The old saying of “a clean home is a happy home” is more scientifically accurate than you might have thought. Picking up and cleaning around your home can give you a seriously good mood boost. Whether it is where we live, work, or relax, humans have a natural tendency to want those areas to be clean and tidy. When they are, they can have positive effects on your overall health. Below are just five of the many ways cleaning can help you both physically and mentally.
Instead of having massive piles of dirty laundry and a sink full of dishes needing to be done, spend just a few moments out of every day to get a little tidier and uncluttered. Whether it is just making your bed in the morning to looking into dry carpet cleaning, doing a little cleaning can drastically improve your mental and physical health.
Reduces Stress
Those who have their houses or apartments cluttered, dirty, or unkempt are often more depressed and fatigued. Having a messy home can cause your brain to release a hormone called cortisol. High levels of cortisol in the body can cause stress, fear, paranoia, nausea, and anxiety. Picking up even just a little bit prevents your brain from releasing this negative mood-altering hormone. In fact, it will make you happier.
Improve Relationships
If you have ever lived with someone who is messy, you know it can sometimes create some tension. A major key to having a happy and healthy life is having good, positive, loving relationships with those you live with. Having just a little bit of clutter can cause many couples to break up. Instead, having a little more organization can lead to healthier, happier, and longer relationships.
Messy houses or apartments can also prevent you from inviting friends, family or new people over due to embarrassment. Keeping a tidy place can improve your confidence to be more social and have guests over.
Boost Productivity
Having dirt, dust, clutter, or garbage strewn about your home can be very distracting when trying to get anything accomplished. The actual sight of clutter causes your brain to go into sensory overload and interferes with your brain’s ability to compute information.
You should try to do a little decluttering every day, either at work or at home. Being tidy and organized will help you be productive and more efficient, leaving you with more time in your day to exercise, eat healthier, sleep, or even just relax.
Lose Weight
Having a clean home, and especially a clean kitchen area will help you be more self-conscious about what you are cooking and eating. Healthy eating requires a lot of organization and preparation, things that are hard to do in messy, cluttered areas. Being clean and organized gives you more time to plan meals, chop fresh fruits and vegetables.
It can also give you much more time to exercise and work out. Your newfound cleaning and organization skills can free up some time in your schedule to go to the gym, go for a walk, or even do a quick workout at home.
Sleep Better
It should be clear to anyone who has ever been stressed, anxious, or depressed, that being any of those things can seriously affect your sleeping. Other than making sure you have a well-kept bedroom, there are specific things you can do that will increase your odds of having a great night’s sleep.
19% of those who make their beds in the morning sleep better at night and 75% of people reported a better night’s sleep after cleaning their sheets. Having a well-organized home and workspace gives you more time to get things done during the day, leaving you more time at night to relax and get a better night’s rest.
Jeremy loves writing on all things self-improvement, and avidly strives to learn more about all thing finances, education, and tech.