Why Cleaning Relieves Stress & Anxiety
Stress and anxiety are a natural part of life. There’s often so much going on and a lot of responsibilities, so it’s natural to feel overwhelmed sometimes.
We all manage our stress and anxiety in different ways. Some people might go for a walk or a jog, others might talk to a loved one, and some people might even turn to cleaning.
Yes, that’s right, lots of people find cleaning relaxing. It’s actually really common, so why is this?
Well, it turns out there’s science behind it and cleaning can relieve stress and anxiety. Let’s take a look at how.
You’ll know that exercise is good for your health and can relieve stress. But did you know this applies to any activity where you are moving your body?
As long as what you’re doing involves being active, you get all the benefits of exercise. So, when you’re cleaning your home, you’re exercising!
Think about it, if you’re sweeping the floor, you’re moving your body back and forth and using your arms. If you’re scrubbing the countertops, you’re engaging lots of your core muscles as well as your arms to get the job done. There are so many examples, and they all involve moving your body in some way.
During exercise, levels of stress hormones called adrenaline and cortisol are reduced. At the same time, levels of endorphins (hormones that improve your mood and make you feel happy) are increased.
When gazing out of your windows, dirt and grime can make you feel tense and make it hard to fully relax. You might find yourself thinking about cleaning the windows yourself or leaving the room, drawing your attention away from relaxation.
If you’re working, a dirty window can distract you from the task at hand, making it harder to focus and perform at your best.
On the other hand, clean windows or workspace allows you to stay focused and be present, enabling you to work at your best, or fully enjoy relaxing at home.
When you feel stressed or anxious, it can often feel as though things are out of your control. In fact, a lot of anxiety stems from the feeling of the unknown, or not being able to control what will happen.
Clean windows is something you can have control over. You know the steps you need to take and what will happen as a result (you’ll be able to see outside again). Many people find this certainty reassuring.
Looking out through clean windows just feels good!
You might find that when you’re surrounded by dirty windows, you find it harder to think clearly.
If you’re worried about something, it’s common to dwell on it and overthink. While this is natural, unfortunately, it only increases stress levels and isn’t helpful for you.
A great way to refocus your mind is to do something productive, like cleaning! It keeps your mind busy and stops you from dwelling on things. It can also give you an outlet for your nervous energy, stopping it from building up before it gets out of hand.
Some research suggests that being in a clean, organized environment is also linked to making healthy choices.
This might be because your mind feels clear, and you can think about what’s best for you or dedicate more energy to your wellbeing.
A clean environment can also make it easier to carry out daily tasks without feeling overwhelmed.
Our senses can have a significant impact on how we feel. Your sense of smell is immensely powerful. Think about it, if you smell something specific it can bring back a vivid memory. For example, the smell of fresh-baked biscuits brings you back to a memory of baking with your parents when you were a kid.
Aromatherapy is another notable example, meaning the use of essential oils to promote a feeling of relaxation. I personally love aromatherapy and find it very calming.
We can use this to our advantage. If your home doesn’t smell great, it can impact your mood negatively. However, if your home smells nice and fresh, it can markedly improve your mood.
Mindfulness focuses on being present and achieving a state of relaxation, accepting the thoughts running through your head without judgment. Practicing mindfulness is fantastic for your physical and mental health and can reduce stress and anxiety.
Once your windows are cleaned and you can see the difference you’ve made with your actions, it can make you feel proud of yourself. It’s not often we get that instant visual representation of something we’ve achieved, so it can be powerful.
You might find your mood is uplifted and you feel you’ve really accomplished something, which you have! Sometimes this feeling can help people build confidence. You might even find it gives you more motivation to carry out other tasks.
If you naturally find cleaning easy, then you can gain a lot of these benefits as part of your usual routine. If you struggle to keep up with cleaning, don’t worry you can hire professionals, and you’ll still get the benefits discussed. It’s about figuring out what works for you and your lifestyle.
