My 5 Minute Life: Cleaning for Self Care

Cleaning for self care.... what?

I know, I know when you're feeling down the last thing on your mind is probably cleaning up. I know it's been that way for me.

I love Psychology Today because they link to real studies, here is a great post about The Powerful Psychology Behind Cleanliness.

My mom told me when I was younger that it's important to have one room in the house all put together. Whatever that room is for you is fine, a bathroom, a bedroom, it doesn't matter what room it is. What's important is keeping it in order. When you're feeling overwhelmed this is the room to go spend some time in.

I was chatting with one of our SL daughters about struggles and she said.... cleaning is kind of a form of self care.

All of these things lead me to realize how important keeping things tidy is connected to self care.

I'll help you out by providing some great ideas of getting started using My 5 minute life, throw some of these into you routine:

Kitchen

Wipe down appliance fronts
Clean oven burners
Clean stove top
Clean microwave
Clean coffee maker
Clean out one shelf or drawer in the fridge
Declutter condiments
Wipe out one drawer at a time in the kitchen
Clean your sink
Clean the dishwasher
Clean a small appliance
Declutter recipes and/or cookbooks

Bathroom

Declutter and wipe out one drawer at a time
Wash the shower curtain
Clean the mirror
Clean the counter top
Clean the sink
Clean the toilet all the way down to the floor - might take more than one 5 minute break
Wipe down the switch plates
Wipe down one shelf at a time
Clean the window
Clean the baseboards
Organize the linens one shelf at a time

Bedrooms

Declutter and organize one drawer at a time

Declutter and organize one shelf at a time

Wash mattress pads

Wash sheets

Fluff comforter in the dryer

Wash bedding

Clean the night stand

Dust lampshades

Vacuum or sweep 

Declutter closet 5 minutes at a time. 

When decluttering drawers, shelves and closets 

Donate items that are no longer useful, that you like or don't fit
I usually go through and get rid of everything I don't like first on my 5 minute break
The next thing I do is try on clothing I haven't worn in a while to see if I still like it
After that the rest gets organized. Organize by type (shirts, pants, skirts, etc.)

Make sure you wipe down drawers and shelves to get rid of dust
Do a quick vacuum or sweep of the floors in closets

Many times my entire day is doing what would be one task for someone else. Taking care of all of the tasks for the bed can take me the entire day. Don't get discourage with how long something will take you. You're going faster than you used to and that's all that matters.

My 5 Minute life is for anyone who is struggling. It's meant to help you break down your life 5 minutes at a time and get you up and moving more than you may be now.

Do you have other cleaning tips for a 5 minute life?

~Fero~