Things That Make Me Feel Clean
What makes you feel clean? Generally, the answer might be a refreshing shower or a perfectly organized space. However, for me, cleanliness goes beyond the surface. It's about achieving a sense, however brief, of purity and tranquility both externally and internally. In today's fast-paced world, finding that feeling of being genuinely clean can be a transformative experience. Here are a few things (in no particular order) that help me cleanse not just my body, but also my mind and spirit. Hope you find something here that helps you too!
1. Intentional dopamine, getting off the phone for pre-defined stretches
2. Eye contact in conversations
3. Spending one on one time with my kids, it’s a very different dynamic when alone with them.
4. Showers twice a day, yes most winter days as well. This habit started sometime during the pandemic when all our hats were toppling over each other, especially with kids around 24x7 & water is a great way to reset
5. Reading paper books before going to bed—no e-book can feel the same
6. Taking short walks in the middle of the day and now that I have added many more plants to our land, love walking by my little saplings and checking on them
7. Pranayama (yogic breathwork) whenever I get a chance
8. Remembering to breathe deeply through the day—not as easy as it sounds, trust me! Because we tend to hold our breath too tightly when we’re overwhelmed & stressed
9. Pilates & stretches—got to keep moving, you know!
10. Stretching breaks without a phone, especially during long hours on a laptop. I have also experimented with app blocking apps for this, though I think cultivating internal discipline is the ultimate goal
11. Meditation - not just the longer stretches, but even shorter ones where you listen to repetitive chants or someone else’s voice guiding you to relax
12. Mono tasking—concentrating on one task, especially if it’s deep work like writing & editing, versus switching between creative tasks & chore-like tasks. That jumbles the brain.
13. Selective multitasking- Can’t always play just one role, right!? My favorite that always works for me is listening to a podcast while clearing the kitchen or cooking. Or using apps like Speechify to listen to a news article while driving
14. Dejunking clutter-cluttered surroundings equals cluttered mind
15. Triple-washed salads straight out of the box
16. Hearty meaty conversations with fellow growth-minded friends, often about mindset, habits & expansion because I love that stuff
17. Being kept honest & accountable - husband’s brutally good at that!
18. Talking to my house plants too—nature is truly magical
19. Spending time with animals - my cat, friends’ dogs
20. Lighting a candle - staring at the light
21. Listening to Mindvalley hypnagogic meditations before I sleep.
22. Sticking to an overall schedule but with room for spontaneity because that works best with my creative work
23. Carving out time to dance - I use it to not only enjoy music, or when I’m upbeat, but also to work out melancholic emotions
24. Writing my immediate to-do list on paper when possible, while I use my phone for the larger ongoing task lists
25. Dumping random thoughts into an app. I love @mymind
26. Seeing my kids read, and they read a lot, thank goodness!
27. Sitting on the floor, walking bare feet when possible. Growing up in India, sitting on the floor is ingrained in my mind and soul
28. Touching trees, hugging trees
29. A good night’s sleep- never underestimate this simple free back
30. Blueberries with chili powder & black salt (I like most of my fruit with salt!)
31. CCF (Cumin+Coriander+Fennel Seeds) tea for detox followed by Chai: black tea, grated ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves + you can also add crushed black pepper for rainy days!