Cleaning/Organising Can Improve Physical & Mental Health
- Hayley
- Feb 23, 2018
- 3 min read
The environment around us can have a real impact on our physical and mental health, for example, when the space around us is disorganised and messy, it can make us feel the same way inside. This means that when we clear our clutter and organise the space around us, this can make us feel organised and in control inside, which can lead to feeling more energised and revitalised. This can also relate to organising our days through a diary or planner, as this can reduce stress and allow us to feel more control. Today we’re going to be looking into the positive effects that cleaning and organising can have on us, so if you’ve been putting off organising your desk, keep reading to see what benefits you could feel from getting it done.
Reduce Stress & Depression Studies have shown that people with cluttered homes are more depressed and have lower energy levels than people who have more organised homes. Being in a disorganised space can also make us feel physically drained, and cause stress and anxiety. This is caused by the feeling of never being able to get anything done, or not being able to find things amongst the clutter. For example, in the workplace, if you have a pile of work tasks on your desk that aren’t filed and organised, it can make it a lot more difficult to complete the tasks on time, and make us feel there is an overwhelming amount. By organising and decluttering your space, you can organise your workload, feel more energised and promote a more relaxed environment.
Helps You Sleep
Less stress and depression means improved sleep habits. This is because disorganisation can cause higher cortisol levels which is a stress hormone that can make it hard for us to unwind and get a good sleep at night. The feeling of stress can be carried home from your workplace if that is disorganised, or it could be that your house is cluttered, or even just your bedroom. Studies have found that people who make their beds are 19% more likely to have regular good nights’ sleep and 75% said they get a better nights’ sleep when their sheets are clean and fresh. One way to make sure you get a good nights’ sleep is by creating a task list for the day and completing it before you settle down for the night. This can eliminate thoughts of unfinished tasks, which can create stress when trying to relax before you go to bed, or can carry on while you’re trying to get to sleep.
Can Boost Energy & Productivity By reducing stress and depression levels, and getting a better nights’ sleep, you’ll
also be gaining more energy. Even if you’re at work and just feel de-motivated or stuck in a rut, try organising or re-organising your desk or the area around you and this could give you an energy boost. This can also work at home, if you’re feeling down, try organising or re-organising the area around you, or even try doing a clear out of old clothes or items. By doing this, at the very least you’ll feel like you’ve accomplished something, and have space for more clothes!
Helps You Eat Healthier & Lose Weight
This may sound hard to believe, but studies have actually shown that being organised can have a positive impact on what you eat. One study from Psychological Science found that people who worked in an organised space (for only 10 minutes!) were twice as likely to eat an apple rather than a chocolate bar. This is because clutter is stressful for the brain, meaning you’re more likely to reach for comfort foods rather than a healthy snack.
Helps You Stick to Workouts This is because by setting goals, having an exercise plan
and recording your progress, you’re more likely to stick to keep going as you’re making yourself aware of your progress, rather than just winging it and waiting for the results to show. By doing this, you will be able to track your daily/weekly progress, which can promote empowerment and motivate you. Also, by keeping track of your thoughts and feelings after your workout, this can help you to make necessary adjustments to your routine to find what works for you and what doesn’t.
Can Lower Heart Attack Risk
This may be hard to believe, but a Swedish study has found that people who did housecleaning, yard work, and DIY projects had around a 30% lower risk of a first-time cardiovascular event, such as heart attack or stroke, compared to those who didn’t. This could also relate back to previously mentioned points such as less stress, more energy, better eating habits, and sticking to exercising, as all contribute to a healthier lifestyle.
Can Improve Relationships A cluttered environment can become a tense environment when it comes to relationships as it can lead to conflict over whose clutter it is, where items are, and can lead to a rise in stress and depression levels, which is not good for any relationship. Having a cluttered home can also lead to not wanting people over because of embarrassment, which can also put a strain on the relationship or on you as a person if it stops you from inviting a significant other over. The best cause of action is to work as a team to keep your space clean and de-cluttered if you live together, or to ask for help if you feel you can’t do it on your own if you live by yourself.
Hopefully, by finding out all of the benefits of keeping a clean and organised life, it’s gave you the motivation you needed to organise the spaces around you, or has at least gave you some food for thought. An organised life is a less stressful!
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