Thanks to the (well-deserved and long overdue) growing awareness of mental health and wellness, many of us have become acutely more conscious of the things that may impact us psychologically. There are many things that contribute to mental wellness (or lack thereof): stress from working and family conditions, childhood trauma, an unhealthy lifestyle, genetics, and just about any combination of these factors. We often do our best to deal with them in whatever way we can, but one thing we may neglect to consider is how our very homes contribute to our mental health.
The effects our homes have on us depend largely on how we use our space and live in it. If you live in an unorganised and cluttered space, you’re more likely to find yourself constantly stressed. Additionally, clutter has been found to significantly impact anxiety levels, sleep quality, and the ability to focus. A survey cited on House Beautiful found that 82% of British citizens were adversely affected by the presence of clutter, with many saying that it induced increased stress levels.
Clutter and a generally unclean environment could also lead to the development of mould, which studies published on the American Journal of Public Health found to be linked to depression. Living in a home rife with mould could lead to the development of mould toxicity, which has symptoms that are mostly psychiatric in nature, such as depression, anxiety, attention deficit problems, brain fog, and insomnia. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to address this. Aside from the usual chemical-based treatments and ready-made products, ‘How to Get Rid of Mould’ by HomeServe recommends making your own mould solution at home using a simple formulation of four parts water and one part bleach.
Mess and clutter are constant reminders of unfinished tasks and they bombard our minds with excessive stimuli that cause our senses to overload. This, in turn makes it difficult to physically and mentally relax. It also inhibits creativity and productivity by cramping open spaces that usually inspire most people to think, solve problems, and brainstorm. A New York Times article about clutter talks about its physiological effects, which include increased production levels of cortisol which is also known as the stress hormone. ‘Clutter Affects Health’ by WebMD also explains that clutter affects us mentally by weakening our memory – if our surroundings are cluttered, chances are, our brains are cluttered too.
In most cases, a clear and open home is a natural reflection of an equally clear and open mind. This is why having a clean and organised home is extremely important. A small study cited by Good Housekeeping found that people who mindfully washed the dishes – meaning to say they took the time to inhale the scent of the soap and basked in the feeling of the warm water on their skin – reported a 27% decrease in nervousness and 25% increase in “mental inspiration.” An assistant professor of psychology at the University of Southern California, Darby Saxbe shared that cleaning gives people a certain sense of mastery and control over their environment. Anxiety and depression often leave the people experiencing it feeling out of control and incapable of finishing even the most menial task. As they clean, they regain some sense of control and accomplishment.
Everything starts at home. When you have a functioning, organised, and clean home, you can shift your focus on more essential things such as ‘Career & Self-Progression’. So, before your clutter starts piling up, dedicate some time to clean up so your mind clutter won’t pile up as well.