Spring cleaning may have begun with the practical concern of getting rid of the accumulated grime of a long winter, back when we’ve heated with wood or coal and lit with oil lamps.
But even today, with the benefits of electricity and robovacuums, 72% of Americans still do some form of spring cleaning.
So, what are some of the practical and emotional benefits we still derive from it even in our modern era?
Practical Benefits of Spring Cleaning
Letting in fresh air improves humidity and changes the oxygen balance. Sunlight shining in through freshly cleaned windows not only cheers us up, it helps clean the air. Deep cleaning removes allergens, like dust and pet dander.
Moreover, putting away bulky winter clothes makes room for lighter spring and summer wear. And purging closets and drawers of clutter makes life more efficient by giving us more space and making it easier to find things.
For excellent advice on how to approach the task of spring cleaning see Marie Kondo's The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up or Kim Carruthers’ book The Art of Tidying Up: how to de-clutter your life.
Emotional Benefits of Spring Cleaning
The emotional benefits of spring cleaning may actually outweigh the practical ones. For example, as a physical activity, spring cleaning gets us moving. We get some of the same benefits as running or biking. And, the sense of accomplishment releases those happy brain chemicals.
Moreover, the way our physical surroundings look affects how we feel, especially for women. One study showed that women who said their homes were messy had flatter daily slopes of the brain chemical cortisol, associated with depression. These women also showed greater increases in depressed mood, more fatigue in the evening, and found it more difficult to transition between work and home.
The facts show that clutter limits the brain’s ability to process information. It affects our mental and physical health. Just looking at clutter can bring on anxiety and make it harder to get things done.
Spring cleaning, on the other hand, makes us feel better. It improves mood, decreases stress, and heightens creativity. A house free of clutter and mess reduces stress. In fact, spring cleaning sets us up for more relaxed living. It gives us a fresh start when we’re stuck and things seem overwhelming. And when the house looks different, we feel more energized and ready to tackle the things in our lives that need attention.
How Clean Is “Clean?”
Just clean enough.
Your home or workspace don’t have to be pristine for optimal living and working. People differ on what is the most productive and efficient environment. You will have to find your own best level.
However, psychologists have reported that clients who take charge of cleaning and organizing may also take charge of their general health, i.e. like weight control.
Spring Cleaning Your Emotions
Spring cleaning your house benefits your physical surroundings and your emotions. But the principles of spring cleaning can also be applied to your emotional themselves. Things can pile up in your emotional life, just as they do in your physical environment. Anger, jealousy, hatred, sadness, all can end up being stuffed inside a mental closet when you can’t stand to face them.
This time of year, when you’re feeling more energized and motivated, is a good time to clean out that emotional closet by sorting through negative emotions, attitudes that hold you back, and relationships that don’t support you. In fact, reordering your priorities, revisiting your good intentions, and taking stock of what’s working and what’s not will help you move forward emotionally.
How can you get started?
1. Get Rid of What’s Dragging You Down
Pay attention to things that keep you up at night:
- Toxic relationships
- Suppressed emotions like worry or sadness.
- Unhealthy habits like overeating, smoking or drinking
- Over-scheduling
- Unrealistic expectations
- Self-criticism, guilt, and shame
- Holding a grudge
- Fears and pessimism
Notice negative thoughts and emotions that are taking up space in your brain, which could instead be used for creative, positive, and fulfilling thoughts and emotions.
2. Focus on Keeping Good Habits
Take stock of the good things in your life—the habits and activities that work for you.
- Good friends
- Exercise, adequate sleep, healthy eating
- Habits that support growth, like journaling and learning
- Habits that foster relaxation, like meditation
- Creative habits like art, hobbies, and creative enterprises
- Quality time with family and partner
- Healthy boundaries
- Self-esteem and self-forgiveness
Noticing what’s good in your life and the habits and practices you use to keep these good things is a positive part of emotional spring cleaning. Add new positive habits to your repertoire as you feel the need for them.
3. Notice and Accept Your Feelings
Being aware of and accepting your feelings precedes finding ways to cope with them. Bringing your feelings to the surface may take some time. Let yourself react. Take time alone. Write without censoring. Cry or yell if you need to.
Consider sorting through messy feelings part of your emotional spring cleaning.
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Along with the emotional benefits of physical spring cleaning, be aware of the benefits of spring cleaning your emotions. Getting your physical environment and your inner emotional environment clean and fresh will give you space to grow into a healthier, more productive, and happier you