Day in and day out, you see that same pair of shoes out of place or that pile of laundry that needs to be folded, or even that pile of mail on the counter that needs to be gone through. And day after day, you might feel a slight pull of guilt or even exasperation because of those untidy spaces. First of all, you are not alone in those feelings. Secondly, there is still hope for you to have a clean home.
Having a clean home doesn’t have to be looked at as some chore or just another thing on your to-do list. It really can be a lifestyle if you want it to be. If you are someone who cringes when they come home to an unkempt home or someone who just gets in a negative mindset when you see a mess, then it is time to shed some light on how a clean home can affect your mood.
Does Cleaning Affect Your Mood?
The short answer is “yes”. Cleaning, tidying up, organizing, and decluttering all have an impact on your mood. The way it will impact you though will be different from your friend or neighbor because we are all unique. Our brains process information differently, but the outcome is generally the same.
Studies show that cleaning positively affects your mood. For most people, it’s all about finding the motivation to do it, just like with exercise: you know it’s good for you, but you might struggle getting started. The same concept applies to cleaning your home. Believe me, you will feel so much better once you get it done.
5 Benefits of Having a Clean Home
The life-changing magic of having a clean home is mind-blowing. There is restoration, rejuvenation, and satisfaction all waiting for you through these five benefits of having a clean home.
Reduces Stress, Anxiety, and Depression
First up is cleaning helps reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. If that isn’t motivation in itself, then I don’t know what is. The actual activity of cleaning followed by the satisfying ending of having a clean home relaxes the mind. There are actual studies that show people reporting a 27% reduction in nervousness and a 25% increase in “mental inspiration” just after washing dishes.
Make a plan to start small with decluttering and organizing your home so that you can bask in these benefits. Reducing stress, anxiety, and depression improves your life.
Reduces Fatigue
Cleaning your home can reduce fatigue. With clutter building up everywhere, your mind goes through a mental checklist of what needs to be done, what is out of place, and what you wish your home looked like. This creates mental fatigue as you think of all the steps you need to take in order to have a clean home.
Start small and work your way through little by little. There is a saying, “The best way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time”. This goes for cleaning your home. When you start to see progress and cleanliness in your home, your fatigue reduces.
Improves Concentration
Seeing clutter in your home provides a visual distraction. When you are trying to focus on something, but that nagging pile of laundry is sitting there staring at you or you know those dust bunnies are collecting on top of a shelf, it’s hard to stay focused on anything. Even enjoying a mental break like watching a movie or reading a book can become interrupted by a messy home.
Spend a few minutes per day tidying up areas of your home to improve your concentration. When you take that distraction away instead of trying to ignore it, you will be more likely to improve your concentration on whatever it is you are trying to focus on. Cleaning is a small sacrifice to make in order to increase your concentration.
Improves Your Physical Health
This goes without saying that a dirty home could hinder your health. Whether it’s dirty dishes piling up, bathrooms that need to be wiped down, or reusing dirty clothes, your health depends on your living environment as well. Dirty spaces leave room for bugs, mold, and other airborne illnesses. Prioritizing a clean home is also prioritizing your physical health.
Gives a Sense of Control
Sometimes, it seems like nothing in life goes according to plan. Things go array often and all we can do is react to it. This could be a really difficult thing to accept that you don’t have control over. However, when you clean your home, you give yourself back some sense of control over your life.
You might not be able to control what’s happening outside of your home, but you can control what is going on inside of it. Declutter, clean, and organize your home to give you a sense of control again. It’s a small, impactful step in regaining balance in your life.
A Clean Home Has More Benefits than You Realize
Many people only deep clean when they are having company over, which only creates more stress. They think having a clean home is for the benefit of others. In reality, there are more benefits for you than you realize to having a clean home.
If you are lacking the time to clean things yourself, you can always consider outsourcing if you have the means to do so. You can outsource things like deep cleaning and laundry. Accept help from others who can support you. This way, dedicating a few minutes a day to tidying up becomes less overwhelming.
It’s not about having a pristine, show-worthy home every second of every day. It’s about taking the time to understand that a clean home and the steps it takes to get there are helpful to your mental and physical health. Take the jump to change your mindset around cleaning and keeping your space clean. If you don’t know where to start, let’s start with a free chat to make a plan of action for you. You have so much to gain by doing so and there’s nothing I love more than helping you live better in your home!