When we talk about stress, we’re typically referring to the mental, emotional or physical tension that we experience when we deal with the strains of everyday life. This tension can often cause us to worry uncontrollably, or to feel sad and anxious, and while there are many ideas about how best to eliminate these feelings, research has shown that the simple act of cleaning may help us more than we may think.
How cleaning can help redirect your thoughts:
When you’re focused on cleaning, your thoughts are directed to the objects or areas that you wish to remove dirt and grime from, and assessing the situation takes your mind off your other worries. Once you’ve successfully removed the dirt and are happy with the result, you may find that just as you cleaned the dirty items or area of your home, you may apply the same techniques that you used to achieve this, to help eliminate worry and strain from your mind.
Physical activity can revitalize a tired, stressed mind:
Physical exercise has long been thought of as a remedy for alleviating stress, and while cleaning your home may not require the same physical energy levels as a marathon or a session at the gym, if it gets your heart rate going, then it counts as exercise. All that your heart needs, is to increase its rate enough for you to burn calories, and free up some of those feel-good endorphins that have been hiding away. Playing music while you clean is a great way of helping you to keep the pace up, and to whizz through your cleaning chores, raising the levels of endorphins to dizzying heights!
How getting rid of clutter can bring order to your mind:
When your home or workspace are cluttered and untidy, your mind can often begin to feel the same way, leading to feelings of anxiety or confusion. Not only can you not find the things you’re looking for, but you may find it hard to relax or be comfortable in your surroundings. De-cluttering the zones that are most frequently used by you, need not be a goliath task, and even if you remove or store away one item at a time, that’s better than nothing and you’ll quickly find yourself wanting to eliminate more as you begin to feel better within yourself.
With the clutter gone, your mind will become focused again and your concentration levels will greatly improve. This alone can help you feel less stressed and anxious, and your commitments and priorities will be crystal clear.
By simply carrying out some everyday cleaning tasks, you’ll find that you can vastly improve your mental and emotional resistance, and as a result of that, you’ll doubtless go on to reap some life changing rewards.