Why it’s Important for Your Mental Health to be Organised at Home

Keeping your home clean is important for many reasons. It keeps harmful bacteria away, ensures that there are no trips or fire hazards, and also keeps your mind clearer. There is a common saying that a tidy home makes a tidy mind, and it is actually very true. 

It may not feel that way at first, but our mental wellbeing is strongly tied to the state of our house. For example, if you are feeling depressed you are more likely to have an untidy home. Here’s a little more about why it is so important.

Mental Health and Mess 

When we are feeling low and struggling with our mental health, the last thing we want to do is clean. It’s understandable, and it’s easy to binge-watch our favourite shows while the mess piles up around us. I'm even guilty of eating straight out of the saucepan instead of washing a plate. However, it is not good for our mental wellbeing. 

It contributes to feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression. Not only that, but when we are sleeping our brain is still focused on the clutter around us instead of on resting and recovering. It’s a vicious cycle, and one that only you can end. 

All you need to do is take a little time to clean even the smallest corner of your home. The more you do this, the more good hormones like oxytocin are released in the body. They make you feel better, and while it is not a cure for mental health, it is a way to feel better. 

In fact, you will find that Gemme Tyler, cleaning expert at Smartvacuums.co.uk has a great range of information on the link between mess and mental health. 

Tips for Keeping Your Home Clean 

The hard part is actually keeping your home in order. It can feel overwhelming, especially if you have let it build up over a period of time. I’ve been there where you just look at the kitchen and turn around because you aren’t ready to face it. Well, the day is here and now is the time to tackle that mess. 

The first thing to remember is that there is a handy list of things you need to do every day. They are small and manageable, which is ideal for mornings when you wake up and just know that today will be a struggle. 

1. Make the bed when you get up 
2. Wash the dishes before you go to sleep
3. Open the curtains/blinds to let light in 

As I said, they are tiny tasks, but ones that will make your day feel a lot better. When you are feeling ready to do more around the home, you can move onto this bigger list for some great cleaning tips and tricks. Wondering how often to do the following? There’s a handy resource on that here. 

1. Start small. Take one room, or even the corner of a room, and start your cleaning journey there. It is easy to overwhelm yourself if you set goals that are too large to start with. Set yourself tasks for that room as you clean it, and check them off as you go. It is important to reward yourself for progress; even if it is just for a quick pat on the back. 

1. Vacuum regularly. It’s important to keep your floors clean, and there’s nothing worse than looking down to see piles of pet fluff, mud, and other pieces of debris. You don’t have to do the whole house, but just a little vacuuming session every day will make a massive difference to the state of your home and mental health. 

1. Dust from top to bottom. This is a really handy dusting tip, one that we actually don’t think about as much as we should. When you are dusting cabinets and shelves, always start from the top and work your way to the bottom. 

This ensures that the dust falls to the lower shelves where it can be collected, rather than onto the places you have already cleaned. 

1. Light fixtures. There is nothing more satisfying than getting a spot clean that you didn’t realise was dirty. Light fixtures, doorways, and photo frames are just some of the areas that do not get enough attention. 

Take the time to dust these off and give them a good wipe down. The air in your home will feel cleaner and you will feel more accomplished. Why not light a candle as well to contribute to a calmer atmosphere? 

To Conclude

Cleaning is hard, there is no doubt about that, and this is especially true when we are suffering from poor mental health. 

However, there are little things that we can do to make the process easier on ourselves. The important thing to remember is that even if we can only do something small, it is a whole lot better than not being able to do anything at all.