How cleaning can boost your mental health

As the New Year sets in, with the festive season now behind us, the prospect of dark nights and dark days ahead, and plenty of cold weather spells still to come, January can be a particularly tough month for many. 

We’ve taken a look into the link between cleaning and mental health to find out more about why cleaning and decluttering can help you to overcome a bout of the blues. 

How does cleanliness affect mental health?

You’re probably familiar with the old saying, ‘a tidy space equals a tidy mind.’ Well, there’s a reason it’s still used today. Studies conducted at Princeton University have shown that clutter and mess can not only be distracting, but can also have a direct negative impact on stress levels, as the visual cortex in the brain becomes overwhelmed by the stimulus within the field of vision, making it much harder to focus on tasks and complete projects efficiently. 

With the mind overwhelmed by visual stimuli and your mood affected by a decline in productivity levels, it’s unsurprising that being surrounded by clutter can have a long-term effect on your mental health. But research conducted by the Anxiety and Depression Association of America has indicated that the physical activity of cleaning, combined with the final result that’s delivered in creating a cleaner home, actively reduces stress and feelings of anxiety and depression. 

Why does cleaning make people feel better? 

Getting on top of things - cleaning, organising, decluttering, and giving your home or workspace a good tidy - is a great way to improve your mood and boost your mental health long-term. 

Cleaning the space around you will not only give you a task that gets your body moving, without being overly strenuous, but it’s also a task that you don’t have to really dedicate much mental energy to. Cleaning can offer a great distraction for when your mind needs a bit of a break, and it can also help you to gain a sense of control over your environment, which ultimately brings peace of mind and improves general wellbeing. Seeing the task completed can also bring about a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction - another great mood booster! 

Looking for help with keeping your workplace clean? 

If you’re distracted by the mess and clutter in your office or workspace, it’s likely that your employees are too, but we understand that finding the time to clean and reorganise can be tough. That’s where we come in! 

With over 40 years of experience in providing comprehensive cleaning solutions in Lancashire for a wide range of workplaces and facilities across all sectors, our team is efficient, reliable, well practised, and passionate about delivering an excellent service to all of our clients. 

Got a question for us? We’re only a phone call away! Get in touch with our team to find out more about our commercial cleaning services.