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healthcentral.com
article
https://www.healthcentral.com/mental-health/benefits-of-cleaning
# How And Why Cleaning Can Improve Your Mental Health
If you’re stressed or anxious, doing household chores like organizing drawers, washing dishes, or mopping floors, can boost your mood and reduce your anxiety. Here's a look at the connection and some expert advice to help you get started if you're feeling stuck.
By
Nancy Josephson Liff
(Image: iStock) [...] Research suggests that cleaning—or a lack of it—may be linked often linked to mental health. On the one hand, doing household chores can serve as a productive distraction—a way to take your mind off of pressing concerns—and at least temporarily help you stop worrying about problems you can’t control. On the other hand, unmade beds, a sink full of dirty dishes, even cluttered and disorganized countertops and cabinets, may simply suggest you’re super-busy. But they can also signal mental [...] When you’re struggling with mental health, cleaning your house is often the last thing on your mind—especially if housework, for you, is just another annoying task on your to-do list. However, you may find you feel better once you start to clean, says Dr. Brown. When you’re struggling with mental health, cleaning your house is often the last thing on your mind—especially if housework, for you, is just another annoying task on your to-do list. However, you may find you feel better once you start
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pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
official
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10242587
Beneficial effects of household activities have also been found for mental health. Household physical activities, such as gardening and heavy housework, seem to benefit older adults’ mental health, particularly in reducing fatigue . A recent study showed that greater engagement in household physical activity was associated with fewer depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic . In addition to mental health benefits stemming from its physical activity component, housework may also enable a [...] Mental health was also found to partially mediate the relationship between housework and survival. As mentioned above, engaging in housework may increase individuals’ levels of physical activity, and physical activity in turn has been found to have a protective effect on mental health. A recent review synthesizing studies on older adults in South and Southeast Asia has found that greater engagement in physical activities is associated with lower depression risk and better sleep quality . [...] The results showed a positive association between housework engagement and days survived after controlling for demographic variables (age, sex, education, marital status, subjective social status, and living alone). Physical health and mental health, but not cognitive functioning, partially mediated the relationship between housework engagement and days survived. The findings suggest that doing housework may contribute to longer survival by improving older adults’ physical and mental health.
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reddit.com
article
https://www.reddit.com/r/YouShouldKnow/comments/e7d1wm/ysk_that_cleaning_or_d…
Many studies have shown that making your bed, doing the dishes or many others activities improve your mental health and give you a sense of accomplishment.
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dornsife.usc.edu
research
https://dornsife.usc.edu/news/stories/moms-cognitive-burden-chores
Our new research found that this cognitive dimension of housework, often called the “mental load,” is divided even more unevenly within couples than the physical dimension — and it seems to take a particular mental health toll on women. According to the study we published in the Archives of Women’s Mental Health, mothers who take on a more disproportionate share of cognitive household labor report higher levels of depression, stress, relationship dissatisfaction and burnout. [...] But there’s an invisible dimension of household labor that unfolds behind the scenes: the cognitive effort that goes into anticipating needs, planning, organizing and delegating household tasks. In other words, someone has to remember to replace the dish soap and select which vegetables to chop. [...] ## What are you looking for?
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A family meets in the kitchen around a white board about chores.
# Moms think more about household chores − and this cognitive burden hurts their mental health
When you think about housework, you likely think of actions: scrubbing the dishes, running errands, chopping vegetables for dinner. And it’s not news to say that mothers often shoulder the burden for most of those activities.
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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. [...] Dusting, sweeping, doing laundry and organizing are all forms of light physical activity and may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease – exercise can also improve mental health, helping to lower anxiety, decrease depression, and improve your mood overall.
Cleaning gets you moving:
Vacuuming works your arms
Scrubbing builds strength
Organizing involves bending and reaching
Movement releases endorphins
### Creates a Meditative State [...] Yes. Cleaning is not just a chore – it’s a powerful tool for managing mental health, and by maintaining a clean and organized space, we create a calm sanctuary, clear our minds, and regain a sense of control. It’s a way of caring for your environment and, by extension, yourself.
### Can a messy house cause depression?
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facebook.com
news
https://www.facebook.com/groups/tmyndwtmynd/posts/1154632080199707
Took me a month just to do the basket of clean clothes and a week to do the dishes now, I just need to put them away..
My OCD and depression kept getting
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psychologytoday.com
article
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/changepower/202208/8-surprising-psych…
1. Chores can lead to creative problem-solving. · 2. Chores are linked to lower dementia risk. · 3. Chores are health-promoting exercise snacks.