I had a cleaner’s high

I experienced it yesterday! People talk about a runner’s high, but there is a cleaner’s high too, I discovered.

If I could pick one area of my life where I could really really improve, it’d be keeping my space tidy.

Sounds awkward to be saying this. Shouldn’t I fully control this part of my life? What stops me, what stops anyone from cleaning up the space around them?

Yes, in theory, I should be in control. But I’ve failed miserably, for decades.

It’s like running. I’m in love with running. The habit of running every day is an integral part of my life. I want to spread my passion for running. It’s easy for me to recommend —hey fellow human being, grab your running shoes and run outside, even if for just a couple of miles! It’s not that difficult! Your life will be so much better.

But what seems easy to me, isn’t easy for most people. It’s not just about “all you need is a pair of running shoes”. It’s about building a habit. Good habits are not easy to build, just as bad habits are easy to maintain.

Similarly, with cleaning, it’s not about having a broom and a vacuum cleaner — of course, I have these items — it’s about being tidy consistently. If you break you discipline just once, the state of disorder immediately takes over and its scale grows with every passing hour.

I wrote about this topic a few months ago. Then I came up with this strategy: cleaning one thing at a time. So every time I get up from my chair or, for…