Cleaning as a Mood Stabilizer? 5 Reasons Spring Cleaning Can Declutter Your Mind
Have you been feeling stressed lately? Maybe even a little anxious or depressed?
While some individuals find that exercise, creative outlets, or talking with a friend helps to increase their mood, others are decompressing through the acts of cleaning and organizing. As a matter of fact, there is clinical evidence that supports the claim that cleaning can uplift your spirits and give you a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.
When we feel like our emotions are out of control, cleaning and organizing most certainly is within our scope of control. Researchers claim that this may be the reason why so many of us feel calm and liberated afterward. (Reference 1)
5 Ways Spring Cleaning Cleanses Your Psyche
We all have our preferred methods of pick-me-ups. Some of you may have tried the cleaning method to no avail. However, for those who have never tried a decluttering activity as a form of mood-boosting, here are 5 ways scientists believe it can help:
1. Reduces Anxiety
When the things around you appear to be out of order, it can make you feel anxious or on edge. Creating order out of chaos can relieve that stress. A good—albeit extreme—example of this is observing someone with OCD clean and organize items. Although temporary, this does tend to calm their nerves for a short period of time. (Reference 2)
In addition, studies have shown that making your bed and changing your sheets has been proven to improve your sleep, which helps to improve your overall mood. (Reference 3)
Once you are finished decluttering, you may have a sense of newness that leaves your mind at peace and feeling satisfied.
2. Energizing
Oftentimes, when you get into a cleaning mood, you’re quick on your feet and make a lot of decisions. You are essentially put into a mode of “get’r done.”
When this happens, you are more energized to begin checking off other items on your to-do list.
3. Creates Confidence & Self-Efficiency
Decluttering and organizing use your problem-solving skills.
For example, you have X amount of space, Y amount of items, and Z amount of things you actually need. In order to utilize your space appropriately, you need to donate or throw away the items that are broken, tattered, or don’t use. You need to then organize the leftover items into your allotted amount of space.
Seeing your end result is incredibly satisfying and can help you feel more confident in your decision-making skill set.
4. Takes Your Mind Off Stressors
Maybe you’ve had a hard week at work or maybe you’re obsessively ruminating over something personal that is stressing you out. If you’ve been thinking about something that you need a mental break from, decluttering can help you out. While it may not be as intense as trigonometry, it does require a certain amount of concentration to be successful.
Moreover, it can create some physical exertion. Physical exercise creates endorphins that lift your mood.
5. Nostalgia
Some people are really bad at cleaning because they will always find something that intrigues them and then become distracted.
When it comes to cleaning for the sake of your mental health’s sake, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Coming across items that you haven’t seen in a while or something sentimental or fun can bring you a sense of excitement and serendipity. These good memories are great mood boosters that are key to helping you feel motivated for continued decluttering. (Reference 2)
Unchanging Mood? MHT Can Help
Although cleaning can help us get out of a temporary funk, it will only be a temporary bandage for those who are suffering from a mood disorder.
With the MHT diagnostic tool, we can help you determine if your patient is just having a rough patch in life or actually suffering from a mood disorder, such as depression.
Our screening assessments:
Include a comprehensive list of tests
Allow your patient to complete it prior to their appointment
Sends you results immediately
Activates automated referrals
Increases your revenue
If you’re interested in learning more about testing out our assessments in your clinic, contact us today!
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