Organizing to Improve Your Mental Health

During quarantine, I was in my third trimester with my third child. My work hours were cut to about eight hours a week, so I was home with my other two children, very pregnant and uncomfortable. I needed something to distract myself, so I started organizing our house little by little. I’d pick one drawer, cabinet, or closet section at a time. Making a daily small, realistic organizing/cleaning goal gave me a sense of control over something. During a time when so much was out of our control, this really helped me. Organizing gave me a sense of calm, helped regulate my emotions, and helped distract me. Studies like Roster (2020) show the mental health benefits of organizing and cleaning your space.

Below are five mental health benefits to cleaning and organizing your home.

1. Gaining control over something

There was so much that felt out of control during quarantine. I decided to use skills I was teaching people daily in therapy on myself and made SMART goals. SMART goals are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-sensitive. Making a SMART goal for organizing or cleaning was crucial for me. How often have you thought, “I’m going to organize this entire kitchen, closet, or room?” And then, next thing you know, you have a huge mess, and you’re overwhelmed and unsure if you even want to finish. Sound familiar? That has been my experience too, which is the opposite of helpful. Using a SMART goal helped me make goals that I could accomplish with the time and energy I had. I had control. I was able to make a goal and complete it.

2. Calmness

Having a clean and organized space produces a sense of calmness. Organizing a space can help you feel less overwhelmed, decrease anxiety, and feel lighter and happier. Often when a space is cluttered, so is your mind. Decluttering that space can help clear your mind.

3. Emotional regulation

Organizing a space can force us to slow down, which can then help us explore and manage our emotions. On the flip side, sometimes we “rage purge” or “rage clean,” which can be an excellent outlet for frustration.

4. Improved focus

It can be challenging to focus in a cluttered space. Clutter is a form of visual distraction. Visual distraction increases cognitive overload, which can reduce working memory. Having a clean and decluttered space can improve how you process and use information daily.  

5. Improved mood

A cluttered space can feel overwhelming and frustrating. It just doesn’t feel good. Decluttering can help boost your mood, promote relaxation, and calm the mind.

Conclusion

Staying organized can be challenging for anyone, but I want to recognize the difficulty of completing organizing or cleaning tasks when struggling with anxiety, depression, or burnout. It’s important to meet yourself where you are at individually and let go of any judgments you have of yourself. Make a SMART goal that works for you, and celebrate your accomplishments. Pay attention to how you feel during and after you complete your organizing goal and use that as motivation for the next goal.

References

Roster, C. A., & Ferrari, J. R. (2020). Does Work Stress Lead to Office Clutter, and How? Mediating Influences of Emotional Exhaustion and Indecision. Environment and Behavior, 52(9), 923–944. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916518823041