For the most part, when people are feeling overwhelmed or stressed, they will tend to cope with those feelings through relaxing, working out, taking a walk, or some good old R&R. Did you know that cleaning your house can actually greatly help you to cope with your stress, and improve your mental health immensely? The act of cleaning itself can help you to feel better as it offers a nice distraction while helping you to feel productive, but the simple sight of a clean house can have a positive impact as well. The environment that you surround yourself in each and every day plays a huge role in your overall mental wellness.
Check out some of the benefits that having a clean house can have for you:
1 – Helps to release endorphins.
First, having a clean house can help to release endorphins, which will put you in a more positive and uplifting mood. Endorphins are chemicals in your body, also known as hormones, that your body releases when you are feeling stressed or in pain. Endorphins are released through activities that make you happy, such as eating, going to a concert, or exercising. By releasing endorphins, you are helping to improve your overall wellbeing. You can release endorphins through the act of cleaning, which can be a form of exercise in itself, as well as just “being” in a clean and organized environment.
2 – Increased focus.
If you are someone who needs to focus while you are in your home, whether you are working from home, helping your kids with a school project, or trying to get your life in order in general, you will feel way more focused in a clean environment than you will in a messy or disorganized one. When you have too many items in your field of vision, especially if they are out of place, your brain will automatically focus on the mess that has to be cleaned up, or the clutter that has to be put away. If you are working in a clean area, it is proven that you will have better focus!
3 – Consistency.
While everyone has a different idea of what consistency means to them, everyone can agree that familiarity and consistency in the way things are organized in the home can help someone to feel more structured. By making sure that you are putting away items where they go and keeping up with your household tasks, your brain will feel a sense of relief in the consistency surrounding you, helping you to feel more relaxed.
4 – Allows you to gain control.
Have you ever had a moment in your life where you felt totally out of control, and your house was a true reflection of that? Welcome to the club! When people are struggling in their life, oftentimes their environment is a direct reflection of what they are going through. If you are someone who is dealing with a negative situation, take the first step in gaining control back in your life by cleaning your home, which will allow you to bring some order to your environment and begin to feel more productive. This is a great way to get yourself out of a rut!
5 – Improved mood.
Having a clean home is also a great way to reduce any anxiety that you are experiencing. Firstly, due to the fact that cleaning requires you to move your body, which oftentimes helps to reduce anxiety in itself and is a good coping mechanism. If you are constantly feeling anxious and fatigued, cleaning your home, and upkeeping it to stay clean and tidy helps to regulate your emotions, as cleanliness has a calming effect on the brain.