Unpacking the Psychological Benefits of Spring Cleaning: How Tidying Up Can Clear Your Mind
- Rani Patel
- Apr 3
- 2 min read
Everyone knows about spring cleaning: what parents love and what kids dread. When I was younger, I always wondered why my mom would love to clean or even look forward to it. Little did I know that cleaning, in general, can improve one's overall health. The concept of spring cleaning originates from when houses were built with wood and lit with lanterns. When spring came around, the weather was warm enough to open the windows and doors and clean until the house shined. With kids going to school and parents going to work, there is less time to clean. So the question is: how does this tradition, which involves a lot of physical labor and is tiring, create such a strong feeling of accomplishment?
It Improves Your Mood
Spring cleaning is all about removing unnecessary clutter. Clutter in your house creates a sense that work is never done, underwhelming you. By organizing our houses, we are eliminating stress without knowing it. In life, there are many things that we cannot control that determine stress and anxiety, but staying organized and clean helps us feel relaxed.
It Boosts Your Health
Spring cleaning has shown that it can help you with breathing, except for allergies, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI). Moreover, cleaning helps eliminate allergens and prevents new ones from entering. This contributes to a sense of relaxation and physical well-being. Spring is about new beginnings when cleaning out the emotional closets that we have collected, your mind feels clearer and as if a weight was lifted.
It's Good Exercise
Spring cleaning can be an alternative to a gym membership. It burns 200 calories per hour. However, for it to be considered "good exercise," you need to do more than dust. Vacuuming, scrubbing floors, or picking weeds can also be considered "good exercise." The increased calories burned will reduce fatigue and increase your overall energy levels.
In conclusion, spring cleaning is beneficial to humans aesthetically and physically. Even though it can be exhausting, it makes you feel good about yourself. It is a calming process that detoxifies your mind and home simultaneously. So, the next time you dread spring cleaning, remember the benefits of this practice.
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