National Cleaning Week: Can Spring Cleaning Improve Your Mood?

Did You Know That Spring Cleaning Can Improve Your Mood

Long ago are the days where the onset of spring meant that housewives everywhere, opened the windows, shook out the rugs and cleared out the closets. Today, we are far too busy to dedicate a week or even a couple of days just to tackle spring cleaning.

Many of us have forgotten that spring cleaning can improve our mood.

Apparently, just like other types of exercise, the act of cleaning causes our bodies to release endorphins. According to a Scottish Health Survey, housework can cut stress and anxiety by 20%. However, you do need 20 minutes of activity to get these effects. Using lemon-scented cleaning products can help you de-stress as studies show that a citrus smell reduces stress and leaves a positive impression on others. And last, but not least, a survey in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, showed that women who described their homes as relaxing and less cluttered, were less depressed.

In light of today’s busy schedules, here are Beverly’s Hot Tips For Building Resiliency and Celebrating National Cleaning Week:

Lighten up and take a realistic snap shot of where you are today. Just because Grandma had time to do this, doesn’t mean you do. Don’t let other people should all over you.
Pick one thing a week that you would like to tackle – it could be just the front closet or the upstairs windows.

Once you’ve started to purge un-used items, organize your space and clean up the dust-bunnies while spring cleaning, you may find your mental well-being improve. Beverly Beuermann-King Click to tweet

If you don’t have time to fit these things into your schedule can you hire someone? There are lots of teens looking for part-time work. And best of all – this doesn’t have to cut into their social time like babysitting.
Make other people responsible. You don’t need to be the only one in the household looking after all of these things. Teach children early on about the ‘chores’ that need to be done. Break tasks done and don’t overwhelm them with the sudden urge to have a cleaning day. You’ll only turn them off and make it more difficult to get things done.
Find a way to get and keep your organization. Get rid of clutter. Become a minimalist. If it is not necessary – get rid of it and let someone else clean around it. There are a number of books and sites out there on simplifying life and dejunking your space. With less to think about, there is bound to be less stress related to your physical space.

If you have some strategies to share – comment on this posting!