If you’re like me, you don’t particularly like washing the dishes. Seeing them pile up one by one fills you with irritation. You know it’s a matter of time before you have to stand over the kitchen sink, scrubbing each dish until they’re squeaky clean.
Greasy pans, dirty plates, stained cups, and cloudy glasses. The mission at hand seems tedious. So, what is the answer? Some people enjoy washing the dishes, how can you?
That’s where mindfulness comes into play. You can turn any task or activity into a mindful practice. Enabling you to bring a sense of enthusiasm, enjoyment, and intrigue to it.
Why? How?
Keep reading and I’ll tell you.
What’s the Point in Being Present?
Let’s remind ourselves of why it’s important to be present, especially when doing things that you don’t enjoy. When you do any unpleasant task or chore, what are you thinking? Are you complaining in your mind and anticipating the future?
How are you feeling? Do you feel anxious, inpatient, and desperate to get it over with? If so, what are the consequences?
If you haven’t answered already, I can tell you.
When you get frustrated, annoyed, and irritated doing something, it will affect your body. You’ll release stress hormones such as cortisol. Your blood pressure and heart rate will increase, as your muscles become tense.
Is it worth it?
Life is stressful enough as it is. You need to do the dishes regardless. Why complain and make it into a problem? Instead, you can accept the task at hand and turn it into an engaging experience. One of curiosity, intrigue, and tranquillity by using mindfulness.
If you’re unfamiliar with the practice, check out my article What is Mindfulness first. Otherwise, let’s look at how.
“Mindfulness isn’t something we practice only in the meditation hall; we also practice in the kitchen, in the garden, or when we’re on the telephone, driving the car, or washing the dishes”.
— Thich Nhat Hanh
Start By Grounding Yourself
Take a deep breath in through the nose and exhale out the mouth. You can close your eyes if you wish. Keep breathing like this. Slowly and mindfully. Focussing on your breath helps to anchor you in the present. It’s always there and essential to life.
Now, check in on your body. What emotions are there? How do you feel? Perhaps relaxed and at ease or stressed and anxious. Be aware of all the sensations you feel. Do you notice any tension, tingling, aches, or does your body feel calm and at peace?
Pay attention to where you stand. Notice how the floor is supporting the whole weight of your body. Feel how your pressure is sinking into it, enabling you to stand here freely and securely.
Now that you’ve grounded yourself, let’s start mindful dish washing.
Experience the Water
Turn on the tap. Listen to the sounds of the water flowing as it fills up the sink. Stay with this for a while. If your mind wanders off, don’t worry, this is perfectly normal. When this happens, say “here’s thinking” and then go back to focusing on the sounds of the pouring water.
Pour in your washing up liquid or soap. Does it have a scent? If so, smell it. Is it pleasant? Play around with the water in the sink. How does it feel? Let your hands flow through the water. Notice the temperature. Is it hot, cold, or just right?
Observe the bubbles forming, look at the shapes. Can see the any reflections within them? Be intrigued by the process. Admire and appreciate it.
Onto the next stage.
“If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water.”
— Loren Eiseley
Clean with Intention
Pick up your sponge. Dip it in the sink or soak it with the running tap water and soap. Whatever you prefer. Squeeze it gently and notice how the foamy, soapy water expulses. Does it make a sound at the same time?
Choose an item to clean. A cup, plate, bowl, or piece of cutlery, it doesn’t matter which. As you pick it up, notice it’s weight in your hand. Is it heavy or light? Focus on the texture of the item. Is it smooth and flat, or rugged and shaped?
Look at the appearance. Is it colourful and patterned, or plain?
Go ahead and start to clean the dirt off the dishes. One by one. Do this with your full attention. Incorporate all your senses as you scrub each item. Focus on the pressure of your grip and the movements of your hands.
Notice how you interact with the water. Watch it move, splash, and see it slide off each item. Listen to the drips and splashes in the sink. How about the plates, bowls, glasses, and cups, are they squeaking as you rub them clean?
Be present as much as you can, throughout the whole process.
Finish by Expressing Gratitude
Drain the sink. Listen to the gurgling as the water heads from the plug hole and into the pipes. Be curious of this bizarre sound. Take some deep mindful breaths once again. Ground yourself. How do you feel now? Hopefully at ease.
Finish by expressing gratitude.
The mere fact you have clean running water, that you can change the temperature of is magnificent. How many people in the world don’t have this luxury?
With a simple hand movement, you have instant access to our most precious resource. One that sustains life all around the world.
Take a moment to reflect upon how it got to you. From the clouds forming, allowing rain to fall. To all the people designing and building the water reservoirs, plumbing, piping, regulation, and treatment systems. All that so you could get water straight from your tap with ease.
If you like, you can express this appreciation aloud, otherwise just say it in your head. Expressing gratitude has tremendous benefits for our well-being. Both mentally and physical. This is a great way to finish your mindful practice.
“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.”
– William Arthur Ward
You Can Turn Anything into a Mindful Practice
Now you know why it’s important to be present during those little tasks throughout your day. I’ve also provided you with the steps to apply this to washing the dishes. So, the next time you’re dreading this household errand, why not do it mindfully instead?
Remember, your mind will drift off. That’s what it does. Simply say to yourself “here’s thinking” and focus back on what you’re doing.
You can turn any task, chore, or activity into a mindful practice. Just find ways to explore it. Use all your senses to experience everything you do fully. With intention. The more you do this, the more you train yourself to be present.
This will have long lasting effects on your well-being. Enabling you to embrace your life journey in the here and now, rather than dwelling in the past or anticipating the future.
What else would you like to turn into a mindful practice? I’d love to know in the comments section.
Take care of yourselves,
Chris from Mindful Way to Be
