We all have little hobbies and things we do that can help us get settled or regroup. Some of us even have favorite chores or tasks that can almost be like therapy. For me, one of the benefits of working at home is that I can take a “vacuum break” when I need to clear my mind or find inspiration. As someone who is not necessarily crazy about housework, I do have a few tasks that I actually enjoy and one of the most therapeutic for me is vacuuming.
My three kids tease me about my exuberance and commitment to vacuuming. My son once told me that the only thing he thought that was crazy about me was that I “vacuum too much.” Okay, I have never vacuumed more than once in a day (unless there was some sort of mishap), but I confess that taking a break in the middle of my work day and running the vacuum in a room or a whole floor of our house can help me to get re-inspired enough to settle back down to work.
There is the obviousness of the way the sound of my vacuum drowns out the other noises and distractions to be considered, but I also think it is the fact that vacuuming requires a bit of focus (but not too much) and I can vacuum a short time ( a room) or a long time (the whole house). It feels as though I am accomplishing something and in the midst of a frustrating work day where I may feel like I’m spinning my wheels–a few moments of accomplishing something can be a nice break. So, what do you have that you can take advantage of since you are working from home to help clear your mind and rejuvenate your spirit? Is there an activity or task that you can turn to when you get stuck or frustrated to help you regroup?