I’m Stealing Drew Barrymore’s Cleaning Philosophy (It’s Brilliant!)

If you were to come over to my home in Los Angeles, there would be times when it’s neat and times when it’s a complete disaster zone. I’d gotten used to this back-and-forth between completely clean or totally dirty — until I started to notice the effect it was having on my mood and productivity. When I recently read about Drew Barrymore’s philosophy towards cleaning, it changed the way I think about why a clean home matters to me and it helped inspire me to create a consistent routine.

In a recent interview with Real Simple, Barrymore revealed the lessons she hopes she’s passing down to her two children, including her philosophy behind a clean space. “And I’ve taught them that if you clean up after yourself, you’re going to have more calmness in your space. Your head is as messy as your room is. Someone said that to me, and it changed my life forever.” She goes on to say that “messes can be cute and charming, but they can’t stay there. They’ve got to get cleaned up so you’re ready for the next mess to be made.”

When I heard this simple-yet-profound philosophy, it resonated with me — and it got me thinking. I began to consciously notice how I felt in clean spaces as opposed to messy spaces. 

I realized right away that I was more productive (I work from home) and even happier when my apartment was clean. Additionally, I realized that the act of cleaning my home does always give me mental clarity and quietude. On the other hand, when my house is chaotic I have a tougher time concentrating on tasks and I feel less motivated and more stressed. 

Moving forward, I’m going to try to consciously tidy up before I start my work day. I’ll make my bed, prepare breakfast, clean up the kitchen, and put away stray items around the home before sitting down to work. My work desk is also always organized, and I make it a point to put everything back in its spot after I’m done with work for the day — so why not look at the rest of my house as well?

Every time I feel a lack of motivation creeping in, I’ll try to remember Barrymore’s philosophy. Even if it feels tedious in the moment, I know it’s going to be more rewarding in the future.