October might conjure up images of
sweaters, pumpkin lattes and Halloween celebrations, but it also
happens to be health literacy month! And while piles of leaves add
festivity to this autumnal season, piles of clutter and an endless,
unfulfilled mission to get organized can actually impact your
physical and mental health in the same way a poor diet or lack of
exercise does. Here are just a few ways clearing clutter will help
you get back on track to being the healthiest version of yourself –
Just in time for the start of the holidays.
Reduces stress and depression
According
to a study in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin,women
who described their homes as “full of unfinished projects” or
“cluttered” had higher levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, and
also reported feeling more fatigued and depressed than those who said
their home were “restful” or “restorative.” Inversely, when
you clear the physical stuff, your mental space will feel more clear,
relaxed and happy. So do yourself a favor and jump on those
de-cluttering projects now. You'll feel so much lighter.
Helps you eat healthier and lose
weight
Speaking of lighter, did you know that
you're more likely to choose unhealthier foods in a cluttered
environment? Since clutter is stressful for the brain, you'll crave
comfort foods and tend to overeat, leading to weight gain over time
and a myriad of closely connected health problems. In fact, those who
live in super cluttered home are 77
percent more likely to be overweight or obese. Moreover, people
who work in a tidy environment are two times more likely to choose an
apple to eat rather than a chocolate bar, according
to a study from Psychological Science. So if you don't
want to snack all day at your desk, simply organize it – and keep
it that way.
Improves relationships
An organized life can lead to better
relationships. In partnerships like marriage or roommate situations,
clutter can cause tension, strain and conflict. The time you spend
arguing about cleaning habits or looking for missing things around
the house could be better spent on bonding activities. Likewise, a
messy house could lead to shame and embarrassment, making you less
likely to invite friends over – And it's been proven that
maintaining strong
relationships can help ward off stress and depression.
Boosts productivity
Clutter is distracting – Literally.
In fact, it can interfere with your ability to process information by
overstimulating your visual cortex, according
to the Journal of Neuroscience. That means getting
organized will help streamline your thought process, making you a
more productive and efficient worker – And as an added bonus, if
you're more efficient as your job, you'll have more free time to
spend with people you love and hobbies you enjoy.
Helps you sleep
Clutter equals stress (even if you
don't realize it), and stress typically does not lead to a good
night's sleep. More specifically, even something as simple as making
your bed impacts your ability to catch zzz's. So do yourself a
favor and create a restful, clutter-free environment in your bedroom.
Decreases your risk of a heart
attack
Last but definitely not least,
organizing
and cleaning can lower your risk of having a cardiovascular incident,
according to Reader's Digest. They reported that in a Swedish study,
participants who did the most yard work, DIY projects and organizing
had a 30 percent lower risk of suffering from a heart attack. One
more reason to roll up your sleeves and get to work around the house!
