Columnist explores compulsive dishwashing as nightly ritual

Columnist Patricia Bunin shared her experience with compulsive dishwashing in a recent column published by pasadenastarnews.com and ocregister.com. She described how she feels compelled to wash all dishes before going to sleep, not out of fastidiousness but due to a sense of necessity.

Bunin explained that this ritual, while intended to provide a sense of completion in a day filled with unfinished tasks, actually disrupts her ability to relax and fall asleep. She compared the act of cleaning dishes to a bedtime routine like drinking warm milk, but noted that it tends to wake her up instead of calming her.

She also mentioned practical reasons for the habit, such as avoiding the discomfort of facing dirty dishes in the morning, which she believes would disturb her morning peace. To test if she could change this behavior, Bunin tried limiting her dishwashing to rinsing only when she felt like it.

In one attempt, she took a warm snack and drink to bed while watching the news, but was still drawn back to clean the dishes afterward. Bunin indicated she might try adjusting this routine again in the future.

Her column invites readers to reflect on their own routines that may have become obsessions and consider how these habits affect their well-being.