For instance , a study published in the journal , Mindfulness , found that people who were mindful when washing dishes — in other words they took the time to smell the soap and to take in the experience — reported a 27 % reduction in nervousness , along with a 25 % improvement in " mental inspiration ."
What ' s more , studies have found that having clean sheets and making your bed are associated with a better night ' s rest . And , when you get more rest , that provides a whole host of mental health benefits including an improved mood .
When your home is cluttered , messy , or exceptionally dirty , the chaos that the mess creates can impact your ability to focus . The clutter also limits your brain ' s ability to process information . In fact , researchers have discovered that people are less irritable , less distracted , more productive , and better able to process information with an uncluttered and organized work area .
If you ' re having trouble focusing on a project , you may want to try decluttering your workspace first . You might find that devoting just a few minutes to organizing your things and clearing away any mess may make it easier for your to concentrate and get your work completed .
Limiting the number of possessions you own can have the same impact because it reduces the number of things vying for your brain ' s attention .
Whether you are struggling with depression , have a new baby , or just have a chaotic life , the concept of cleaning and decluttering can seem like an overwhelming task that is simply outside of your reach right now . In fact , many people wrestle with whether or not cleaning should be a priority .
But , knowing that having a cleaner environment will help improve your mood and make your life more peaceful , it might be worth pursuing . Here are some ideas on how to incorporate cleaning into your life .
Most people put off cleaning because the task seems way too big to tackle . But instead of expecting to get the entire house into order in one weekend , start small and do just a little bit each day . In other words , commit to doing one thing around your house or apartment each day and before you know it , your environment will be much cleaner and less stressful in no time .
For instance , pick one thing you want to do each day and then follow through . One day you might go through all of your mail . The next day you might clean the toilet and wash the bathroom sink .