Mental Health Tips: How cleaning the room can help improve one’s mental health | – Times of India

Have you ever noticed that people who are always in a rush also generally have a cluttered room or work desk? While, those who are calm and composed in most situations have a clean and tidy room or workstation. Well, it is no coincidence then that it is often said– A messy room reflects chaos and clutter in one’s personal life as well. And so, the opposite of it also stands true.Cleaning your room can help improve your mental health in many ways— surprising, isn’t it? Here we list some of them:

1. A clean room enhances sleep quality:

Organising and cleaning your room can help in getting you a good night’s sleep. According to a study published in the Journal of Sleep Research in 2018, cluttered rooms can affect one’s sleep quality and duration. Whereas, a clean room can significantly improve one’s sleep quality.

2. Cleaning improves one’s focus:

Organising and cleaning the room can help one to have better focus, according to a study published in the Harvard Business Review in 2020. Cleaning your room can result in mental clarity and focus. It removes distractions, increases dopamine—the “feel good” hormone, helps in better decision-making, and helps you be more focused.

3. Cleaning uplifts your mood:

Organising one’s room and space can help improve their mood. How? Cleaning helps in activating the brain’s default mode, which promotes relaxation. According to a study published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology in 2018, organising a chaotic room helps improve one’s mood.

4. Cleaning reduces stress and anxiety:

Organising a room can help decrease one’s stress and anxiety. According to a study published in the Harvard Business Review in 2020, cleaning and organising cluttered spaces can help reduce stress and anxiety.

5. Organising cluttered spaces gives one a sense of control:

When you organise a cluttered room, you feel a sense of control over chaos. There are times when you can’t control the situation around you, but cleaning and organising your home gives you a sense of control and power. According to a study published in the Harvard Business Review in 2020, organising reduces the feeling of overwhelm and increases one’s sense of control. And so, this simple act of decluttering has profound health benefits.