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Dec 1, 2022 · “Cleaning your room is good for your health,” might sound like something your parents may have told you to get you to tidy up your toys as a kid, but turns out, there’s some truth to it.
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- Overview
- Negative Impact of Clutter and Mess
- Benefits of Cleaning and Decluttering
- How to Incorporate Cleaning Into Your Life
- When Cleaning Becomes a Compulsion
- A Word From Verywell
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When some people are feeling overwhelmed or stressed out, they might try yoga, mindfulness, or even a massage, but for others giving the shelves a quick dust, wiping down the kitchen, or even organizing the closet is just as beneficial for their mental health as using a mindfulness app.
In fact, for some people the simple sight of a clean and organized home can help them unwind and de-stress even after an overwhelming day.
Here's a closer look at the impact of cleaning on your mental health, including the benefits of cleaning and how to incorporate a cleaning schedule into your life.
Press Play for Advice On Decluttering
Hosted by therapist Amy Morin, LCSW, this episode of The Verywell Mind Podcast, featuring Decluttering Expert Tracy McCubbin, shares how to declutter your home to boost your mental health. Click below to listen now.
Clutter May Contribute to Depression
For instance, a study published in "Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin," found that women who described their living spaces as cluttered or full of unfinished projects were more likely to be fatigued and depressed than women who described their homes as restful and restorative. Researchers also found that the women with messy or cluttered homes had higher levels of cortisol.
Clutter May Lead to Decreased Focus, Confusion, and Tension
Meanwhile, a study by Princeton University researchers discovered that clutter can make it difficult to focus on a particular task. More specifically, they discovered that a person's visual cortex can be overwhelmed by objects not related to a particular task, making it harder to focus and complete projects efficiently. In some ways, clutter and mess is linked to negative emotions like confusion, tension, and irritability while an organized home tends to produce more positive emotions like calmness and a sense of well-being. To the brain, clutter represents unfinished business and this lack of completeness can be highly stressful for some people. This fact is especially true when people have significant concerns pressing in on their lives. Clutter and mess can create more stress and anxiety, but by cleaning, organizing, and reducing the clutter, people are able to take control of their environment and create a more relaxing environment that helps them focus better on the more pressing issues in their lives. 7 Ways Spring Cleaning Is Good for Your Mental Health
Research has found that cleaning can have a number of positive effects on your mental health. For instance, it helps you gain a sense of control over your environment and engage your mind in a repetitive activity that can have a calming effect.
It also has been found to improve a person's mood as well as provide a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. There are a number of reasons why cleaning can help you destress. Here's an overview of some of the benefits of cleaning and decluttering your home or office.
Whether you are struggling with depression, have a new baby, or just have a chaotic life, the concept of cleaning and decluttering can seem like an overwhelming task that is simply outside of your reach right now. In fact, many people wrestle with whether or not cleaning should be a priority.
But, knowing that having a cleaner environment will help improve your mood and make your life more peaceful, it might be worth pursuing. Here are some ideas on how to incorporate cleaning into your life.
Although there is nothing wrong with being a neat freak and looking to cleaning as a way to calm your nerves and destress, it does become an issue when your cleanliness and need for order in your home starts to become a compulsion.
For instance, if you won't go out with your friends or you cancel plans because you haven't finished all your cleaning tasks for the day or week, then that could be a red flag that your desire for a clean home has become a compulsion.
Likewise, cleaning can become an issue if it's impacting your physical health, feels a little obsessive, or is interfering with your schedule like making you late for work or school.
If you are unsure whether or not your cleaning habits are constructive or bordering on a compulsion, you may want to talk to your doctor or a mental health professional for advice. A therapist can help you determine which behaviors are healthy and which might need to be altered. They can also provide other coping mechanisms for depression, anxiety, or stress.
If cleaning and decluttering helps ease your stress, reduces your anxiety, and lifts your mood, then by all means grab your cleaning tools and get started. After all, a messy or cluttered home can be distracting. Just be sure your cleaning habits aren't a crutch. You don't want to rely solely on cleaning to give your life order and predictability.
There are times when things won't go as planned and you won't be able to clean. So, you need to have other tools in your arsenal that you can go to destress and unwind.
Conversely, if you are struggling with depression or another mental health issue and long for a clean and organized home, but just don't have the energy to do it, try starting small. Even if that means just picking up all the clothes off the floor on one day and loading the dishwasher on the next day, taking little steps to clean up your environment will feel more manageable and less overwhelming.
And, more importantly, it may even lift your mood to have taken a small step toward organizing and cleaning your environment.
7 Tips for Staying Motivated to Clean Your House When You Are Depressed
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- Sherri Gordon
Jul 11, 2016 · People who keep their homes clean and organized are healthier, both physically and mentally. Spending the time and effort to keep your space clean is well worth it. Why do we love organization?
Oct 12, 2022 · How to Tackle Chores When You’re Feeling Super Overwhelmed and Unmotivated. Tried-and-true tips from a therapist who’s been there. By KC Davis, LPC. October 12, 2022. Hill Street Studios via ...
- A clean home is a healthy home – it’s free of bacteria and allergens that can cause respiratory problems. A clean home not only goes a long way in ensuring a peaceful atmosphere, but it also helps keep family members healthy.
- A clean home is more comfortable to live in. A clean home can provide a higher level of comfort for its inhabitants, both physically and mentally. It is proven that living amidst clutter can increase stress levels and impede relaxation, particularly when trying to unwind after a long day at work.
- A clean home is easier to maintain – there are fewer areas for dirt and dust to accumulate. Keeping a home clean helps to reduce the amount of housework that needs to be done on a regular basis.
- A clean home looks nicer and is more aesthetically pleasing. Having a clean home can provide immense satisfaction and peace of mind; it not only looks nicer but can be more inviting to those visiting, too.
1 hour ago · Organising and cleaning the room can help one to have better focus, according to a study published in the Harvard Business Review in 2020. Cleaning your room can result in mental clarity and focus ...
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