The ultimate guide keeping your home tidy using Nonviolent Communication
Tidying up your home can be a daunting task, especially if you live with others who don’t share your same level of neatness. But it doesn’t have to be a battle! With a little bit of planning and communication, you can keep your home tidy using the principles of Nonviolent Communication.
The first step is to take a step back and assess the situation. What is the current state of your home? What areas are particularly cluttered or messy? Once you have a good understanding of the problem areas, you can start to develop a plan for addressing them.
One of the key principles of Nonviolent Communication is to focus on needs, rather than on wants or demands. So, instead of saying to your roommate, “You need to pick up your clothes off the floor,” try something like, “I need to feel like the shared spaces in our home are clean and tidy.”
It’s also important to be specific about what you’re asking for. Vague requests like “Can you please tidy up?” are more likely to lead to conflict than specific ones like, “Can you please put your shoes in the closet and your clothes in the hamper?”
Another key principle of Nonviolent Communication is to avoid using “should” statements. For example, instead of saying, “You should do the dishes more often,” try, “I would appreciate it if you could do the dishes more often.”
Of course, even the best-laid plans can go awry, so it’s important to be prepared for when things don’t go as planned. If you find yourself getting frustrated or angry, take a step back and breathe. Remind yourself of your goals and needs and try to find a way to express yourself that doesn’t involve putting the other person down.
With a little bit of effort, you can keep your home tidy using the principles of Nonviolent Communication. By focusing on needs, being specific, and avoiding should statements, you can maintain a clean and orderly home while still respecting the needs of those who live with you.
