5 Reasons Why Cleaning Your Home is Good for Your Health
2 min read
New year, new start! It is a common tradition for many Chinese families to clean their house for Lunar New Year, believing it would drive away bad luck and bring new hope to the coming year. In fact, there are multiple benefits a good housekeeping habit can bring to our health, as studies suggest. Here’s why:
#1 Physical exercise for your body
Cleaning can be a great workout for your body! It gets your body moving and burns calories for you! Scrub the sink, vacuum the floors, wipe the windows… you can readily get a full body workout without having to visit a gym.
#2 Gain a sense of control
Cleaning is as much a beneficial activity to your mind as it is to your body. The cleaning activity itself can produce a calming effect on your mind, while organization can give you a sense of control over your space. If you ever feel like life is out of control, it may be a good starting point to clean up your room. Bringing order to your environment may help you regain control over matters. After the tedious chores, you will be rewarded with a satisfying sense of accomplishment with a tidy room in sight.
#3 Decluttering relieves stress, anxiety, and depression
A messy living environment very often causes stress and contributes to psychological problems such as anxiety and depression. Rather than a sanctuary for rest and relaxation, a cluttered home can become a source of stress for its residents, who are found to have a higher level of cortisol, our body’s main stress hormone. Not only does a disorganized living space constantly remind you of your unfinished work and chores, but it also exhausts your energy and time when items take longer to be located. Henceforth, decluttering your home may relieve your stress and brighten up your mood with a pleasant living space.
#4 Easier to concentrate
What’s more, a clean home provides an ideal environment for you to better concentrate on tasks. A messy room in view can affect the ability of your brain to process information and thus prevent you from focusing. On the contrary, a clean environment boosts your productivity and efficiency when you work.
Sleep quality can also be enhanced when you are less likely distracted before sleep. For example, a survey conducted by the National Sleep Foundation suggests that a chore as simple as making the bed in the morning could be associated with good sleep at night.
#5 Reduce your chance of getting sick
Regular and thorough cleanings of your home help you get rid of allergens like dust, dander and molds, consequently lowering the chance of triggering allergic reactions and asthma symptoms. Environmental hygiene is also essential to keep pests away and prevent the spread of germs. It is definitely worth your effort to clear food debris and the hiding spots of cockroaches or other bugs before they settle and multiply in your home, for the sake of your family’s health.
After reading about the health benefits of cleaning, why not welcome the new year with a spring cleaning for your house? But before that, here’s a reminder: be careful not to do it on the first day of the lunar year (February 1, 2022), or it is said to sweep away your good fortune for the coming year!
This article was independently written by Healthy Matters and is not sponsored. It is informative only and not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be relied upon for specific medical advice.