My Brain and My Apartment Look and Feel Alike
Over 20 years ago I figured out the state of my brain and the state of my home are related.
When my brain is cluttered and I feel scatterbrained, my home starts reflecting the state of my mind.
This week it became the opposite scenario. We decided to paint and declutter the master bedroom because we bought a bigger bed. So, all furniture and the random stuff that had gathered over the past few years had to leave…right into the living and dining rooms.
We are sleeping on the new bed in the living room while we paint and organize. There isn’t room for everything, but I made it all fit anyway. The old bed is gone, but the clutter of this project surrounds us.
We are on day 5 of the project and my brain is struggling to stay focused and accomplish tasks I need to finish.
Today I realized I need to win at a few important tasks in order to feel better as we continue this project.
I feel like screaming:
- KEEP UP WITH THE DISHES!
- KEEP THE COUNTERS CLEARED AND CLEANED AT ALL TIMES!
- GET ALL DIRTY LAUNDRY CLEAN!
- GET ALL CLEAN LAUNDRY PUT AWAY PROPERLY!
It took me an hour to muster the mental strength to start. I turned all of the lights on in my home so I could see clearly and hoped I would start feeling more awake - it worked!!!
I washed my hands while I ignored the mess and started unloading the dishwasher. It felt so good to see an empty dishwasher and full cupboards again!
Then I loaded the dishwasher. Rinsing each dish and placing them inside started making a dent in the mess. It felt so good to feel the water on my hands and see the dishes rinsed. Seeing the mess go away felt so freeing!
I ran the garbage disposal and started the dishwasher so I could feel good about finishing something I started.
THEN came the counters! Oh my! What a project mess!!!
I had paint splotches, dried grated cheese, a drill, the drill battery charger with the extra battery, screws and a clean and dry paint roller! What a menagerie of stuff! No wonder it was overwhelming! But I did it! I found new homes for the stuff that did not belong on the kitchen counters and then cleaned the counters. What a beautiful sight to behold!
I needed to tackle the clean laundry next. Clean clothes had piled up on a recliner in the living room and were driving me crazy!
Yesterday the closet doors were put back after they had been painted and dried. I had moved the dresser back into the bedroom because that part of the room was finished being painted. I fixed the broken drawers and started putting some of the clean clothes away.
So, now with everything ready in the bedroom, I could tackle the pile in the chair and the load waiting for me in the dryer.
I started with the dryer because it felt easier.
The old sheets and mattress cover got folded, packed and are ready to get passed along to a new home. It feels a bit sad to let them go. I chose them with care and now I have to let them go because they don’t fit our new bed. We bought new sheets and mattress covers to fit our new bed, but it’s not the same…it’s different and good…but I am still a little sad.
I tackled the clothes on the chair and it felt so good. I can finally sit in the recliner again! And everything is put away and easy to find.
Now for the dirty clothes! I’ve been finding clothes in random places because the blinds were off of the bedroom window while we painted.
In a project like this, getting caught up on dishes, counters and the laundry is monumental! I’m pretty sure we’re about halfway finished, but I sure have missed my brain! I’m glad we started it. I’m looking forward to finishing it!
It feels refreshing to have accomplished tasks to help me feel more focused and calm. This is a definitely a win for my brain!
Clean and neat spaces, even a few at a time, help clear my mind so I can think straight for a little while as we finish this project.
