Lifestyle or Event?

I passed by the hallway bathroom a moment ago where I saw The Sock lying in the middle of the tile floor. Sock is capitalized now because it has earned official-title-standing, having spawned a new revelation.

As I passed by the door and saw Sock lying on the floor where he'd been for a couple of days, the thought passed through my head, "I guess it's waiting for the event" --the event of having enough time available to declare "Room Cleaning Day."

It dawned on me that there are two approaches to cleaning, even to life: Event and Lifestyle.

I have a Lifestyle of order and cleanliness. I have an autopilot setting which propels me through my week, picking up and cleaning without even thinking about it. My Lifestyle habit developed through years of practice plus enjoying the rewards of time saved, and a peaceful living environment. Living in a peaceful, pleasant home is important to me. So I am in constant maintenance mode--a lifestyle. This is the way I enjoy managing my life.

There are other times in life when I utilize Event maintenance. Event maintenance is applied to tasks I dread.  Or, if more than one person needs to be present to tackle a project, it can become an Event. If the project requires special equipment, like pressure washing the deck, Event maintenance is the best approach.

In some cases, however, I believe Lifestyle maintenance muscles were never learned, or rejected. The discipline seemed too hard or confining. For some, Lifestyle maintenance may never be the preferred approach to managing life.

While raising children, there are times to allow some space for them to operate in a style different from our own. And there are times when we need to encourage participation in Lifestyle maintenance, just to make sure they learn how to utilize it. I believe both approaches are necessary to managing life well. And the more developed your Lifestyle muscles are, the less daunting Events become.

Think back to when you were a teen. Cleaning your room was probably an Event. You waited until action was required. Or you waited until you simultaneously had the time, energy, and the right mood, converging as a catalyst to tackle the room.

I used to plan my day around room cleaning. I'd select music to play, plan breaks, throw myself completely into the task. The room would get cleaned. I would take a task I disliked and create an environment which helped me enjoy the work. It becomes a fun Event. (I still use this approach when I clean bathrooms!)

Both approaches get the job done. A combination of the two styles can work very nicely.

What is your approach to life? How do you maintain finances, relationships, cleaning, your calendar? Is your preference Lifestyle or Event? Become familiar with your best way of managing life. Take a deeper look at why you utilize one method over the other. Could you benefit from using both?

If your current approach is working for you, great. Don't change a thing. If not, consider trying a new approach. You may be surprised at your results.

© 2010 Sheri Smith Bertolini