Mom Reveals Simple Nightly Routine for 'Peaceful Mornings'

The thought of cleaning on the evening after a long day of work and looking after a child may seem exhausting, but one Florida-based mom says it is totally worth it.

Aubrey O'Brien, 29, has recently gone viral on Instagram (@aubreylobrien) by sharing a video of herself loading the dishwasher. The clip has received more than 2.6 million views, but that is probably because of the important message layered over the footage.

"For my husband and I, cleaning the kitchen before bed has become a habit that allows us to have more peaceful mornings," O'Brien told Newsweek.

The grant coordinator, who works in the education sector, referred to the "nightly reset" as an act of self-care. She said that she never feels like tidying up at 9 p.m. but she never regrets it when she wakes up.

The mom-of-one said: "As working parents, we had to develop a system that worked well for both of us with the fraction of time we spend at home during the week.

"Generally, our kitchen cleanups take 15 minutes maximum and are so worth the calm that it will bring the following morning. Nothing is more frustrating than trying to make breakfast and the pan you need is dirty from the evening before," O'Brien said.

"This habit is especially nice on the weekends as we can be enjoyed slowly with a warm cup of coffee, instead of being frustrated about the task of cleaning or dishes that are in the way.

"It's not hard to make time for a 15-minute task that benefits your whole mood the next morning," O'Brien added.

Having a clean home helps many Americans feel both mentally and physically better, according to a recent survey from The American Cleaning Institute, which was conducted by Wakefield Research.

The survey of 1,000 U.S. adults found that 70 percent said spring cleaning leaves them with a sense of accomplishment. Others have said that it improves their mood and increases productivity, along with decreasing stress and anxiety.

O'Brien said that she has more patience and can think clearly when her home is clean.

In the video's lengthy caption, she encourages people to follow her tips, which include clearing away clutter, spraying counters, sweeping and vacuuming.

An extract from the caption reads: "The original video this clip came from was only 4 minutes. Such a minimal amount of time, for a huge outcome, and self-care for future me."

The content has racked up over 28,000 likes since it was shared on May 1. The comments show that O'Brien isn't the only person to do this.

One user wrote: "I JUST did this at 11 p.m. (the kitchen was cleaned after dinner but not all the dishes were put away yet) and do it as often as possible. It's like making your bed in the morning so you can cozy in at night. It's your body's dopamine. When your life is crazy busy, these little things genuinely make your heart happy and set your mind at ease."

Another posted: "After cleaning the kitchen at around 21:00 I always scream Kitchen's Closed!! I'm not doing anything until next day or emergency."

"A nightly reset is a must and a game changer! Love this!!!" added a third commenter.

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