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alliancehealthequity.org
article
https://alliancehealthequity.org/why-getting-organized-is-good-for-your-menta…
Research has demonstrated the negative impact of clutter and the positive impact of cleaning on mental health. Citing studies from Princeton University and others, Verywell Mind states that clutter may contribute to anxiety, depression, and higher levels of cortisol (a.k.a. the stress hormone) in the body. Per the report, “Clutter and mess is linked to negative emotions like confusion, tension, and irritability while an organized home tends to produce more positive emotions like calmness and a [...] Random clutter can also be an overwhelming distraction, making it difficult to focus and think clearly. A clean and organized home, on the other hand, gives you some control over your environment. It’s a simple way to calm the chaos that surrounds you. Sharing the health benefits of decluttering, Shape notes that repetitive actions like cleaning and organizing engage the mind and can have a meditative effect. Essence calls these tasks “organic mood boosters” that contribute to a lasting sense [...] At The Alliance for Health Equity (The Alliance), our goal is to improve health, social, emotional, and economic conditions for Coatesville Area residents. According to Verywell Mind, there is a powerful “connection between decluttering, cleaning, and mental health.” If your resolution has fallen off the radar since January 1st, it’s not too late to start!
## The Impact of Clutter and Cleaning on Your Health
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verywellmind.com
article
https://www.verywellmind.com/how-mental-health-and-cleaning-are-connected-509…
Clutter and mess can create more stress and anxiety, but by cleaning, organizing, and reducing the clutter, people are able to take control of their environment and create a more relaxing environment that helps them focus better on the more pressing issues in their lives.
## Benefits of Cleanliness and Decluttering [...] Additionally, the Anxiety and Depression Association of America indicates that the physical activity of cleaning coupled with the end result of a cleaner home helps reduce stress, feelings of anxiety, and depressive symptoms. Cleaning can also reduce fatigue and improve concentration.
### Cleanliness and Focus [...] In fact, for some people, the simple sight of a clean and organized home can help them unwind and de-stress even after an overwhelming day.
Evidence suggests that having a messy, cluttered environment can create stress and interfere with your ability to concentrate, at least for some people. The actual act of cleaning and decluttering can boost your mood, help you move your body more, improve focus, and help you feel more in control of your surroundings.
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elevaterecoveryhomes.com
article
https://elevaterecoveryhomes.com/cleaning-as-self-care
When life feels uncertain, cleaning is a tangible action you can manage – it can restore a sense of agency when everything else feels chaotic.
## The Mental Health Benefits of Cleaning
### Reduces Stress and Anxiety
Cluttered spaces can contribute to feelings of overwhelm and anxiety—when your environment is disorganized, your mind tends to feel the same way, and by systematically cleaning and organizing, you can create a sense of order and control, reducing stress levels. [...] 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 [...] 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.
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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 [...] Can cleaning help you reduce stress? There are lots of different ways that we can manage our stress. We each have our routine that we reach for when we feel overwhelmed. Some may try yoga, or mindfulness exercises, maybe even head to the hairdressers or for a massage. For others, dusting shelves, wiping down the kitchen or organising is their way to deal with stress. Cleaning is just as beneficial for our mental health as mindfulness related activities. For some people, coming home to a clean
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youtube.com
video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVlbS04uQAc
Feeling anxious, stressed or unable to focus? Take a look around you. Clutter, mess or an untidy work area can make some people feel overwhelmed. In fact, research shows that cleaning (or a lack of cleaning) can have an impact on your mental health. Clinical psychologist, Dawn Potter, PsyD, discusses tips for decluttering, how mess can contribute to depression and tension and hoarding disorder.
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▶For more Health Essentials video podcasts: [...] cost is the mental energy and effort required to do that and very very often that goes along with unpleasant anxiety about getting something right and so if you find yourself plagued by anxiety about getting something right if you find that every time you let's say are having a gathering or you know um approaching some type of landmark where you need to do spring cleaning or something like that and you are bothered excessively by it you're bothered by anxiety about it you're finding that you [...] maintain the focus required to fully finish the task of cleaning or organizing to you know care whether or not there's dirty socks on the floor like because unfortunately that's those are some of the symptoms of depression so a person's home may become disorganized dirty cluttered as a result of that and and similar with with fatigue it may not be that they don't care it may be that they're just out of energy to do it it may bother them quite a bit um now on the flip side if a person with
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nuvancehealth.org
news
https://www.nuvancehealth.org/health-tips-and-news/how-clutter-affects-your-b…
Related content: How inflammation in the body affects your health
Clutter-induced stress can often become a difficult cycle to break. Disorganization can cause anxiety because you feel pressured by the constant visual reminder of things left undone or disorganized. This in turn makes it harder to muster the energy and focus to clean up the clutter. [...] If a messy room has ever made you feel anxious or stressed out, you’re not alone — and there’s a biological reason for it. Clutter can trigger a stress response in the body. For example, a study found women who described their homes as “cluttered” had significantly higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol throughout the day. Your brain releases cortisol when you’re under pressure; consistently elevated levels suggest the untidy environment genuinely taxed these women’s brains and bodies. [...] When you walk into a chaotic kitchen or trip over clutter on the floor, your brain registers that disarray as a source of stress. It might not be a saber-toothed tiger, but your ancient fight-or-flight mechanisms still kick in with a mild sense of alarm: Something’s not right here. Over time, living in a state of chronic low-grade stress can contribute to anxiety, heightened cortisol, inflammation in the body and even depression.
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rightasrain.uwmedicine.org
article
https://rightasrain.uwmedicine.org/life/leisure/cleaning-and-mental-health
Not only that, but it can also increase feelings of stress and anxiety. It's difficult to relax in an environment where your brain is distracted by the things around you that need to be done, put away, cleaned or reset. It’s like a constant reminder of the tasks you need to do, which can then overwhelm you into doing nothing.
Anne Browning, PhD, chief well-being officer at the UW School of Medicine, agrees that your mind, to some degree, can parallel your space. [...] This means that to reduce anxiety and improve your well-being, it’s important to figure out the stressors in your life and environment that you do have control over and how you can work on them so that your overall anxiety can go down. Which is where Browning thinks that something like tidying your house can come into play. [...] "You know, fold and put away the laundry that’s been on the couch — your anxiety level drops at least a little bit, even if there's still plenty of existential crisis to indulge in,” says Browning.
Acknowledging that you can’t control everything but that you can address some small things (like your living space) is a move in a positive direction for your well-being and stress management. After all, it feels good to fix something and cross something off your list, even if it's small.
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reddit.com
article
https://www.reddit.com/r/declutter/comments/1ie5yrz/those_with_anxiety_did_de…
Yes. It helped SO much because there's less things to take care of / manage and a clearer place to put things. Clutter and cleaning both stress me out.