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apartmenttherapy.com
article
https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/stress-cleaning-solutions-37396967
For many people, cleaning, organizing, and decluttering can help reduce anxiety. “The act of cleaning can distract them by keeping them busy and task-oriented,” says Rachel Goldberg, a licensed marriage and family therapist in Los Angeles. “It [also] helps them feel a sense of control.” [...] As far as coping mechanisms go, cleaning doesn’t seem all that bad. For many people, stress cleaning can be a productive and helpful way to quell anxiety, says Yang. However, it isn’t always healthy.
When I’m feeling especially anxious or stressed, I often turn to cleaning — and sometimes this can work in my favor. I always have clean laundry, my chore list gets done on time, and my house looks relatively tidy most days. But that doesn’t mean it’s always productive. [...] ### Shift your mindset
Finally, Rosado recommends implementing the “refocus” strategy, which means you “refocus from perfectionism to productivity.” In other words, adopt a more flexible mentality regarding cleaning and organizing your home.
“Productivity emphasizes effectiveness and efficiency rather than perfection,” she explains. “Instead of fixating on the end results, focus on completing tasks in a timely and satisfactory manner.”
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joyofcleaning.com
article
https://joyofcleaning.com/do-you-know-these-7-cleaning-as-self-care-trends-re…
You know that oddly satisfying feeling when you finish organizing a messy drawer? There’s actually real science backing up why cleaning self care stress relief works so well for our mental health. We’re not just talking about having a tidy space—though that’s nice too—but the actual process of cleaning can trigger some pretty amazing changes in our brains. Studies show that repetitive cleaning motions release endorphins, those feel-good chemicals that naturally combat stress hormones like [...] Visualization and Affirmation Integration: While cleaning, visualize clearing mental and emotional clutter alongside physical mess, using specific affirmations like “I release what no longer serves me” while decluttering or “I create space for new possibilities” while organizing. [...] Stress Hormone Reduction: Research indicates that people who describe their homes as “clean and organized” have lower cortisol levels throughout the day compared to those living in cluttered environments.
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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 [...] 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 [...] home to a clean and organised house helps them to unwind after an overwhelming day.
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verywellmind.com
article
https://www.verywellmind.com/how-mental-health-and-cleaning-are-connected-509…
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. [...] 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 [...] A study by the University of Connecticut found that in times of high stress, people default to repetitive behaviors like cleaning because it gives them a sense of control during a chaotic time. Other research has found that decluttering can help older adults retain a sense of control over their life as they age.
What's more, clutter and disorganization can be really distracting, making it hard to focus or complete other projects. You can start to feel stuck in a rut.
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kwikbrain.medium.com
article
https://kwikbrain.medium.com/fight-stress-by-cleaning-it-really-works-33cd50e…
### Conclusion
There’s no way we can escape stress entirely. As our modern lives pile things on our plate, stress will often follow. While there are a multitude of strategies we can employ to help mitigate stress, cleaning and organizing is always an easy activity we can engage in that provides numerous benefits. Even better, the more we do, the more effective it becomes. So start organizing today!
Kwik Brain
Neuroscience
Brain Training
Organization
Stress Management
Jim Kwik
Jim Kwik [...] Whether it’s cleaning out a closet, organizing our inbox, or scrubbing the floors, cleaning can help us feel like we’re in control of an outcome. We start with a mess and end with a tidy space. This is even more powerful if the cause of our stress is something we can’t control. [...] Staying organized has a few additional brain benefits. The first is it creates habits, which the brain loves. The brain also loves rituals. Ritual behavior is anything we do on a repetitive basis. It can be daily, weekly, or monthly, but the repeated behavior calms our anxiety and helps our brain process obstacles that we’re facing. In fact, a study out of the University of Toronto showed that engaging in ritual behavior can help reduce anxiety by reducing the fear we feel towards failure.
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gvma.net
article
https://gvma.net/2025/04/08/the-mental-health-benefits-of-staying-organized
As mentioned before, decluttering and organizing your stuff can reduce stress. In one scientific study, women who had messy homes had higher cortisol levels (the stress hormone) in their bodies throughout the day compared to women that saw their homes as organized and relaxing.1 Clutter tends to leave a heavy feeling on a homeowner, as it weighs you down both physically and emotionally.
## Organized space helps to increase your ability to concentrate. [...] Have you ever found yourself feeling stressed and easily distracted working in a messy work environment? A clean and tidy space means fewer distractions and therefore helps to make you more focused on what you are doing.
## Organized space equals better sleep quality. [...] Decluttering might sound like a trendy buzzword, but there’s real value in it—especially for professionals like you. Clearing off your desk, organizing your notes, or even tackling that chaotic storage room at the clinic isn’t just about tidiness—it’s about reclaiming a sense of control. And research backs it up: people who maintain orderly spaces often report lower stress levels, more focus, and even better moods. You may not be able to control a tough case or an emotional client
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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. [...] Cleaning and organizing our space may feel overwhelming in the moment, but it’s actually something we have the ability to control, assuming there are no physical limitations or other similar issues preventing us from doing so.
## How do you help clients figure out what stuff to toss or give away?
Many people feel stuck when it comes to deciding what to part with. They may hold onto things that don’t have any practical or sentimental value because of anxiety or fear of moving on. [...] 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.