Hello week three!
So many people I’ve talked to have said this past week was at least three years long.
How are you doing? Have you been setting out your clothes and/or removing items from your closet? How is it going? Our little steps, like setting my clothes out (almost) every day, and coming home to a made bed really helped me feel more ready to face each day of this extremely.very.long.week.
For Week Three, we’re heading into the bathroom – don’t worry, we’re keeping it light. Think quick swipes, not deep scrubs. Like weeks one and two, we’re going for the simple, maintainable routines. The goal here is to make it “a little better.”
Bathrooms are hard for me. Our house typically stays mostly under control. We (usually) do the dishes every night. Things may get left out, but they generally have a home and can be put away fairly quickly.
But bathrooms. oof. For some reason, in my current house, bathrooms have been overwhelming me.
My current daily bathroom cleaning routine goes something like this:
“I should wipe the sink and counters down. A little lysol wipe or paper towel would be easy. But I don’t want to be wasteful with something disposable.… what washable rags could I use to wipe it down? Maybe I should buy a set of those ‘un’paper towels I had at my last house. hmm… They’re basically cut up flannel, I could just buy some flannel. oh, but my favorite craft store closed. Well, I don’t have to buy new! I can go to the thrift store and find a flannel blanket to cut up – or go on Buy Nothing and ask for old flannel shirts. Then I could cut them up and put them..Wait, where would I keep them? I could put them in a little bowl on the counter. But I’m trying to cut down on counter clutter. And where would I put them once they’re dirty? Maybe I could find a little divided basket, and make a label for one side that says “clean” and one for the other side that says “dirty.” but definitely something a little more clever than that……..”
And so I end up spending all my energy on “planning” and my toothpaste splatters live to see another day.
This week isn’t about the perfect bathroom routine. It’s about good enough. Perfection loves to distract us with murmors of the perfect tool, the perfect method, the perfect result. And while we listen, the toothpaste spatters grow into a Jackson Pollack-inspired art piece.
This week we’re committing to the daily wipe down. I’m personally committing to not buying anything to make this work. Thanks to last week’s assignment, I have a little stash of ankle socks decluttered from my sock drawer and ready to be counter scrubbers. I also have enough glass spray bottles. (Thank you Grove subscription service circa 2021 – anyone else?) But honestly, I think I’ll do this mission with some lysol wipes to get the habit in my brain, and not get derailed thinking about “the perfect” way to store and wash my sock rags.
So here we go: Week three assignments and reflections. Let’s go!
Just like every week, there is homework (101 level or 201 level, with a bonus extra credit assignment, if you’re ready). Each assignment will take you just minutes a day, and every day you complete the simple task, you are building your muscles and casting a vote for the person you want to be. You’re moving yourself one steady step closer to calm.
101: Pick your tool and swipe once a day.
Choose your bathroom “MVP tool” and keep it handy. A little tub of rags, a container of wipes – whatever you already have that you can put to use for this task. Each day, grab your tool and swipe the counter or grab your toilet brush and give the toilet bowl a swish. Done. No overthinking, no gross buildup, no guilt.
201: Create your 2-minute reset.
Try a daily 2-minute bathroom reset: a quick wipe of the counter, a swipe of the sink/mirror, and a swish of the toilet – break out that timer again and see what you can do in 2 minutes.
Reflection: Extra Credit Reflection:
Where has your hunt for the perfect solution kept you from doing the better-than-before one? Can “good enough” be what lets you feel more at peace this week?
Uncovering Real 