Hello Friends,
Welcome to week 4 of No Stress Summer! This week’s challenge was the TikTok famous closing shift. For those unfamiliar with a closing shift, it is essentially a nighttime cleaning routine performed before bed. As always, this post explores the science behind how this challenge can help alleviate stress, shares personal reflections from each day of the challenge, offers my overall thoughts on the experience, provides guidance on whether to try it and offers tips for success. I hope you enjoy my Week 4 round-up and subscribe to stay up-to-date with my No Stress Summer Challenges, available here all summer long!
The Science
The closing shift is not specifically a science-backed stress reduction method. However, there is a lot of science that supports the correlation between the state of your living spaces and that of your mental health. As well as the positive benefits cleaning can have.
According to Very Well Mind, “Research has found that cleaning can have a number of positive effects on your mental health.”
Neuroscience News reported that a cluttered environment is one that is full of distractions. This causes feelings of overwhelm because your brain cannot prioritize a goal or remain focused amid such chaos.
Day 1: I have created three different levels of my closing shift. They are tiered based on the energy levels and amount of time required. Tier 1 is for the lowest energy/least amount of time, and it simply includes a 15-item clean-up. That means simply picking up/putting away 15 things. Tier 2 is a middle-level energy/mid amount of time, and it includes putting clothes away, wiping down surfaces I used during the day, and putting away clutter. Tier 3 is the highest level of energy and time, and it includes all of Tier 2, plus setting out what I need for the next day. Today I started on the right foot with a Tier 3!
Day 2: I didn’t start my nighttime routine early enough for a Tier 3 closing shift today, so I completed a quick Tier 2 and took the extra sleep instead, which is okay.
Day 3: I plan to have a slow morning tomorrow, so I don’t need a Tier 3 closing shift. Thus, I completed an in-depth tier 2. I have noticed a difference in how much smoother my mornings have gone since starting this challenge!
Day 4: Feeling tired this evening, so once again opted for a tier 2 closing shift and gained a couple of extra minutes of sleep! Tier 2 is my favourite tier!
Day 5: Turned out to be a very late night by the time I got upstairs to get ready for bed. However, with consistency in mind, I completed a Tier 1 closing shift.
Day 6: I was exhausted this morning, but even just the Tier 1 closing shift made my life so much easier. I love waking up to a less cluttered space. Today I completed a tier 3 closing shift!
Day 7: Rounding out this week’s challenge with a tier 2 closing shift. That is the one I did most consistently, and it’s likely the one I will continue the most going forward.
Final Thoughts
I am not always the most tidy person. I tend to lean towards a type C personality…organized chaos, if you will. That being said, keeping my spaces cleaner and less cluttered is something I have been wanting to work on, and I’m glad I did for this challenge. As I mentioned in my daily reflections, I noticed that even a Tier 1 closing shift made a significant difference in how I started and approached my day. This is another challenge I will continue to work on moving forward.
In terms of stress relief, I noticed that the cleaner my space, the more mental clarity I had. It is one of those things you don’t believe until you experience it. The mental clarity helped me tackle things more easily, which in turn reduced my stress. The lack of clutter also made it easier to find things, which also helped keep my stress levels down! In general, waking up to a more organized day consistently sets me up for a calmer, more successful day.
So, is the closing shift ‘No Stress Summer Approved? YES! Absolutely, this one may have just topped the list so far!
My Recommendations
Should you try the closing shift? Absolutely. This challenge is the definition of a gift to your future self, and I am all for that! Now this is one where you especially have to customize it to your needs, so keep that in mind. There are plenty of videos about it online,, but to make it work for you,, you will have to figure out what you want and need out of it. The tiers are essential to success with the closing shift, in my opinion. Your 100% effort looks different every day, and the tiers give you the option to stay consistent without the pressure and overwhelm of multiple tasks.
Laura’s Guide to the at-home Closing Shift
- Give yourself some different closing shift options for later nights or days with lower energy.
- Plan to add time for your closing shift to your nighttime routine. You can use it as an initiation and wind-down, or integrate it somewhere in the middle.
- If you are unsure where to start, work backwards. Consider what you could take away to make your life easier in the morning and add it to your closing shift.
- Don’t go crazy if that isn’t your vibe. Create a plan that you can consistently uphold. Even small things can make a world of difference.
Until next time, my friends!
P.S. I’m proud of you 😉