Is your home more cluttered and chaotic than calm and collected? If so, then this could be having a negative impact on your mental health. Although the state of your home may not seem that important in the grand scheme of things, you may be surprised at just how effective a clean and tidy home can be at boosting your mood.
Not convinced? Read on to discover all the mental health benefits of having an organized home. Plus, get some top tips on how to keep your home tidy without spending all day on housework.
Organized environments are linked to better choices
When your home is tidy and organized rather than messy and in disarray, you're much more likely to make good life choices.
Think about it this way. If your kitchen is a mess, you may feel more inclined to order takeout rather than make a home-cooked meal. The same goes for your bedroom. If your sheets are fresh and clean, you're more likely to have a good night's sleep.
Alleviate depression and anxiety
Depression and anxiety are the two most common mental health issues in the United States, affecting adults, adolescents, and even children. If you often feel depressed or anxious or someone in your family suffers from one of these conditions, then a cluttered home environment will only make them feel worse.
For example, piles of washing on the floor can make you feel more anxious or depressed. However, getting a laundry hamper, putting the clothes waiting to be washed in here, and then getting a good routine that sees you regularly keeping on top of the washing can instantly lift your mood and make you feel better about yourself.
Boost self-esteem
As touched on briefly above, when you've cleaned and tidied up your home, even if it's only a small task each day, it can make you feel better about yourself and help boost your self-esteem.
Feeling proud of your home and the work you've put in to make it look nice can prove invaluable in improving your overall mental health and making you feel more positive on a daily basis.
If you're struggling to manage to keep on top of the housework on your own, then don't feel ashamed to ask others for help, whether that's other family members or a friend if you live alone.
Enhanced relationships
When your home is full of clutter or in need of a deep clean, this can have a negative effect on your relationships. You may be feeling resentful if you're left to do all the housework on your own, or your partner may not realize that you're feeling overwhelmed.
However, when you find a cleaning and organization routine that works for you, and you're able to keep on top of your home, you'll see a difference in your personal relationships almost immediately.
The bottom line
If you've neglected your home for quite some time, it may feel like an overwhelming task to tackle it. To make the process more manageable, start small and don't try to fix everything in one day.
