Individuals always have a sense that one ‘should’ keep their home environments clean and tidy. Maybe it’s been instilled in you from your childhood home environment, or simply societal pressure about ‘looking good’ to others. But does it really matter if you don’t clean your home? Yes – it does. A clean home has a multitude of benefits, some of which you wouldn’t even think of. Yes, cleaning isn’t exactly the most invigorating activity of one’s day, but it is mort definitely a necessity. Here are a few simple benefits you can enjoy from a clean home;
Decreased Stress Levels and Mental Health Improvements
Visual clutter can lead to mental clutter. You may think you’re capable of living amongst piles of papers, and boxes of ‘stuffs’, but they can be affecting you more deeply than you realise. Unfinished or untidy spaces can overwhelm the visual cortex, making it more difficult to process the task at hand. In addition, a study was conducted in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin that reveals that females with messier homes have higher cortisol levels than those with tidy houses. So, what does this mean? Stress levels can be directly linked to your environment. As such, tackling those small to-do lists, ensuring your space is kept tidy, will reduce your stress and improve your mental health.
Increased Activity and Productivity
Cleaner, more tidy workspaces have instant benefits on workflow. One is instantly more productive, and also spends less time looking for documents, files or other various items. The same is said for your home – research suggests that our physical environment can directly affect our emotions, behaviours, and productivity. As such, having a tidy home can only improve your productivity.
In addition, pottering around the house ticking off your chores from the list also gets you moving. Cleaning up the house isn’t going to burn as many calories as a marathon, but it is better than sitting on the couch the entire day.
Healthier Eating Habits
Oft times, individuals crave junk food or snack frequently when they are feeling stressed. As previously mentioned, clutter and messiness are stress triggers. In this way, maintaining a clean home not only reduces these stressful situations but can also drive healthier eating habits.
Better Sleep Quality
It is so much easier drifting off into a deep sleep knowing you don’t have any leftover to-do’s nagging the back of your brain. The small act of making your bed, or putting away your clothes has been proven to improve your sleep quality by twenty percent (National Sleep Foundation).
Reduced Risk of Sickness or Infection
A clean home leaves less space for the growth of germs and bacteria. Frequently cleaning away the dust and dirt from the surfaces, shelves, nooks and crannies helps eradicate your home of bacteria that worsen seasonal allergies, illnesses, and asthma. In short, the health benefits of a clean home are obvious. If you want to keep your family healthy, it goes hand in hand with a clean and tidy environment. The more items you have scattered across your surfaces, the harder it is to keep the space clean and dust-free.
Sense of Achievement and Level of Organisation
When you clean your home, it gives you the perfect opportunity to organise and sort through your personal items. Putting everything back in its desired place keeps a home tidy, and also ensures you will be able to find it easily the next time you need it. In addition, one can gain a sense of achievement in maintaining a clean, organised and tidy home.
