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owlsnestrecovery.com
article
https://www.owlsnestrecovery.com/blog/how-can-cleaning-be-used-as-therapy?hs_…
Source: The Owls Nest Recovery
### It’s one way to meditate
Having a clean and neat home– the result of a significant cleaning session– is an incredible stress reliever. Seeing everything placed where it should be, without a hair out of place, gives you a sense of peace.
Cleaning is therapeutic. The actual process of cleaning is relaxing, satisfying, and a great stress management technique. You can use that time to stay in a calm and quiet state and think. [...] You can also incorporate mindfulness into your cleaning. Meditating alone is an excellent technique for managing anxiety and depression. If you do it while cleaning, you’re hitting multiple birds with one stone. You’ll feel more relaxed after you’ve finished.
### It provides instant gratification
Besides meditating, you can use cleaning as an exercise of gratitude, particularly for each thing you touch. [...] Like meditation, exercise is a great way to manage depression and anxiety. It releases happy chemicals in your brain, elevating your mood and decreasing stress.
Well, cleaning is a physical activity. Aside from the mental benefits, you’ll, of course, get the physical benefits, as well.
Sweeping the whole floor, going from room to room, running up the stairs, and wiping the kitchen counter can burn calories.
## Heal Your Home and Heal Yourself
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columbiadoctors.org
news
https://www.columbiadoctors.org/news/reduce-stress-through-decluttering
Whether someone is dealing with depression or is simply overwhelmed, we often use a technique called behavioral activation, which involves purposefully engaging in achievable activities to improve mood. This approach has been borne out in research; one study even suggests that cleaning can help alleviate stress, even when the stressor has nothing to do with the clutter. Spring cleaning is a great example of behavioral activation. [...] In behavioral activation, we help our clients identify objectively achievable tasks (this will often include cleaning or straightening up) and help them differentiate these actions from the stressors and tasks that the individual finds overwhelming. We also help them chunk down any large, overwhelming task into smaller, more manageable steps. [...] When we evaluate someone’s mental health, we typically include appearance within an overall assessment of their ability to perform activities of daily living. If someone presents as noticeably disheveled or does not appear to be engaging in normal grooming, that could indicate the person may be struggling in many areas, including their home environment, driven by depression, anxiety, or some other mental health disorder.
## Where does spring cleaning fit into stress reduction?
A
apartmenttherapy.com
article
https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/stress-cleaning-solutions-37396967
Decluttering is a good way to improve your overall mental health. A clean environment can make you feel less anxious, which can help reduce your desire to stress clean.
Rosado advises utilizing the “one in, one out” method. The strategy is simple: for every one thing you bring into your home, one thing must go. So if you buy a new centerpiece, you can get rid of the one gathering dust in storage. [...] When it comes to stress cleaning, I’d argue that the first step is to develop more awareness around it, such as knowing the difference between productive vs. obsessive cleaning (and the signs to look for) and your triggers. “Pay attention to when the need to clean seems more pressing,” advises Goldberg. By recognizing your triggers, you can understand your anxiety better. [...] This will also help you develop a better understanding of the way you use stress cleaning. “You can increase your awareness by paying attention to [whether] you feel better after cleaning or worse,” says Emma Kimball, a licensed therapist in Atlanta. If cleaning consistently makes you feel worse or more anxious, it’s an unhealthy habit.
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oxfordcbt.co.uk
article
https://www.oxfordcbt.co.uk/stress-management-cleaning
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 [...] ## How to Incorporate Cleaning Into Your Life
1 Start small and do a little bit each day. The thought of having to clean your house from top to bottom in one day can be daunting and will only add to any stress or anxiety you are feeling. Don’t make your to-do list bigger than what you can handle mentally. To begin with, choose one thing to do today, and then something else tomorrow and so on. You won’t then be faced with a daunting feeling when you come to cleaning. [...] 3 Set a time limit so you have an end goal. This is very popular with online cleaning sensation Mrs Hinch. Having a set time (30 minutes for example) will keep you focussed on what you want to achieve. Get all your cleaning products organised and ready and refer to your list of what you want to achieve in that time.
V
verywellmind.com
article
https://www.verywellmind.com/how-mental-health-and-cleaning-are-connected-509…
### Start Small
Most people put off cleaning because the task seems way too big to tackle. But instead of expecting to get the entire house into order in one weekend, start small and do just a little bit each day.
Commit to doing one thing around your house or apartment each day. Before you know it, your environment will be much cleaner and less stressful. [...] 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 [...] 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.
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pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
official
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11925691
## found that (a) concrete visual simulation of cleaning behavior alleviated residual anxiety from a stress-inducing physical scene, an effect distinct from touch, and (b) actual cleaning behavior enhanced adaptive cardiovascular reactivity to a highly stressful context of social performance/evaluation, which provides the first physiological evidence for the attenuation of stress-related effects by cleaning. Overall, actual cleaning and simulated cleaning attenuate effects of physical or [...] others; Tesser, 2000). Paralleling such mental mechanisms, we observe that cleaning can attenuate the effects of psychological threats to one’s self—as moral (West & Zhong, 2015), as rational (Lee & Schwarz, 2010), as competent (Kaspar, 2012), and as socially accepted (the present findings). This opens up a broad and exciting avenue for future research: Daily cleaning behavior, mundane as it seems, may serve supplementary coping functions that not only attenuate stress but also sustain positive [...] First, participants completed the same stress-inducing task as in Experiments 1a and 1b. Then, they were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: They were asked to “imagine you are getting your arms, face, neck, and hair thoroughly cleansed with water” (cleaning condition) or “imagine you are touching your arms, face, neck, and hair to thoroughly feel yourself” (touch condition), and to “visualize the experience in detail in your mind. After visualizing the experience, take a minute to
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goodsaltlife.com
article
https://goodsaltlife.com/the-surprising-connection-between-mental-health-and-…
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. [...] 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.