The Surprising Health Benefits of a Tidy Home

A messy house can have a host of negative effects on your physical and mental health, but there are also unexpected positive side effects that come from cleaning up your living space and keeping it tidy. Here are some of the most surprising benefits of keeping your home clean and organized.

How it might improve your mental health

Having a tidy home could be good for your mental health. In fact, researchers from Arizona State University found that keeping surfaces clean and clear could reduce feelings of depression and anxiety by as much as 50 percent. One study even suggests that creating an inviting and organized space can help reduce stress, anger, and other negative emotions. While not everyone responds to tidiness in the same way (for example, some people with obsessive-compulsive disorder actually respond negatively to messes), cleaning up once in awhile might just give you a leg up on controlling anxiety or depression symptoms! Experts agree that it’s important to monitor your mental health closely over time to make sure you are getting better—not worse—and if it seems like organizing is only making you feel worse, stop.

How it affects your physical health

A tidy home can affect your physical health in many ways. First, it can lead to better sleeping habits and more restful nights—you may find that when you have a clean, organized space, it’s easier to unwind at night and fall asleep. Second, having a tidy home can make it easier for you to get in workouts throughout your day; if you know where everything is and have designated spaces for things like workout gear or sports equipment, you’re more likely to exercise regularly. Plus, setting aside time each day (even just 10 minutes) to pick up around your house can be enough time for daily exercise—think about all those small chores like walking from room to room picking up clutter or going out for groceries.

How it improves your mood

A tidy home could mean less stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. One of our founding principles at ZenMasterMind is that creating a clean home environment can help with depression and anxiety issues. The act of cleaning your house not only spurs you to take on extra tasks like washing dishes and wiping down counters—it also gives you an organized space in which to unwind and relax. This can reduce stress and even improve your sleep quality.

How it helps you sleep better

If you're constantly worried about forgetting something or are depressed about how disorganized your life is, these negative feelings can lead to problems like anxiety and depression. Instead, experts suggest learning how to treat depression and anxiety naturally. Cleaning helps keep daily stress under control, meaning that you'll sleep better at night and may even feel less stressed throughout the day. Plus, making time for cleaning when you're not feeling well is easier than on days when your brain has seemingly turned into a soggy cereal bowl—you might not be all that motivated otherwise.

How it relieves stress

One common symptom of depression is stress and anxiety, and cleaning your home could help reduce those symptoms. A number of studies have shown that people tend to experience less stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms when they keep their homes clean. The mere act of decluttering can help reduce feelings of tension. And if you’re keeping your home neat and tidy to cope with stress, it’s possible that tidying up could be just what you need to help overcome those feelings.

Ways to create more order in your life

A messy home is one that can beat anxiety and depression, simply because it’s less stressful to be in an organized environment. To overcome depression and anxiety fast, clean your way out of depression and anxiety. The least stressful way to clean your house is by cleaning through anxiety and depression. Cleaning your home through frustration can lead to increased levels of stress (and therefore more symptoms). De-cluttering helps you begin to beat anxious thoughts as well as depressive thoughts.

Twitter Pinterest Quora Tipeee Medium

By