Cleaning the House Can Improve Your Mood
December 14, 2011, By Tom McNulty 2 comments
Sad or anxious? Grab some Windex.
Angry? Take it out on all that damn dust.
Depressed? Suck up your troubles with a vacuum cleaner.
Yes, it works. The physical effort of housecleaning burns off energy and anxiety, and living in a clean, orderly home enhances one's sense of mental tranquility (like having a Japanese Zen garden, but without the rocks and sand). Both are positive influences on a person's mental state.
From Bad to Worse
When people are depressed, one of the major symptoms—but by no means the only one—is a loss of motivation...not caring about taking care of yourself and losing the will to tackle day-to-day chores. It's a "Why mow the lawn? It'll just grow back..." kind of feeling. You just let things slide.
Then, your disorganized surroundings feed and reinforce your depressed state to create a downward spiral, resulting in an even messier house and a bluer mood.
One study claimed that 20 minutes of daily activity, including housekeeping, reduced depression and enhanced one's outlook. Makes sense: you burned off some energy and anxiety, the place looks better, you feel better about your house and, by extension, yourself.
NEXT: How to clean it easier
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