In addition to the benefits of having a clean house, the relationship between a clean house and mental health can help you reduce anxiety. Cleanliness and organization are strongly associated with reducing stress and anxiety. Often, a messy or cluttered area can be considered a “pending issue”, either consciously or unconsciously, and this can add unnecessary stress. The process of cleaning the desk top, washing the sheets, making the bed, eliminating the mess, taking out the trash, washing the dishes and feeling the water hot, dusting the shelves, vacuuming, and other practical activities related to cleaning can lead to a very blissful and meditative state.
In fact, studies have found that clean sheets and making the bed are associated with a better night's sleep, which comes with its own list of considerable mental health benefits. She was also the editor of Columbus Parent and has countless years of experience writing and researching social and health issues. Presented by Editor-in-Chief and Therapist Amy Morin, of LCSW, this episode of The Verywell Mind Podcast, with the participation of cleaning expert Tracy McCubbin, shares how to tidy up your home to improve your mental health. I definitely notice a difference in my overall approach and just in my motivation.
If things around me are a little tidy and clean, you can definitely tell that there is some kind of impact on your mental health. So the last thing I want to ask you today is if you suffer from a compulsive need to clean your entire house, or if you are really struggling with the idea that you have to have everything clean and perfect and in place in your house, what advice do I have for this type of person? And, if you have space within your budget, you might also consider hiring someone to clean your house once or twice a month. Here's a more detailed look at the mental health impact of cleaning, including the benefits of cleaning and how to incorporate a cleaning program into your life. The study used a sample of 51 university students who performed conscious or controlled dishwashing practices; these participants were asked to complete measures of mindfulness, experimentation, and recall of the effects.
Maybe you're recovering from a serious illness, running your own business, raising a house full of children, or trying to work and go to school whatever your situation, if you know that you can't accomplish everything you need to do without help, then you should consider involving others. According to a study by Nicole Keith, PhD, a scientific researcher and professor at Indiana University, people with clean houses tend to be healthier than those with messy or crowded homes. If you're not sure if your cleaning habits are constructive or on the verge of a compulsion, you may want to talk to your doctor or a mental health professional for advice.
