Declutter for better energy

Of late, I happened to see the ordeals of working women who try their level best to walk on the two edges of a rope, home and office, to meet the means and ends. Generally women neither expect recognition nor applause, either at home or office, because they are prone to discharge their duties with utmost dedication or to the best of their ability. There are women who never take things personally when hurt and simply move on.

No doubt, our society is keen to appreciate their efforts in every column, debates, stories, movies, events and so on. They play an indispensable role both at home and workplace or wherever they are with due diligence. Even our culture gives utmost reverence to them for their sacrifices, upbringing of family, educating their children, their love and concern for one and all. Most of them don’t compromise with the quality of their family lives.

The Invisible Burden of “Urgent Perfection”

I still have a pathetic say on the realm of working on their household chores. Even the women tribe demeans her status at home for resisting to do certain chores, beyond her limiting time or other factors like her own health, or children, or inlaws, etc. As we are aware, they balance the workload of home and family, neglecting their own health, meet the needs of everyone and try to fulfill to their optimum.

But still the family will not be happy, trying to demean giving stress to them, without knowing the work pressures, back-to-back calls, teams meet, targets, deadlines, entrusting work if playing lead roles, if teachers — tuitions, preparing lesson plans, question papers, correction work, etc. for the day ahead. And their list goes on.

Such women least expect support from her family but are sure to expect emotional maturity, instead of simply browsing their activities in a hurry-burry. If one person, just one person, may be spouse, or children, or inlaw, could affirm to speak up for her, no doubt, she will be on cloud nine. But the fact is, “If someone”. Otherwise, she is a damn bomb for herself to kick start the day.

Humans, Not Humanoids

Howsoever good, whatsoever excellent they are in education, job, pay, status, position, standard and dignity, they still face sarcasm over and over again or grumbling just for the leftover of petty household chores, in the name of discipline or ethics or culture. Women are not born to sweep, mop, clean, wash, etc. They know family is important, beyond their physical and mental health.

They find meagre time to squat to eat, walk to cook, push-up pull-up to chop, grind, do Mudras to wash, Asanas to rush up and back and meditate to sleep. Where do they miss to find flaws by others? They are humans, not humanoids. Let the petty leftover chores wait. What is the need for urgent perfection? If need be, damned if they do or don’t do. Let them.

Shifting Focus: From Chores to Passion

Women have a higher vision and mission for their family, apart from sweeping and mopping. Hence are these ordeals to them. Let us be energy boosters and not energy vampires to them.

I gently suggest my dear fellow women friends, stay focussed on your skill sets, master your prowesses, develop a passion and keep excelling in your passion apart from work because passion will pay your bills later, if not now. Be deaf to critics. Let Them. Move on gracefully, saying Let me. Robin Sharma writes:

“Listen to your heart because your heart is wiser than your head”.

Engage women helpers at home for your basic needs, hire janitors for allied needs, thereby you will be generating employment for women. I recall TOI Columnist and Mentor, Chetan Bhagat’s profound quote:

“If Indian women are freed from making hot phulkas and rotis, they can contribute a lot to our country’s economy”.

True. Women are too powerful to outperform in any given industry.

The Physical Cleanse: Pruning the Excess

Friends, all you need is a massive decluttering of your home to have the right kind of energy for sustenance. Take a day off, not on the weekend. Prune the unwanted things at home. Fact of the matter is almost all our houses are dumped with unused things, clothes, broken furniture, etc. which we do not even know they exist, occupying extensive space and waste of money as well. Discard all the unwanted trash. Make space only for essentials. Keep the day-to-day things in easy vicinity for use.

The 6-Month Golden Rule

Avoid impulse buying and window shopping. Never step into any Mall for six months. You will be amazed to see your savings. The famous YouTuber & Stock Market Specialist Akshat Srivatsava once revealed the secret of his savings as his golden rule:

“Don’t buy something once, unless you can afford to buy it twice”.

Read again. Wisdom. Try these petty savings in a magic jar. Utilise them for clearing and cleaning purposes often. Now service providers are available online in plenty.

The Ultimate Cleanse: Reclaiming YOU

You will surely feel relaxed, relieved and rejuvenated with a new energy once the trash is gone. But still you are only half way done. Rest of the part is YOU.

Invest in yourself. Respect your body when it needs absolute rest. Set aside a weekend exclusively for your personal work like body massage, nature walk, time to yoga, worship and so on. Declutter the mental trash carrying for months and weeks.

Meet your friends or loved ones for an outing and dinner. Friends are a great support system, always ready with the right answers and unconditional comfort. Friends are elixirs. Create new memories with them. Then watch your output and mindset. I’m sure it will be liberating to find a new version of yourself. You will feel elevated and ready for a refurbished original of You.