(To us, “mess” = “unfinished business.”)īut let me tell you: stress cleaning works. In fact, clutter has a negative impact on our mental health because it over stimulates our senses and causes us to feel tension and uncertainty. We all have a lot on our plates (not just old dinner) and living in clutter certainly doesn’t help. (Why do I still have a pile of newspapers from the ‘90s?) Looking at all that crap makes us feel overwhelmed by the daunting organizational task that lies ahead. When old junk clutters your living space, it’s easy to feel like you’re drowning in stuff. Here’s how a clean home can help you be your best self, mentally and physically. For example, The Home Edit, Marie Kondo, or YouTube videos from yours truly.Īnd speaking of, Marie Kondo said that “tidying up can change your life.” And we don’t disagree. This could explain why so many of us are obsessed with cleaning and consuming organization porn (which, unlike the name, is nothing dirty…pun intended). The brain interprets tidying up as a reward, which triggers an increase of the release of the neurotransmitter dopamine, also known as the brain’s “pleasure chemical.” They are also more empathetic, productive, focused, and relaxed (if we may say so ourselves). Women who described their homes as cluttered or “unfinished” were more likely to be depressed or tired than women who described their homes with peaceful adjectives like “restful” and “restorative.” The researchers from this same study also found that women with cluttered homes had higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol.Īnd it’s true-people who enjoy cleaning are generally happier and less stressed than those who don’t. You could easily let the mess roll over for another day (no one’s coming over, after all) but that won’t do your psyche any favours, because the mess can actually mess with your mind.Ĭlear Your Clutter with Feng Shui author Karen Kingston says that clutter “presents an obstacle to the flow of energy and has an unpleasant, sticky, unclean feel to it.” So, it’s important for your home to have a good flow of energy, so it doesn’t collapse into chaos and drive you crazy.Ī 2010 study analyzed the way 60 people described their homes. It’s almost like we’ve given up (and some days, we have). Now, there are toys scattered everywhere, dirty laundry piling up in the corner, and spaghetti sauce-stained dishes overflowing in the sink. Gone are our sparkly counters and dust-free floors. Our homes are no longer the squeaky-clean, pristine palaces they once were. We won’t mention names, but some of us have lost our best self and become a little less than cleanly through this pandemic.