Sweep First, Sip Later

I don’t clean ‘cause I’m bored. I clean ‘cause clutter mess with my head.

Mental health folks say a messy environment can increase stress and anxiety, especially for people already dealin’ with mood or thought disorders (National Institute of Mental Health). I ain’t need a study to tell me that, but it help hear professionals back it up.

I start with the kitchen floor. Same broom, same strokes. Back and forth. The sound steady, like a metronome keepin’ my thoughts from driftin’ too far. Cleaning give my hands a job so my mind don’t invent one.

Once the counter clear, I wash my cup. Not before. Never before.
Cleaning come first. Drinks come after.

That order matters.

I make iced hibiscus tea. No sugar today. Hibiscus been shown to support heart health and hydration, but I ain’t pretendin’ it cure nothin’ (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health). It’s just a drink. A real one. Something cold and tart to remind me I’m in my body.

I sit down only after the mop dry. That’s acceptance for me—knowing what helps and not rushin’ past it. People think acceptance mean givin’ up. Nah. It mean workin’ with yourself instead of actin’ like you somebody else.

I sip slow. Cleaning already burned off the nervous energy. Drink help me cool down. Hydration supports cognitive function, and even mild dehydration can affect mood and focus (Mayo Clinic). Again—facts, not hype.

I look around the room. Ain’t perfect. Ain’t supposed to be.
But it’s clean enough.
And I am too.

Some days survival look dramatic.
Some days it look like a swept floor and a cold drink.
Both count.

Works Cited (MLA)

Mayo Clinic Staff. “Dehydration.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, www.mayoclinic.org.

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. “Hibiscus.” NCCIH, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, nccih.nih.gov.

National Institute of Mental Health. “Caring for Your Mental Health.” NIMH, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, nimh.nih.gov.