A clean home equals a clear mind. Clutter equals more stress. Research shows that cluttered space leads to decreased focus and less sense of control. When you have a cluttered home, you leave room for stress and anxiety. Your home is a place you spend the majority of your time besides the workplace. Keeping your home clean and organized leaves room for more positive thoughts and clear headspace.

When your main surroundings are junky, this can negatively impact your way of thinking and deter you from accomplishing the things you really want to accomplish. Here are some reasons you may want to start cleaning to ease your worries.

1. Cleaning is linked to a positive mood

Keeping a clean home is linked to a positive mood. When your home is cluttered and not organized, it can often be associated with a lack of completion and the thought of a task you have to scratch off your to-do list.

Not only can keeping a positive mood improve your mental health, but it can get rid of your negative emotions and help you feel more in control of your life. Having a cluttered home can be distracting and keep you from the thing you want to accomplish most.

2. Improved Focus

When we keep our spaces in order, it keeps our mind in focus. We are calming those negative thoughts and feelings. When we are more focused, we are more productive.

The basic act of physically cleaning distracts our mind from what’s really worrying us. Not saying you won’t think about it at all after, but it’s a great start. Simple tasks such as washing dishes, doing laundry, dusting, or vacuuming give us a mental break while also giving us a clear and clutter-free foundation (living space).

3. Staying Active

If you’re not the gym junky, cleaning is a great way to stay active. Staying clutter-free helps you burn those extra calories and keeps your mind positive and worry-free. Studies show exercise can help with depression and anxiety, but if you prefer not to go to the gym, do some work around the home.

For example, mow the lawn or plant some flowers. It may just sound like typical house chores, but it is also therapeutic. Being active causes you to think more clearly and therefore ease your anxiety. When you’re able to think clearly, you can better see the big picture instead of the things that are worrying you.

4. Better Sleep

When you clean, you promote a positive and more mindful environment. You will gain a more positive attitude and a clear mindset which is a major de-stressor and promotes better sleep.

When your mind is racing a mile a minute, of course, you can’t sleep. You toss and turn, and by the time you fall asleep, it’s time for you to get up for work or get the kids ready and start your day.

To get better sleep, keep your bedroom and bedside space organized and junk-free. You can start slowly by getting rid of anything you don’t need – one shirt or pair of jeans at a time.

5. Increased Motivation

Cleaning leads to a sense of accomplishment. When you feel like you accomplished any task, it makes you more motivated and, in return, makes you want to accomplish even more. This increases your positive way of thinking, and you become more encouraged to begin other positive habits.

When you become more motivated, your thoughts change. The feeling of satisfaction triggers your brain to declutter your space and any emotional or internal baggage.

Simple Ways to Declutter

Now, you do not have to do all these tasks. This is just a list of tasks you can start with. Go slow and take it one day, one week, or one month at a time.

Kitchen

• Organize spice rack.
• Throw away anything not needed in drawers.
• Rid of any extra pots, pans, and gadgets you don’t use.
• Wash dishes at the end of the day or place them in the dishwasher at the end of the night.

Community Spaces (dining and living room)

• Dust
• Vacuum
• Door Entryway
• Make a space to place shoes
• Get a coat rack or hang the sticky hooks for coats.

Bedrooms

• Get a laundry basket for all rooms (kids, yours, and guests) and USE IT.
• Organize and rid your closet of items you haven’t worn in years. Find a donation location in your area and make use of it.

Bathroom

• Organize the top of the kitchen sink – toothbrush holders, soap holders, face wash, and other cleansers, serums, moisturizers in their own respective spots.
• Organize under the bathroom sink – all those old hair-gels, body washes you didn’t care for, toss them!
• Try to clean the tub twice a month.
• If you’re feeling really motivated, add some new decor!

Yard

• Mow the grass or higher a service.
• Start a garden.
• If you have a garage and have random things in it or use it for storage, slowly but surely start going through everything and donate whatever you haven’t used or don’t feel you need anymore.

Conclusion

In the end, a clean home equals a clear mind. Don’t be afraid to let go and declutter anything in your life. This can be clutter in the home, in your heart, or your mind. Self-care is the best thing anyone can do for themselves. We rarely put ourselves first, but the majority of the time, it is needed. Prioritizing your emotions and mental wellbeing is a necessity for a happy and positive life.

Research studies show having a decluttered life has positive effects on the brain and body.

Not only will you gain more sense of control, but you also become more motivated, your mind races less, and you begin to think more clearly.

Let me know what and how you’re planning to declutter!

Talk soon

xoxo

Andie 🙂