Relationships October 17, 2016
We’re all guilty of putting off chores – sometimes it’s just easier to leave the bed unmade and the dirty laundry in the hamper. While you should be able to keep your room how you want, cleaning up your area may benefit your mental health in the long-run. Recent studies have shown the link between dirty home environments and depression symptoms.
“Excessive clutter and disorganization are often symptoms of a bigger health problem,” Tara Parker-Pope reports (via The New York Times). “People who have suffered an emotional trauma or a brain injury often find housecleaning an insurmountable task. Attention deficit disorder, depression, chronic pain and grief can prevent people from getting organized or lead to a buildup of clutter.”
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, signs of major depression include feelings of fatigue, hopelessness and irritability. These symptoms often keep people in bed and hidden away from any stressors, including chores.
Yet ignoring the problem only makes it worse – clutter buildup is likely to worsen the feelings of anxiety and worthlessness that make housework seem like an impossible feat. Unclean spaces create more stress and tension while hindering productivity and happiness, according to the Saturday Evening Post. This transforms cleaning from a simple chore to a personal failure. Everyday Health concludes that “a messy house can add to those feelings of depression – creating a destructive cycle that feeds on itself.”
Dr. Holly Parker, a psychologist and Harvard professor, notes that abandoning household responsibilities may be an internalization of the disorder. “A systematic pattern of home neglect is really a form of self-neglect,” Parker said (via Saturday Evening Post).
The first step in taking care of yourself is cleaning up your space. According to The New York Times, taking care of dirty surfaces benefits your immune system and improves your physical health. But keeping it clean also clears your mind. By eliminating clutter, you’ll be able to focus on the important parts of your day instead of being distracted by the mess. You’ll find what you need much easier on your way out the door and create a more serene space at the end of the day.
Getting up and cleaning for 20 minutes a day also forces you to exercise your mind and body, lessening mental and physical stress. Julie Walther, counselor at Concordia Seminary Counseling and Resource Center in St. Louis, says “There is a connection between stimulating your heart rate and your brain function.” When you take a few minutes every day to exercise, you are lessening the symptoms of depression as well as keeping your body fit and healthy.
But how can you motivate yourself to clean up your act when you can’t get out of bed? The trick is starting small. Taking it on all at once can make you feel overwhelmed and that frustrated, which will ultimately set you back. Instead of taking on a huge cleaning project, tackle a small corner of the room. This will make the task seem more feasible when your energy levels are low. Plus, you’ll be able to physically see your progress and feel accomplished.
Put belongings in their rightful place and throw out anything that doesn’t deserve the space. (Check out Apartment Therapy’s worry-free decluttering list here.) With enough practice, these tasks will turn into habits that make self-care a natural routine.
So next time you’re feeling low, look around your room – that clutter may be one of the culprits weighing you down.
