Personal experience
All my life I have hated cleaning my house. It was too time-consuming and labor-intensive, and there was not much interesting in it. The only thing that saved the situation was audiobooks. However, recently I have learned about how Buddhist monks clean their temples. I decided to try this method and today I will tell about my experience.
How it goes
The inhabitants of the monasteries have a rather rigid schedule and a strictly measured routine. They wake up, pray, and then clean. And they spend a trivial amount of time on it - about 15-30 minutes. Everyone takes on certain responsibilities. Some sweep up, and others wash the dishes or the floors. It might seem, what could be done in such a short time, especially in a huge temple?
And therein lies the main trick of the process. Once the 20 minutes are up, the monks drop what they're doing and get on with the schedule. Yes, right where they left off, with dishes unwashed and the floor only partially swept. "What's the use of such cleaning?" you ask. And there shouldn't be any, because the main point is meditation.
The science behind it
However, according to the scientists, such a method of housekeeping will be useful for those who do not need spirituality. And immediately for several reasons. First, because of the attitude to affairs. Most people are used to thinking of cleaning or cooking as a mandatory chore. Almost like a second job. But that's precisely why it takes so much effort. If you do the dishes not for the sake of cleanliness, but for the sake of the process, it will go faster. In addition, by freeing up your thoughts, you can even rest and relax. After all, in essence, its cleaning - a fascinating game with a reward at the end. On this topic, even studies have been conducted.
Secondly, because of the "exaltation of problems. That's why we often do not want to do housework? I, for one, am repulsed by the mere thought of how much time we will have to spend on it. Household chores "loom" over me, frightening me and making me procrastinate. As a result, even just starting to do them is difficult. But if I promise myself that in 20 minutes I'll put down the mop and go get some tea, things should get easier. And there may not want to be distracted for a break...
Personal experience
Well, in words it all sounds fine, but how it works in practice? Cleaning has long been my number one personal enemy, so I decided to try the practice of Buddhist monks. Suddenly I would learn zen, open my third eye, and polish my apartment to a shine.
At first I tried the psychological trick of stopping after 20 minutes. Of course, the first couple of days my brain refused to be fooled. "Things are things, no matter how much time you put into them," it told me. Once I tried it, however, it was noticeably easier. The main thing is to keep the promise you made to yourself. And then the process begins to enthrall. I don't really want to leave a task halfway through.
However, the second problem was still there: I got terribly tired of the simplest of cleaning tasks. Getting to it was easier, but the tag "mandatory tedious routine" did not go anywhere. So I had to learn to meditate. Fortunately, it did not take me much time. In my own experience, it is very similar to relaxing in a video game or watching an interesting show. You just have to take your mind off everything and immerse yourself in the process. To think not about how much work is left to do, but about how nice it feels to wipe off dirt with a rag, for example. This, by the way, is now my favorite part of cleaning.
In the end, I can say that the method really works. It's easier to start the process, and it uses a lot less energy. However, you have to forcibly retrain yourself and change your train of thought. Consciously restrain your brain. Without this, alas, there is no way. Tips on acquiring useful habits are useful, but about them some other time.
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