Effects of Cleanliness on Happiness
16 January 2019Does a clean bedroom or home make you happy?
The obvious answer to most may seem like a yes. But why?
“Cleanliness” can mean different things to different people and for the purpose of our article we are going to use it to refer to both physical cleanliness and relative organization of a space.
Talking about a clean home or cleaning your room may just make you a bit anxious if you are the kind of person who tends to be a bit messy (no judgement we all have our things). But you may be surprised to note just how much being clean and organized can effect your everyday life.
A Clean Bedroom
If you grew up having to be constantly reminded to clean your room, you were probably just a normal kid. As an adult though, having a messy room can have a greater effect on you than in previous years.
Leaving dirty plates and dishes in your room and clothes/miscellaneous items on the floor for extended periods of time may be a source of stress as well as a distraction. Taking more time than necessary to find things in your room or get ready for the day can start you off in the wrong direction. Our bedrooms should be the place we can enjoy a good night’s rest and wake up feeling refreshed. It only requires a few minutes of your time to tidy up on a regular basis. Imagine starting your day by picking any items up off the floor and dressing your bed. Not only will you come home to a clean room but you have already accomplished something at the start of your day.
A study done by the Society for Personality and Social Psychology in 2010 noted that people who described their homes as cluttered, disorganized and/or unfinished were also depressed, tired and more stressed out than those who described their homes as a place of rest and more restorative.
Although stress can be damaging to our health, a clean and organized living space can also effect your health in other ways. A study done by the Indiana University in 2013 kept track of nearly 1,000 people between the ages of 49-65 and result was that people with cleaner homes were more likely to lead active lives with one of the professors stating “At the end of the day, the interior condition of their house seemed to be the /only/ thing affecting their physical activity.”
If this is something you struggle with, you are not alone. If trying to keep everything clean and tidy is overwhelming, try doing a little cleaning and organizing every day, instead of a lot of it all at once. As chaotic as life can be, our bodies are very well organized. It is no surprise that a clean, organized room and home can contribute to making us happier and healthier, as things generally thrive better under similar conditions.
Need help getting your space cleaned more thoroughly? Give us a call and let us help you!