Cleaning & Mental Health: A connection unlike any other!

Is there a connection between cleaning and mental health? Studies have shown a clear relation between both matters and it is more than you think!

If you take a group of 100 people and ask them: What is the one thing you hate doing the most? We guarantee that the vast majority will have the same answer: Cleaning.

And from this same group, if you ask them to describe their mental health, most of them will express their concern about their current situation, complaining about being too stressed and constantly anxious.

The fact that we live in a fast-moving society where a lot is expected from us, and sometimes we feel overwhelmed by everything surrounding us is actual: When times get rough, and life gives us more and more pressure to commit to its expectations, we may feel lost and depressed, desperate to find anything that soothes the soul. And sometimes, all we need to do is start with small things.

Now, think about your home, your room, or even your workplace; how relaxing would it be if you saw it bright-clean, sparkling, everything arranged and organized, and the fresh smell of cleanliness embellishing the air?

Why is a clean environment good for your mental health?

A clean and decluttered environment transpires peacefulness, calmness, and a feeling of Zen. Think of it this way, if your environment reflects your mind, then a clean one means you are in a good mood. Of course, a dirty and cluttered one will make you feel uncomfortable and stressed.

If you manage to allocate a little time to clean your working space or whatever environment you are in, it will give you a sense of accomplishment and self-satisfaction. Why? Because you’ve managed to do something you may dread a lot.

And by accomplishing this dreadful task, you have proved to yourself that you’re courageous and capable of doing a difficult and uncomfortable task.

In other terms, accomplishing a stressful task will give you a clean environment and a mental health booster shot! You will be happy, your anxiety and stress may decrease, and you can go back to your tasks and job, the source of your stress, with a handful of endorphins.

Of course, we are not asking you to do a deep cleaning of your entire house or office, nor do we suggest you make everything sparkling clean. But we have to start somewhere, right?

Perhaps start dusting, mopping, or vacuum cleaning your most used space.

Why not open wide the windows, let the fresh air burst in and use an air refresher to get rid of bad smells.

“I’m okay with the mess, I’ll clean later.”

Many of us say this when we feel lazy and are not in the mood for cleaning. But as mentioned earlier, cleaning may give you more than just a clean environment.

On the one hand, sure we may not have the time, the energy, or the mood to clean. But on the other hand, a cluttered and dirty environment looks like a place full of unfinished tasks waiting for you to accomplish them. This lack of completeness might not sit well with everyone and will pile up on the list of unfinished work.

Studies done by Princeton University suggest that chaotic environments may render you unable to focus on your task. Instead, you may be distracted by the fact that you have to clean or declutter your living space. Or also, you may be disturbed by the fact that your surrounding environment is calling you to clean.

Is cleaning more beneficial than you might think?

We have mentioned that cleaning is good for your mental health and sense of accomplishment, which explains why the lack of cleaning may have the opposite effect!

But there is more to it!

Incorporating cleaning as a regular task in your weekly routine is a good step towards a well-scheduled life and proper time management!

How can we achieve this?

Well, first, you start small. Try thinking of it by understanding that cleaning is an activity that helps your mental health because a clean environment clears your conscience.

And a good mood is sure something worth pursuing and worth taking care of.

The next step is setting up a target!

Cleaning the whole apartment in one take may not sound appealing. So how about starting small? Set daily goals.

For example: On Monday clean the bathroom, Tuesday clean the kitchen and so on…

Breaking down the big task into small ones will not look or feel like a big deal.

One more thing you can do is to set a specific time of the day for this task and set a timer for it. Let your daily schedule include 15 to 20mins of cleaning at a particular hour of the day.

Step by step, your mind will get used to this activity, considering it part of your daily routine while also constantly feeling that your house is clean because you are in fact, cleaning every day!

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