lee847•4h ago

Question about the whole 'mindfulness while washing dishes' thing

Last week, I was at my sister's place in Akron and she was going on about how washing dishes by hand is her new meditation. She said it takes her 20 minutes to 'be present' with the suds. I tried it for a month back in 2021 and honestly, it just felt like a chore. My epiphany was that for some of us, profound peace isn't in forcing focus on a boring task, it's in getting it done fast so you can go do something you actually enjoy. Has anyone else found that chasing these 'mindful moments' in chores just adds pressure instead of calm?

3 comments

3 Comments

michaeltorres3h ago

But what if you're doing it wrong? Tbh, I used to feel the same way until I stopped trying to force it. Now I just notice the warm water and the clinking sounds, and my brain actually shuts up for a minute.

lewis.finley2h ago

The "right way" to wash dishes is just the way that gets them clean, @michaeltorres (and doesn't break your favorite mug).

jana_jones3h ago

Totally get that shift in focus. Honestly, I used to overthink every step of the process too. Letting go of the "right way" and just paying attention to the simple stuff is what finally worked for me.