Why a Clean Space Makes You Happier

When many people think about mental health and wellness, the thought of housecleaning typically doesn’t come to mind. However, the psychology of cleaning was studied by a team at the University of Mexico. That 2016 study indicated that taking pleasure in your environment was impeded by clutter.

Unfortunately, if you’re already struggling with your mental health, cleaning is a challenge. Signs of depression, for example, include a lack of motivation, slower movements, less interest in activities and more. Let’s look at why cleaning makes people happy and how you can enjoy the benefits of a cleaner home.

Why Cleaning Is More Than a Physical Task

Some studies have revealed that a cluttered environment is associated with a higher level of the stress hormone cortisol. Essentially, clutter increases your stress level and can make you feel anxious and even overwhelmed at times. These feelings actually make it more challenging to clean and declutter.

In a sense, this is an unfortunate cycle that can be difficult to break. This cycle can lead to issues with relationships, your job and even your finances. However, when you break the cycle, you can enjoy improved mental wellness with far-reaching benefits in other aspects of your life.

How Cleaning Boosts Mood and Mental Health

Whether you’re struggling with depression and anxiety or not, you can enjoy an improvement to your mood and mental health by cleaning your home regularly. This begins with decluttering, which produces feelings of calmness and security.

In addition, many people who transition from a cluttered space to a clean, tidy space feel an improved sense of clarity and focus. They may be more productive in various facets of life and feel more confident in their daily activities.

Why a Clean Space Makes You Happier

When you declutter your home, you empower yourself to make firm decisions about the things that you want to keep in your life and those that you want to get rid of. You are taking control of your environment. In addition, you create an organized space on your terms, which allows you to live in your home and access your many belongings on your terms. When you open closets, drawers and cabinets, you aren’t immediately stressed by the thought of sifting through the items to find what you need. In fact, you can easily reach for what you want, knowing that it will be exactly where you expect it to be.

To a degree, cleaning and organizing your home is also a way to clean and organize your inner thoughts and feelings. This is because decluttering and cleaning your home allows you to specifically focus on what should be discarded from your life so that you can take greater enjoyment out of the things that you intentionally choose to keep. On top of that, your cortisol levels decrease when your space is organized, and this plays a direct role in how stressed you feel at home.

Simple Cleaning Tips to Feel Good

While living in a clean, organized home instills a sense of control and power in you, the thought of cleaning can be overwhelming. Use these tips to enjoy the many benefits of cleaning.

Break Down Cleaning Tasks into Manageable Chunks

Create a plan that breaks down each cleaning chore into a manageable task. Think about how much time you can allocate per day to cleaning. For example, if you only want to commit 30 minutes a day, you can start by cleaning and organizing a few kitchen drawers. Then, move onto the cabinets over the next few days. Eventually, you can work your way around your house without getting overwhelmed.

Use a Timer to Stay Focused

If you struggle to focus on one task at a time, set a timer. Commit 30 minutes to clean a drawer, for example. Keep an eye on the clock as you work to maintain motivation.

Follow a Logical Cleaning Path

Some people find it easier to start in one corner of a room and work around to the next corner. Make a path around the perimeter of the room, gradually moving inward as you go.

Declutter with a Purpose

Be decisive about the things you choose to keep versus toss out. Have trash bags, bins or boxes nearby so that you can easily sort between the discard, donate and sell items.

Designate a Space for Everything

For the items you decide to hang onto, give each item a dedicated space of its own. Take inventory of the items remaining in each cabinet, drawer and so forth. If necessary, search for organizational features to help you maximize the space available.

Celebrate Small Wins

After achieving each daily goal, such as cleaning out a drawer or two, take time to admire your work. Appreciate the positive feelings you get when you open those spaces in the days to come. Apply those feelings to motivate yourself to continue cleaning and organizing in small chunks.

While the benefits of regularly cleaning your home are significant, not everyone has the time or energy to give their decluttering and cleaning chores the full attention that they deserve. At Cleanzen, our friendly, experienced housecleaners are eager to give you the clean space that you want. To learn more about our professional cleaning services in Boston, reach out to us today.