09/15/2022
You know those routine tasks we need to do around the house, like putting dishes away, folding laundry, washing fruit and veg (multiple times a day)?
I’m so curious… how do you feel when you do these tasks?
Here are some really honest thoughts I managed to quickly capture after vacuuming the stairs last weekend.
As I vacuumed, my mind wandered as it does, and I started thinking about how I could really sign up to NOT doing this anymore and then switched to thoughts of why am I doing this anyway?
Here’s what came up…
Ugh, I have to do this! (annoyed)
Why isn’t my husband worrying about this? (jealous)
Why doesn’t he ever talk about the vacuuming? (frustration)
I wonder what he’s doing? (frustration)
When I’m done this, I’m going to do something more fun. (tolerating the task)
What’s the purpose of this anyway? (curious)
Hmm… I wonder what my grandma thought of vacuuming? (curious)
I should hire a cleaner (solution?)
Do I really need to do this once a week, maybe I could just do it once every two weeks (solution?)
Ahhh, I used to vacuum stairs when I went to my aunts. She was so smart. She rallied the help and we all worked together. It got the job done faster (solution?)
Yes, that’s it!! I should teach the girls how to do this (solution?)
Holy cow. WHAT was all of that?
A lot in there… but after all the thinking, sifting and sorting, I realized that as a child I learned to vacuum because it was something we had to do, to help out. I saw it as a problem that was taking me away from other things I'd rather be doing. Well apparently, without checking in on my thoughts and feelings about vacuuming, I still view it from a problem-focused perspective.
But it doesn’t have to be that way. With this awareness, I can start looking at this experience as an opportunity to create a sense of calm, to keep our spaces feeling fresh, taken care of, to preserve what we have, to feel the satisfaction of living in clean, beautiful spaces, if even for a moment. Also, it is a chance to let my mind wander and ponder, which can be really fun or maybe it could be an opportunity for me to practice mindfulness. You see, the everyday tasks can be so much more fulfilling if we engage our creativity and look for solutions that help us to be more fully in the moment.
K, the point here is that our brains are our BIGGEST assets, and to have a greater sense of wellbeing in our lives, we need to try new things, challenge our thinking and lean in to our creativity. Then we will start reaping rewards like getting what we really want out of life, feeling satisfied, experiencing joy, peace and connection. It is all there for us any time we choose.
I know first hand, and through working with clients of my own, partnering with a coach gives clients a unique opportunity to expand their creativity, become more curious and realise that what seems impossible is actually very much within reach. With some exploration of your thoughts and beliefs, goal-setting, taking action, and practice, practice, practice, you will be on your way to feeling your best.
If you are wondering if it’s time to hire a coach, ask yourself, “How much of what I am doing everyday do I WANT to be doing?” “If I could have anything I wanted right now, what would it be? WHY? How do I WANT to feel?
If answering these questions is tricky, but you are curious about what you could uncover if you did know the answers, just send me a quick email. You can ask me anything.
As a wellbeing coach, it is my job to support you on your journey of taking care of yourself in whatever way works best for you. Let’s clean up the mental clutter to make space for creative solutions, new perspectives and ultimately get you feeling your best!
I would love to hear in the comments below how you make everyday routine tasks more enjoyable.
Have a beautiful day!
Cass
choices
