For a certain type of person, taking a few minutes to whisk the Swiffer Wet across the kitchen floor can feel akin to the soothing effects of meditation. Even the sight of a spotless home—especially at the end of a long, stressful day—can temporarily seem to blunt whatever’s bothering them.

If you're one of those people, there could be a few explanations for why cleanliness translates to lower levels of stress and anxiety, whether it's a sense of mastery and control over your environment or just the relief from the nagging feeling of disarray that clutter gives you.

But if this isn't you, don't fret. There are other bizarrely effective everyday things to try (like wearing compression leggings?!) for taming the anxiety monster. See below.

Q: I’m making more of an effort to meditate, and I’ve even made an official commitment to attend a service at a Buddhist temple nearby on a weekly basis. That said, I really struggle to motivate myself to regularly engage in self-care rituals due to my anxiety. I’m always convinced that I don’t have time or it isn’t worth the effort. What would you recommend?
—Carla

A: Hi Carla,

This might sound lame, but I invite you to try it: Make a pie chart of what you spend your time doing. Estimate a percentage of how much energy and effort you're putting into each thing: family, dating, drinking, exercise, etc.

Take a long, hard look at it. Notice what you might be engaging in that is taking more energy than you'd like. Notice what's missing. Notice what things you need that aren't making it on the chart lately.

Sometimes we need a visual as a check-in on how we're doing and how we're spending our precious time.

Maybe also make a "goal" version—what you'd like it to look like (e.g., Buddhist Temple each week, check!), and an actionable step for each slice on how to make it happen.

I hope this helps.

Warm regards,
Michelle

Michelle Lozano is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist and member of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.

• It's extremely weird, but wearing compression leggings eases my anxiety. Experts explained why this is a real thing.

• This is what your brain and body do when you hang out with animals.

• Should you use CBD for anxiety? Here's everything there is to know.

• Cake-icing videos are a form of meditation.

Speaking of cakes and pie charts:

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