“What? Is she nuts?” Hear me out before you decide.
When I was sixteen, my brother got in a car accident. The in-a-coma kind where, when he came out of it four months later, he sat in his chair and drooled, and had to learn to walk and talk again. It was devastating to the whole family, but especially to my mother. I remember that one of the first things she did was to go and scour the bathroom. I went and cleaned the other. So began my discovery that cleaning is good therapy.
I don’t mean everyday cleaning. That can be drudgery. But when there’s a problem to be worked out, strong emotions to be dealt with, or a situation that seems impossible, the repetitive physical activity is a real blessing. The overwhelming majority of cleaning can be done without a lot of active thought. That allows you to run things over in your mind. When your body is moving, your brain seems to work better. I’ve often come up with good ideas while scrubbing the kitchen floor or cleaning the oven.
Heavy cleaning is also great when you and your husband have had an argument. “I’ll show you, I’m going to make the kitchen spotless!” No, that’s not what I mean. But there’s no arguing that the expenditure of energy used while you’re moving boxes in the garage is a better use than hollering things you might later regret. Cleaning gives you a chance to think and rethink what you want to say without having angry outbursts come out. After you’ve cleaned for an hour or so and thought things through, you might still feel the same, but you’re likely to be a lot more calm in presenting your point of view.
Another benefit I’ve found is that when I am in a clean-for-therapy mode, my children instinctively know that I’m not to be disturbed. I can make the kitchen spotless in an undisturbed hour, or in four “Mom, can you…” hours. When emotions are running high, having some alone time in a household of seven is welcomed. Even if it’s cleaning.
Next time you’re arguing with your spouse, or someone hurts your feelings, or you’re on the end of injustice, try a little cleaning therapy. I’m betting you’ll be hooked for good!