Maintaining a clean living space is far more important than you may think. Leaving dishes in the sink, clothing on the floor, a dirty bathroom, cluttered space, etc., will drain your attention and mental space.
As the Stoics say, there are not many things that we have control over in this life, but what we can control is our actions.
One of the simplest tasks everyone should be completed in the morning is fixing their bed. Doing so can make you feel accomplished first thing after you wake up, which can cause a domino effect and lead you to accomplish more micro-tasks that positively impact not just your day, but your mental wellness too.
“A study by Princeton University discovered that clutter can make it difficult to focus on a particular task. They found that a person’s visual cortex can be overwhelmed by objects that are not related, making it harder to concentrate and complete projects efficiently. When people feel like their life is out of control, cleaning can be a way to assert some control. Cleaning gives people a sense of mastery over their environment.”
VeryWell Mind
If you’re not currently living in an organized – tidy space, do not worry, this is something we can work on, together. What we do ask of you, though, is to get into the habit of making your bed. Once this becomes routine, continue adding items and spaces of your home to clean; because we want you to reap the benefits that a clean home has over your wellbeing.
Here’s our guide on how a clean home has the power to elevate your wellbeing.
Messes link to stresses
Do you find yourself feeling stressed every time you walk into a messy home?… you’re not alone. Studies have found that people, especially women, who have messier living spaces tend to have higher cortisol levels, which is the primary stress-inducing hormone in the human body, which indicates that a messy home can chemically affect our brain.
“In 2011, neuroscience researchers using fMRI and other physiological measurements found clearing clutter from the home and work environment resulted in a better ability to focus and process information, as well as increased productivity. Clutter can make us feel stressed, anxious, and depressed. Research from the United States in 2009, found the levels of the stress hormone cortisol were higher in mothers whose home environment was cluttered.”
Men’s Health
Taking the time to clean is an intentional step to decrease your stress levels and strengthen the potential to feel calm and relaxed. Remember, your home acts as a physical representation of the state of your mental wellbeing. Rather than letting your home fill you with restlessness and more stress, simply organize your space to promote feelings of accomplishment and wellness.
Don’t let a cluttered home drain your attention
A cluttered home is negatively affecting your attention span. Studies indicate that an untidy living space can make it harder for your mind to focus on the tasks at hand; work, business, school, family, etc. Ensuring that you clean and organize your home has the power to help you concentrate on the tasks that matter.
“Research shows disorganization and clutter have a cumulative effect on our brains. Our brains like order, and constant visual reminders of disorganization drain our cognitive resources, reducing our ability to focus. The visual distraction of clutter increases cognitive overload and can reduce our working memory.”
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
Let’s start by organizing and tidying up our home for just five minutes (at the beginning of each day) because it’ll decrease our stresses and improve our focus. Though this may seem like a draining task at first, remember the negative impact that the mess will have when you’re trying to get other tasks accomplished. By decluttering your home, you’re investing in your future ability to sit down and concentrate; trust us, it feels good to sit down in a clean living space.
You can feel accomplished by cleaning
We tend to feel better about ourselves when we accomplish our goals. So setting out to clean your home and taking the time to get it done can be a gratifying and confidence-building experience.
What makes cleaning your home so special is that you get to live in the space and feel proud of your living space. Being able to inhabit the physical space of a goal that you’ve achieved will help you internalize the idea that you’re capable of accomplishing your goals. This can promote confidence in other areas of your life, such as work and/or creative endeavors. For example, if you’ve always wanted to write a book, having the understanding that you’re capable of accomplishing tasks can give you the motivation and confidence to sit down and start writing.
About True
True provides a wide variety of essential resources for people struggling with mental health and addiction, tailored to address unique needs and goals. We offer a space where you can work with trained, caring professionals to overcome obstacles and achieve potential in every aspect of life. Call us at (844) 744-TRUE(8783).