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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. [...] ## 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. [...] 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.
### What Happens in Your Brain
When you look at a messy room, your brain sees unfinished tasks. Each item out of place represents something you need to do. This creates mental overload.
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nuvancehealth.org
news
https://www.nuvancehealth.org/health-tips-and-news/how-clutter-affects-your-b…
If you’re constantly multitasking or exhausted, you might not have the energy or focus to clean up regularly. Mental health challenges, like depression, can also cause a lack of motivation to organize, leading to messy spaces. In short, a cluttered mind can create a cluttered environment. [...] When your surroundings are messy, your brain is constantly saying, “Look at this! And this! And don’t forget that!” — even if you’re not consciously paying attention to all of it. Over time, this constant sensory overload can increase mental fatigue. You might feel mentally fuzzy or irritable in a messy room, which is your brain’s way of signaling it’s overworked by the disorganization.
Related content: Tennis for brain health? The neuroscience of precision, strategy and flow [...] Studies have found people living in cluttered homes are more likely to experience insomnia and poor sleep quality. Stress and mental stimulation from clutter can keep the brain alert and uneasy, even at night. It’s hard for your mind to power down when it’s bombarded by signs of chaos or by racing thoughts about things you haven't done yet.
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apa.org
news
https://www.apa.org/news/podcasts/speaking-of-psychology/clutter
years, psychologist research has begun to find that living and working in cluttered spaces causes stress and anxiety and can harm both our mental health and our productivity. [...] My guest today is Dr. Joseph Ferrari, a professor of psychology and distinguished professor at DePaul University in Chicago. Dr. Ferrari studies the psychology of clutter, including why we accumulate it, how it affects our mental health, and the link between clutter and procrastination. He’s also well known for his research on the causes and consequences of procrastination, and is the author of several books on that subject for researchers, clinicians, and the general public. He has published [...] Deacon Joseph Ferrari, PhD, is a professor of psychology and Saint Vincent DePaul Distinguished Professor at DePaul University in Chicago. He is a leading expert on the study of chronic procrastination and, more recently, of clutter. Ferrari studies the psychology of clutter, including why we accumulate it, how it affects our mental health, and the link between clutter and procrastination. He has published more than 400 scholarly articles and 35 books and book chapters, and is a fellow in six
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webmd.com
article
https://www.webmd.com/balance/ss/slideshow-clutter-affects-health
## Too Much Stuff
If your closets are bursting or your desk is topped with piles of disorganized papers, you may want to take some steps toward a neater home or workspace. While a bit of chaos might have some upsides -- at least one study suggests that a messy room spurs creativity -- it has many more downsides. It can even be damaging for your physical and mental health.
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## Mess Equals Stress [...] A more organized environment may make you more caring toward others. In one study, volunteers who filled out surveys in a neat room were more likely to say they wanted to donate to a charity compared with those who were questioned in a messy room.
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## Memory Issues [...] 4) KatarzynaBialasiewicz / Getty Images
5) victorass88 / Getty Images
6) catinsyrup / Getty Images
7) KatarzynaBialasiewicz / Getty Images
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9) Eraxion / Thinkstock
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12) Yinan Chen / Wikimedia
SOURCES:
American Psychological Association: "A Messy Desk Encourages a Creative Mind, Study Finds."
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stilwellmemorial.com
article
https://stilwellmemorial.com/healthy-living/the-impact-of-clutter-on-physical…
Increased cortisol levels, especially in women. Cortisol is a hormone associated with chronic stress.
Feeling less satisfaction with life overall.
Inability to focus, which is especially significant if you have ADHD.
Being embarrassed by the clutter, causing you to feel an increased sense of isolation and fear, especially of inviting anyone over. This is one way hoarding contributes to depression and anxiety.
Sensory overload, triggered by a messy space, which may result in memory issues. [...] Our emotions and mental health can be impacted by clutter in various ways, including: [...] If your clutter concerns are more of a chronic disorganization or even a hoarding issue, consider cognitive behavioral therapy, which can be incredibly helpful.
Whatever the reason for the clutter, the mess can be stopped. When we take control of the situation – by cleaning and asking for help if necessary – we are choosing to improve our physical and emotional health, as well as our overall quality of life.
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sbtreatment.com
article
https://sbtreatment.com/blog/the-impact-a-clean-and-tidy-home-can-have-on-you…
What you may not imagine when it comes to mental health is the importance of maintaining a clean and tidy home. It turns out that the environment you live in can have a significant impact on your mental health status, so taking time to organize might just become a part of your self-care plan.
## How Clutter Affects Mental Health [...] If you’re not yet convinced that cleaning should be a part of your self-care routine, you might be interested in what the research has to say. A recent study in the Journal of Environmental Psychology found that clutter not only reduces psychological wellbeing but also decreases the feeling of psychological home, which can be described as the sense of belonging associated with your living space. Study authors described clutter as being an overabundance of physical possessions, which makes the [...] The above study is not the only report linking clutter to reduced psychological wellbeing. In fact, it is part of a growing body of research showing that clutter can contribute to stress, increased cortisol levels, and depression. Among teens and adolescents who live in clutter, the disorganized home environment is associated with lower academic performance and behavioral problems. Based upon the available research, it’s pretty clear that when a home becomes too untidy, it can negatively affect
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facebook.com
news
https://www.facebook.com/AmericanPsychologicalAssociation/posts/clutter-isnt-…
Studies show cluttered homes raise cortisol levels, leading to stress, anxiety, and even poor sleep. Our brains crave order.
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www1.racgp.org.au
news
https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/clinical/what-does-clutter-do-to-your-brain-…
Clutter can make us feel stressed, anxious and depressed. Research from the United States in 2009, for instance, found the levels of the stress hormone cortisol were higher in mothers whose home environment was cluttered.
A chronically cluttered home environment can lead to a constant low-grade fight or flight response, taxing our resources designed for survival. [...] In 2011, neuroscience researchers using fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) 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.
And your physical and mental health [...] This response can trigger physical and psychological changes that affect how we fight bugs and digest food, as well as leaving us at greater risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Clutter might also have implications for our relationships with those around us. A 2016 US study, for instance, found background clutter resulted in participants being less able to correctly interpret the emotional expressions on the faces of characters in a movie.