagine myself washing dishes and paying attention to the little purple neon rainbows in the bubbles, admiring a shiny dish or finding satisfaction in rinsing the dishes, letting them slide and swirl down the drain.
In home business, there is a secret. And that secret is to use routines as an excuse — an excuse to slow down. This was easy to spot during a pandemic. Suddenly, everything stopped. It became clear that we It was to slow down the speed.
Emotionally, I was unable to do anything quickly, and took the time to organize my things, thoughts, and priorities. Every afternoon, I FaceTime with my mom (something I do as a habit now). I read more books. I went on more walks. Things like washing my dishes gave my life more meaning because they had to. Taking out the trash can't be motionless or dazed anymore. I was aware of everyone around me in the hallway of my apartment. Going to the post office was a complete adventure. Things that wouldn't normally have been likable became sensually likable: how sunlight hit my bookshelf, how plants grew on my desk top, my safe bathing routine.
So how can we use home businesses to invest more in our surroundings? And what does this mean when we do?
If we are unable to find pleasure in things like washing dishes, we will stray from joy for the rest of our lives. We used to spend a lot of time with the weight of waiting for joy; False joy in achievement. We will work hard. We were lady-managing ourselves until we couldn't lady-manage ourselves anymore. So, maybe we should change the way we think about productivity as well.
Jenny Odell writes in her book how to do something About productivity and resisting the attention economy. "Our idea of productivity is built around the idea of producing something new," she writes, "whereas we tend not to see maintenance and care as being productive in the same way." Basically, self-care is the opposite of productivity. Routines are activities that do not produce something completely new, but clearly keep things in order. And finding peace in routine is a crucial way we take care of ourselves.
If we are unable to find pleasure in things like washing dishes, we will stray from joy for the rest of our lives. We used to spend a lot of time with the weight of waiting for joy.
The ability to listen, the practice of doing nothing, Odell suggests, has something broader to offer us: an “antidote to the rhetoric of growth,” she writes. “In the context of health and the environment, things that grow unchecked are often considered parasitic or cancerous. Yet we live in a culture that characterizes innovation, cyclical growth, and renewal.” Well, pause to read that one more time, because that quote almost got me off the couch. She continues, “We have a very The idea of productivity is based on the idea of producing something new, while We don't tend to think of maintenance and care as being productive in the same way. But we must."
I guess that's why I love homework so much. Part of me has always seen chores as a form of self-organization; as personal care. Filling my sink with pine water and wiping down surfaces around my house can be calming and repetitive, a routine-like motion that gives me the chance to be with my thoughts, clean a flat surface, and figuratively connect two ends of a circle (if the circle has ends).
Homework gives meaning to my life. It is not meaningless. Keeping deep and caring for the things around us - whether it be a plant or a lampshade - are the ongoing and incorruptible projects of our existence. This routine work does not expect tangible productivity. I won't get a bonus because I did the laundry. I washed my clothes with intent to care and have no expectations beyond that. And next week, I'll do it again. Chores are a flat circle and they are there to feed us, with no end point.
Believing that chores are here to get complacent and possessive is the nicest thing. Dishwashing is not just about washing dishes. Hands and foam remind us that life isn't always about high expectations. Sometimes we are there to clean the dishes. This is the simplest thing I've ever written and not cumbersome.
Thich Nhat Hanh Writes"If I am unable to wash the dishes with joy, and if I wish to finish them quickly so that I can go for dessert and a cup of tea, I shall be unable to do these things with joy. With the cup in my hand, I will think what to do next, and the scent will be lost." And the flavor of the tea, along with the pleasure of drinking it. I will always be drawn to the future, and I will never be able to live in the present. The time to wash dishes is just as important as the time to meditate. That is why the daily mind is called the Buddha mind."
Keeping deep and caring for the things around us - whether it be a plant or a lampshade - are the ongoing and incorruptible projects of our existence.
everyday mind. Our Mind Copy We are probably all actively trying to bury emails, text messages, meetings, and binged TV shows.
That day, at my doctor's appointment, I had to partially undress and sit in one of those human tissues waiting for my doctor. Naked from the waist down, I left my phone in my bag and waited. My doctor was running late, so I sat at the table without any distractions for a healthy twenty-five minutes. And let me tell you, it was my daily brainchild all over the place. In short, I was somewhat intimidated by it — and debated letting the cold air hit my ass for a long time to fetch my phone. However, this may be my problem. I have to be left alone in this place more often. Time is limitless. And the housework allows me to sit in this place safely. We have a lot to learn for ourselves.
So, this is the everyday mind. and wash dishes.
Brittany Chaffee is a passionate storyteller, empathetic professional, and author. Every day, you get paid to strategize and create content for brands. Outside of office hours, it's all about a well-lit place, warm bread, and good company. She lives in St. Paul with her feline brother, Ramy, and Monkey. follow her InstagramRead more about her latest book, Border lineAnd (most importantly) go hug your mom.
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