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elevaterecoveryhomes.com
article
https://elevaterecoveryhomes.com/cleaning-as-self-care
Your home reflects your mental state. When your space is cluttered, your mind feels the same way. Research shows that messy environments increase stress hormones, make it harder to focus, and contribute to anxiety and depression. But cleaning isn’t just about having a tidy house – it’s an act of self-care that directly impacts your emotional well-being. Understanding this connection can change how you think about household chores and give you a practical tool for managing your mental health. [...] A clean space supports a clear mind. And a clear mind supports recovery.
### The Bottom Line
The connection between a clean space and mental well-being is undeniable – by understanding the psychological impact of our surroundings, we can harness the therapeutic benefits of a tidy environment.
Cleaning isn’t just about having a nice-looking home. It’s about:
Managing stress and anxiety
Creating a sense of control
Building confidence
Providing a safe haven
Supporting your mental health [...] ## The Science Behind Clean Spaces and Mental Health
Numerous studies have demonstrated the connection between a clean environment and improved mental health – one study found that individuals who described their homes as cluttered experienced higher levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, throughout the day.
Your brain responds to your environment. When you’re surrounded by mess, your mind struggles to process information and make decisions.
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verywellmind.com
article
https://www.verywellmind.com/how-mental-health-and-cleaning-are-connected-509…
Research has found that cleaning can have a number of positive effects on your mental health. For instance, it helps you gain a sense of control over your environment and engage your mind in a repetitive activity that can have a calming effect. [...] If you've ever felt stressed, frustrated, or overwhelmed by a messy house, you likely understand the link between cleanliness and mental health. Cleaning up and decluttering can feel satisfying and even therapeutic.
When some people feel overwhelmed or stressed out, they might try yoga, mindfulness, or even a massage. For others, giving the shelves a quick dust, wiping down the kitchen, or even organizing the closet is just as beneficial for their mental health as using a mindfulness app. [...] Other research suggests that lower housing quality, including how clean the home is, can have an impact on mental health.
### Clutter May Lead to Decreased Focus, Confusion, and Tension
Meanwhile, researchers have also found that clutter can make it difficult to focus on a particular task. More specifically, they discovered that a person's visual cortex can be overwhelmed by objects not related to a particular task, making it harder to focus and complete projects efficiently.
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goodsaltlife.com
article
https://goodsaltlife.com/the-surprising-connection-between-mental-health-and-…
Conclusion
The connection between a clean environment and mental health is undeniable. A tidy, organized space can reduce stress, enhance focus, and improve overall well-being. By integrating regular cleaning practices and using effective, safe cleaning products, you can create a sanctuary that nurtures both your mind and body. Trust Good Salt Life to be your partner in achieving a clean, healthy living environment that supports your mental health and overall well-being. [...] 4. Involve the Whole Family: Cleaning can be a shared responsibility. Involve family members in cleaning tasks to lighten the load and promote teamwork.
5. Celebrate Small Wins: Acknowledge and celebrate your cleaning achievements, no matter how small. Positive reinforcement can motivate you to maintain your cleaning routine. [...] 1. Set Realistic Goals: Break down cleaning tasks into manageable chunks. Focus on one area at a time to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
2. Schedule Regular Cleaning Sessions: Dedicate specific times each week for cleaning. Consistency is key to maintaining a tidy space.
3. Use Effective Cleaning Products: Choose products that are safe, effective, and easy to use. Good Salt Life’s Clean Republic All-Purpose Cleaner is gentle on surfaces and safe for families, pets, and plants.
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oxfordcbt.co.uk
article
https://www.oxfordcbt.co.uk/stress-management-cleaning
Clutter and mess can be linked to negative emotions like confusion and tension. Whereas a clean and tidy home leads to positive emotions such as a sense of calm and well-being. By sorting and organising the clutter and mess around you, you can reduce any stress or anxiety you may be feeling and this will help you feel like you are taking control of your life. The physical activity of cleaning combined with the result of a cleaner home helps reduce stress, feelings of anxiety, and depressive [...] Whether you think of cleaning as a meditative task, or an energetic throw yourself into it task. Either way, any form of exercise releases endorphins. Endorphins send messages to your brain that changes your perception of pain and will trigger positive emotions in your body. Regular exercise has been proven to reduce stress and reduce anxiety, along with preventing depression. Cleaning will also have these effects on your body and mental health as long as these chores require some physical [...] This one is particularly true if you share your living environment with other people. Whether you are sharing with a partner, friends, housemates, there is always a chance that you won’t all feel the same way about cleaning. Seeing someone’s dirty clothes around, unwashed plates or a messy bathroom can cause negative feelings of resentment towards the person responsible, and the negative feelings then in turn will have an impact on your mental health. You must discuss your shared responsibility
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nec.org
article
https://www.nec.org/good-hygiene-and-mental-health
Recently, Northeastern Center's Zero Suicide Committee gathered donations from employees to create hygiene kits for clients in need. Keeley Vaught, New Hope Clubhouse manager, and Tammy Campbell, Risk Management nurse, put together some information on how hygiene impacts your mental health.
Ever wonder why you feel better after a shower? That's because hygiene plays a huge role in your mental health! Here are four ways good hygiene impacts your well-being. [...] Feeling fresh and clean can lead to feeling more confident. When you feel confident, you are more likely to participate in social situations, decreasing isolation. Humans aren't meant to be alone; interacting with others can help improve your mental health as well!
1. Good hygiene reduces stress and anxiety. [...] 1. Good hygiene boosts self-esteem and confidence.
Have you ever heard the expression "look good, feel good"? Well, it does have some truth to it! Feeling clean and fresh can lead to feeling more confident in social settings.
1. Good hygiene prevents feelings of isolation.
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med.stanford.edu
research
https://med.stanford.edu/news/insights/2022/05/mental-health-hygiene-can-impr…
For most people, the concept of hygiene conjures up images of brushing your teeth, applying deodorant or taking a shower: simple, daily practices to keep your body clean and healthy.
But mental health providers say your mind can also benefit from a quick morning tune-up. Spending even 15 minutes on mental health hygiene each day can bring a host of benefits, from improved mood and better relationships to even deeper concentration and enhanced creativity. [...] "Mental health hygiene includes simple practices that improve our quality of life by preventing negative behaviors and providing emotional stability," said Hui Qi Tong, PhD, a Stanford Medicine clinical associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences who directs the Mindfulness Program at the Stanford Center for Integrative Medicine. [...] Studies have shown that American adults spend nearly half their waking hours in a state of mind-wandering, with their attention focused on something other than the task directly in front of them. "So often we are absent-minded," Tong said, "and not really mentally there with the things we are doing."
In addition, research.pdf) also shows that when participants reported paying attention to a task at hand — even a simple, repetitive task — they report high levels of happiness.
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mhanational.org
article
https://mhanational.org/resources/creating-a-healthy-home-environment
Keeping your living space clean is shown to promote calmness and a sense of control over your day-to-day life. Your home environment doesn’t need to be spotless, but clutter can be harmful to your mental state – contributing to depression, trouble focusing, confusion, and stress. Not only can clutter be distracting, but it has been shown to actually make it harder for your brain to think clearly. Neatness also provides predictability, which can cut down on brain fatigue and anxiety. Less time [...] A big part of a mentally healthy living situation is feeling like your space gives you comfort, support, and calming energy. This could look like keeping comfort items around. Your favorite blanket, a meaningful gift, or a candle in your favorite scent can go a long way in helping you feel more at home. Your home can also impact your mental health based on colors, natural light, and set-up. Appropriate light, furnishing textures and patterns, and room organization can help reduce signs of [...] Plan for Mental Health Month Image
Get involved this Mental Health Month Image
# Creating a healthy home environment
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Optimizing your space to improve your mental health is something that anyone can benefit from. For those living with mental health conditions, it is one tool of many that can be used to improve and support your mental well-being.
## Practice tidiness
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pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
official
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11925691
basic emotional dimensions, not on a verbal measure of tension in particular. It suggests that the psychological effect of cleaning may be more observable with indirect measures than direct ones, a theme we will see again in Experiment 2 (using physiological measures) and revisit in the Discussion section. [...] . Kassam, Mendes (2013). The effects of measuring emotion: Physiological reactions to emotional situations depend on whether someone is asking. _PLOS ONE_, 8(6), Article e64959. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0064959 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
. Körner, Strack (2019). Conditions for the clean slate effect after success or failure. _The Journal of Social Psychology_, 159(1), 92–105. doi: 10.1080/00224545.2018.1454881 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar] [...] Visually simulated experience of cleaning behavior reduced residual anxiety from a stress-inducing physical scene. The manipulation involved mere visual simulation, with effect sizes (_d_ s = 0.205 and 0.141) in the expected small range by traditional standards (J. Cohen, 1988) and comparable with those in contemporary preregistered between-subjects research (Schäfer & Schwarz, 2019). The effect was observed and replicated on a pictorial measure of anxiety derived from basic emotional