When I Can’t Fix My Life, I Clean

As a single guy, I’m not sure how I manage to make so much mess - but somehow, there’s always something that needs to be done. A dish in the sink, laundry piling up, crumbs on the counter. The chores never really end.

But honestly? The only thing that bothers me more than the constant cleaning is the stress and brain fog that come with everyday life. And in those moments when life feels a little out of control, cleaning doesn’t seem so bad. In fact, it’s kind of the thing that saves me.

I’ve started to see it as my own weird form of therapy. When I can’t fix everything going on in my head or my life and doing the dishes or wiping down the counters feels like something I can control. It’s tangible. Manageable. And it keeps my mind just busy enough to breathe.

When I clean, I get a small sense of purpose - even if it’s just for 20 minutes. And when it’s done? I feel it. A clean space, a clearer mind, and the smallest spark of accomplishment. It’s wild how something like a made bed or a freshly vacuumed floor can shift your entire mood and give you momentum.

You’ve probably felt it too. Even if you started cleaning out of procrastination or last-minute panic, the after is always worth it. That inexplicable calm? That quiet moment after the chaos? It’s real.

And look - this isn’t about having a perfect routine or being hyper-productive every day. Sometimes, wiping down your counters is the most caring, grounded thing you can do for yourself. And that’s more than enough.

So next time everything feels like too much - try doing your chores. Not as a punishment or a tedious “chore”, but as a form of therapy and a small gift for yourself (that you have to work for it first). Let the peace follow after everything is done.

- with love. JiHun -