The Mental Health Benefits of Cleaning, Organizing & Decluttering Your Space

Being stuck in one place quarantining due to the COVID-19 pandemic can be very stressful, uncomfortable and anxiety-provoking. It is completely valid and normal to feel lazy, unmotivated, sad, or have a rollercoaster of emotions during this period. The most important thing is to focus on what you have control over. On this note, numerous mental health benefits are associated with cleaning and organizing your space, and this article will outline some of the most important ones.

Gain Control of Your Environment

It may feel as if you have no control over your life right now, with the health crisis confining you many ways. However, it is very empowering and uplifting to take advantage of what you do have control over, including your environment. It is more crucial now––since you are likely spending most of your time in one enclosed place––than ever to organize and clean your space. The process of doing this, even simply just getting rid of clutter that is in the way, can be very liberating.

Find Calm

Cleaning and organizing are strongly associated with decreasing stress and anxiety. Often a cluttered or messy area can be seen as “unfinished business,” whether consciously or unconsciously, and this can add unnecessary stress. The process of wiping down your desk counter, washing your sheets, making your bed, going through clutter, taking out the trash, washing the dishes and feeling the warm water, dusting the shelves, vacuuming and other hands-on cleaning-related activities can lead to a very blissful, meditative state. Studies have actually found that clean sheets and making your bed are associated with a better night’s sleep, which comes with its own list of considerable mental health benefits.

Once you have cleaned and organized, you may even choose to light a scented candle or place your favorite incense in the room to fill your environment with tranquility.

Uplift Your Mood

Once you have cleaned and organized your space, you may feel like everything is once again “new,” and this adds a sense of excitement. Going through the process can also lead to a great level of satisfaction and feeling the positive energy associated with being productive. A feeling of peace may wash over you, as once you declutter your physical area, you declutter your mind.

Heighten Your Focus and Attention Span

Studies have proven that clutter can make it significantly more difficult to focus on a particular task, especially if it overwhelms your visual field. Decluttering and organizing can directly lead to improving your attention span and focus: a refreshed mental space.

Find Inspiration

Upon cleaning, you may find lost or old items that you previously cherished. Allow time to reflect on these findings and enjoy them. You may find yourself feeling inspired to pick up an old hobby or start a project. Cleaning and organizing can spark your creativity, and upon embracing this, the possibilities of where it will take you are endless.

It’s easy to undermine the power of organizing and decluttering; however, especially while we are all confined to sheltering-in-place, remember the wide-ranging mental health benefits and embrace your own feat of spring cleaning.

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