Mental Benefits of a Clean Home
For the most part, the physical and logistical benefits of a clean home are relatively obvious. Keeping things nice and organized makes for a more practical and harmonious home environment, while cleanliness and hygiene hold the key to better health and well being.
But what about the psychological benefits of a clean home?
Believe it or not, investing just 20 minutes or so each day in energetic domestic duties really can make all the difference to your mental health. Studies have shown that those who make the effort to keep things clean on a regular basis tend to be happier and more content than those who allow things to fall into a state of disarray.
Here is how a clean home can contribute to a stronger and more stable sense of mental well being, day in and day out:
1. It Relieves Stress
First and foremost, extensive studies have shown that people tend to be more stressed, anxious, and unhappy in cluttered and chaotic environments. The cleaner and more orderly your surroundings, the more likely you are to feel relaxed, comfortable, and content.
Truth is, it is hard to relax and unwind when surrounded by all different categories of chaos and clutter. Something that is just as true at home as it is in the office – something to bear in mind when you head back to work.
2. It Boosts Productivity
Speaking of which, productivity has also been shown to improve significantly in a clean and serene environment. This can be particularly useful for those who work from home, though is also important for anyone running a busy family household.
Productivity is all about getting things done – whatever those ‘things’ happen to be. So, if you want to get more done with the time you have, getting things in order at home is a great place to start.
(click here to find more cleaning tips and hacks for smarter home cleaning)
3. It Brings Peace of Mind
A clean home brings peace of mind for the simple reason that once your home is spotlessly clean from top to bottom, you’ve one less thing to worry about. Infinitely more relaxing and reassuring than having a hundred things on your ‘to-do’ list that you keep putting off, day after day.
If there is something hanging over your head that needs to be done, you might as well do it. The sense of satisfaction and peace of mind that comes with a clean home more than justifies the effort required, enabling you to focus on more important and enjoyable things.
4. It Prevents Arguments and Upset
A cluttered and chaotic home does not represent the ideal backdrop for domestic bliss. When the place is a mess and nobody is pulling their weight, arguments and upset are inevitable. Something that can be avoided entirely by ensuring everybody knows and fulfills their responsibilities.
Getting everyone involved in the most basic domestic duties always holds the key to keeping the entire home clean and serene. Far better than allowing things to fall into a state of disarray, only to then start pointing the finger of blame at one another.
5. It Keeps You Active
Last but not least, research has shown that there’s nothing more effective for an everyday mental well being boost than physical activity. Absolutely any kind of exercise whatsoever is better for body and mind than no exercise at all. So, if you cannot stand housework and find it a boring waste of time, focus instead on the fact that you are giving yourself a workout in the process.
Best of all, housework is also a surprisingly efficient calorie-burner. Spend an hour or so tending to your floors around the home and you will have shed up to 200 calories, which is not half bad!
Tiffany Wong
Founder of AProudHome.com
Helping Create Beautiful Homes
