“It’s OK to be down in the dumps – just don’t stay there too long.” – Catherine DeVrye, Author.
From time to time, we all find ourselves down in the dumps, or put another way, discouraged, depressed, or just plain sad.
Some of us are more prone to such occurrences (you can’t see me, but I’m raising my hand), which makes every-day day life challenging and difficult to navigate our way through.
Sometimes, there are pre-indicators and warning signs that we may soon feel down in the dumps, such as holidays and birthdays or after having difficult and confrontational conversations with co-workers or loved ones.
But other times, such feelings emerge out of nowhere – catching us off guard and forcing us to try and deal with the circumstances when we’re ill-prepared to do so.
Today, I found myself feeling down in the dumps. A lack of sleep combined with early morning work frustrations conspired against me before the ten o’clock hour, making for a very long, tension-filled day.
By the time the workday ended, I had found my mood hadn’t improved, and I knew I needed to do something to unshackle myself from this emotional burden. There is one go-to remedy I use, which is proven to reset my focus and free me from feeling so down in the dumps.
I clean.
I dust the house, vacuum the rugs, and clean the bathrooms as though the Queen of England herself were coming over to use them. I wash the car, scrub the mats, and clean all those hard-to-reach areas on the dashboard with a clean, damp paintbrush and a rag. I reorganize the basement, unclutter closets, and sort through tool cabinets which inevitably wind up in disarray time and time again.
If you think this sounds like a bizarre way to help cure the blues, I can assure you the concept is not without merit.
VeryWellMind.com states, “Research has found that cleaning can have a number of positive effects on your mental health. For instance, it helps you gain a sense of control over your environment and engage your mind in a repetitive activity that can have a calming effect. It also has been found to improve a person’s mood as well as provide a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.”
You might find another task that helps you refocus your attention away from being down in the dumps. But for me, cleaning and organizing always seem to do the trick. Not only will you improve your mood, but your house will also be spotless and ready for that visit from the Queen of England herself.
