If I had to pick one regular chore or task that I dread doing and procrastinate about the most, it would be folding my laundry.
At several points of time I had hired and used a laundry service, and receiving my previously dirty inside out clothes back neatly folded, hung, and pressed,
is quite possibly one of the most satisfying feelings I have had,
I think there is something to be said about weighing out the cost of a service vs. what your time is worth and how long it takes, how inconvenient it is etc…
But this is not what this post is about.
Today was my first day without a gig or anything that is pressing that needs to be done. Effectively it is the start of my “Weekend” as I like to call it.
I unpacked my gear from the show case into my room for rehearsing, sorted through emails, and checked the status of some items I am waiting on.
I was sitting there staring at my computer screen trying to figure out why I couldn’t focus or remember any of the 900 things I put on my to-do list.
When in my peripheral vision I noticed that basked that has been in my corner all week, full of clean laundry.
It wasn’t just about the laundry, the basket represented all of the “life” stuff that tends to build up when you are working on a career, or purpose.
I had apparently hit my quota on those tasks in my subconscious, and my mind was making it clear that I needed to clear that board first.
For the record, I am really good at folding laundry.
I went down a weird rabbit hole some years ago and spent an inordinate amount of time learning all of the different techniques and perfecting them.
Because of that, it tends to take me a bit longer to fold my laundry than most. Maybe… I mean I have never actually timed myself or others,
but at least in my mind I think I take longer (should probably look into that more).
I digress.
I have a system and routine when I fold my laundry, I put some music or an audio book on first.
To get me “hyped” and “In the zone” (I loled when I wrote that)
I pick out a essential oil for my diffuser (peppermint today, a fav of mine)
and I pull my rolling chair up to my bed.
The actual process is a mix of a few of the techniques and happens in phases.
First I fold all tops and bottoms that don’t go on hangars. During that I sort all of the hung shirts, underwear, and socks into separate areas.
Then I military roll my underwear. sort and combine socks (any non-pairs go in the dirty bin in hopes to find their partner)
And finally all of my shirts go on hangars facing the same way, and get places on the poll by color and type.
For those of you that know me, this may be a bit surprising.
I’m a bit of a hippie in some respects. I am very go with the flow and have not been a huge fan of routines throughout my life.
But I fucking love organizing. I love when things are efficient.
A recent trip to Ikea for the first time ever, felt like I was coming home to a mecca I had searched for my whole life.
I digress again.
How I fold my laundry is how I tend to go about most non-creative tasks in my life.
I am very methodical, and try to arrange/organize them for maximum efficiency.
For me, this is a daunting task, I am also super aware how “first world” it is.
But fundamentally, we all have our “laundry”
There are always going to be things we dread doing in our life, I personally like to get really good at them.
I’m 99% sure this is how most innovations start.
In addition to that, I always feel incredibly clear, grounded, and accomplished when I finish (usually well over an hour).
It legitimately puts me in a grove for days, sometimes a week. Or however long it takes to accumulate another load or two of laundry.
Everything in life accumulates some sort of waste/byproduct.
Eating, cleaning, working out, you name it, there is something building up that will inevitably need to be cleared out.
I know that It’s best to just keep up with it.
I know that the literal and metaphorical “mountain” will continue to grow the longer I wait.
I also know that because I dread it, I will continue to grow by doing it.
Just like “wax on wax off” from The Karate Kid, I am learning and cultivating skills and characteristics I’m probably not even aware of every time I climb that mountain.
And also I would probably end up smelly or naked if I don’t, so there is definitely that motivator.
I constantly put effort into seeing the things that cause me angst as opportunities for growth and learning.
I don’t want to be a victim in my life, or hand my power away to something as trivial as folding laundry.
That’s who I am, for better or worse.
But I think there is definitely something to it, and encourage you to do the same.
I really am looking to interact and for feedback here, so please reach out to me at [email protected] with your thoughts!
What is your laundry? How have you grown from slaying that dragon? Did I focus too much on the actual laundry part of this?
I would truly love to know.
Thank you so much for reading if you are!
With unconditional love, always.
– Matthew