[2022-09-05] Comfort clean
Lately, I've discovered the restorative benefits of decluttering, organizing and cleaning my home. My daughter's friend has a term for it: "comfort clean."
In her Huffpost article Why Cleaning And Organizing Is So Therapeutic When We're Stressed, Krissy Brady explains why tidying up can help us cope with anxiety. Written in March 2020, the article focuses on feelings of overwhelm and powerlessness that many people were experiencing at the beginning of the pandemic. "When things feel far outside our control," Brady states, "we turn to rituals like cleaning to self-soothe.... Cleaning provides us with a sense of control over our environment."
The pandemic created both a threat and feelings of uncertainty—a combination I have faced numerous times in my life, including when I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Clinical psychologist Jaime Zuckerman explains: "Humans crave structure and familiarity, especially during times of uncertainty.... When we seek out ways to reduce feelings of helplessness, cleaning is one of the ways we might decide to do that."
The article continues: "Cleaning helps us filter out the larger picture, which is overwhelmingly uncertain, by giving us something to have power over—even if it’s something as small as organizing our books by color." I smiled when I read this statement: today, my son and I organized his bookshelf by topic and book size.
"Cleaning is a form of ritual, or repetitive behavior that’s repeated and predictable (think: scrubbing or sweeping motions)," writes Brady. For me, cleaning does not require a lot of cognitive functioning. It's less about thinking and more about doing, or what the article calls "an informal mindfulness practice of sorts." In this state, we can perceive thoughts, concerns and fears with less reactivity and distress.
"When you tackle—and conquer—a challenging cleaning project (say, overhauling that chaotic closet of yours), you’re more likely to also feel capable of tackling other areas of your life that feel daunting or out of control," says Brady. Organizing my home and possessions gives me comfort, knowing that I and my loved ones can find what we need.
The article does come with a caveat: "It’s healthy to use cleaning to clear your mind, gain perspective, and take a break from your worries. But it shouldn’t be used to hide from problems." While I may never have gone so far as to use cleaning to hide from my problems, I have certainly used it to take a break from ruminating about a situation, especially one over which I have little control. Still, I take to heart this message: "If you’re cleaning to avoid internal discomfort such as worry or sadness, these feelings will only be temporarily relieved by your tidying rituals." As an antidote, Brady suggests setting boundaries to limit the amount of time you clean to an appropriate amount, setting a timer to ensure you don't get carried away, and being honest with yourself to ensure you face more important work if your anxiety doesn't decrease while cleaning.
They say time heals all wounds. Cleaning helps me to pass the time while I wait for the wounds to heal.
