I'm in a Toxic Relationship with Furniture Polish
Don't get me wrong I’m the first one to crack open the windows get the Zaflora out and burn incense, who doesn't love a good spring clean. But recently I've been thinking about my toxic relationship with furniture Polish and I've been exploring the idea that sometimes I clean to cope instead of to actually clean.
When my head feels messy or I've been putting something off and making promises to myself I just can't keep....I'm guilty of cleaning decluttering organising and throwing stuff away in an attempt to feel in control. And whilst it does leave me feeling temporarily like I've got my shit together it does highlight that annoying niggle even more.
Why do we do it then? Well there is actually some solid science stuff involved. Basically "cleaning to cope" actually helps to regulate the anxious part of your brain, although a temporary relief and in the long run could cause burn out it does in the moment help to internally settle the chaos leaving you with an instant feeling of satisfaction and activating the reward systems.
Healthy vs unhealthy. Put it this way if you're cleaning excessively to "feel better" then a part of you is relying on cleaning to create a feeling of peace even though we know it's temporary, however what that should then tell you is that there is something that needs to be looked at. So next time you reach for Mr Pledge ask yourself, how am I feeling in myself right now? Has something set me off and left me feeling chaotic and out of control? And does my house actually require cleaning? Or am I cleaning to cope?
If you're cleaning to clean great! But if you're cleaning to cope walk away leave the room leave the product take a moment to be kind and gentle with yourself focus on the smells sounds and things you can see for at least ten minutes this will help to bring you back in to the already clean already organised room. Tell yourself you are safe now go and put the kettle on sit down with a cuppa. Cleaning to cope equals burn out and ultimately in the long run suppresses what actually needs to be given a space and a voice so in the long run you're adding to the problem.