Declutter Your Mind
How do you feel when you hear the phrase 'house cleaning'?
Do you get excited? Or, do you feel things like overwhelm, dread, anxiety, and a strong desire to do absolutely anything else?
Most people, neurodivergent and neurotypical alike, might fall into those uncomfortable feelings and would probably rather do anything else other than clean or declutter their homes.
When you have ADHD, it can be really hard to do anything you don't enjoy without some sort of positive reinforcement or motivation.
Would the promise of improved mental health be something that would motivate you to get a few more things done around the house?
Studies show...
There has been a lot of research devoted to how cleaning or living in an organized space can affect mood and mental health in a positive way.
I picked out a few mental health benefits that doctors and researchers have said can come from keeping things organized or even how the act of cleaning can improve how your mood.
Better focus
When you live or work in a cluttered space, you may find yourself easily distracted by all the things you can see. When you are working at a desk with paper piles yet to be filed, trash that needs tossed out, or any number of things that don't belong in your work space, it can be easy to get distracted by the clutter and fall behind on what matters most.
Feeling a sense of control and overall peace of mind
When there is clutter or disorganization in your space, you may feel 'out of control' when you don’t know where things are when you need them. However, when everything has a place and those things are in the place that you decided and created, you can rest easier and worry less, knowing that when you need something, it will be where you decided to keep it.
Relieve stress
When you are feeling overwhelmed or there is a lot of stress in your life—especially in situations you can't control—the act of cleaning and organizing can help you feel grounded and relieve stress as you take back control of your space.
Feeling pride in yourself and your space
Looking back at an organized or clean space can give you a sense of accomplishment and an increased feeling of pride in your space and in yourself for completing something you may have normally avoided. It also decreases feelings of shame or symptoms related to RSD if someone comes into your organized space.
'Good Enough' is great!
As you can see, there are a lot of positive outcomes, just from the act of cleaning or organizing and maintaining a sense of order in your spaces.
Don't forget, clean and/or organized does not mean trying to make your space look like they do in magazines—that's not realistic. The biggest priority is everything should have a designated place. And that is more than good enough.
Thank you for your time and attention,
Nikki
Below, I have provided more resources on this topic, including ways to get the avoided tasks done with the least amount of effort while still getting the positive results and benefits of a clean and/or organized space:
Cleveland Clinic's Health Essentials podcast and transcript
Decluttering Your Life: How Cleaning and Mental Health Are Connected with Dr. Dawn Porter
Newport Healthcare article
The Mental Health Benefits of a Clean Home
Taking Control: The ADHD Podcast episode 2418
Shame, Influence, and Struggle Care with KC Davis
Book by KC Davis
How to Keep House While Drowning
