Spring cleaning isn't just a chance to dust off the furniture and clear away the cobwebs in your home. It can also help to improve your mental health by making some significant improvements to your living environment. If you've been on the fence about whether you want to tackle spring cleaning head-on this year, take a look at some of the key benefits of those tasks for your mental health.
Physical Benefits of Spring Cleaning
As you work through each room of your home, there are multiple physical health benefits to spring cleaning. A less cluttered house means there's a lower risk of falls and injuries as you navigate it. In addition, ditching unwanted items or furniture can decrease overall clutter and give you fewer things to run into as you move through the house. Furthermore, spring cleaning can help reduce dust and pollen or identify areas of mold that need to be scrubbed away after the long, cold winter, which means that you can improve air quality throughout the house.
Mental Benefits of Spring Cleaning
Not only are there physical benefits of spring cleaning, but you may also notice some mental health improvements. For example, taking on the task of organizing each room can give you a sense of pride as your home slowly transforms into an organized and tidy living space. There are also other mental benefits to spring cleaning including:
Reduce Stress
Many people find that simply looking at the mess around them causes a great deal of stress. In the back of your mind, you always know that it's a task that needs to be taken care of, but you might not yet be ready to dig in and do it. By jumping in with spring cleaning, you can often feel that stress drain away since you know you're actively taking care of those tasks.
Improve Sleep Quality
Sleeping in a cluttered area can contribute to reduced sleep quality. When your space is tidy, on the other hand, it can create a sense of relaxation as you drift off, which may help you get better overall sleep.
Enhanced Mood
Simply looking at a clean, organized space can help improve mood. For many people, it's an instant pick-me-up that helps them feel encouraged throughout the day.
Spring Cleaning Tips
Perhaps the best way to begin a spring cleaning project is to start with smaller tasks. No task is too small here, so begin by tackling one shelf or drawer at a time until the entire space has been organized. After that, it may be helpful to sort through individual items and determine if they should stay around or not. Doing this will help you create an environment free of extra clutter that might otherwise cause stress and frustration over time.
Finally, it's essential to give yourself breaks as you take on your spring cleaning journey — there's no need to rush into things quickly! Instead, make sure you're chipping away at it little by little every day until everything is accomplished.
Get Help with Regular Home Care Tasks (Including Cleaning!)
As seniors age, many of them notice a decline in physical capability that can make it more difficult for them to keep up with essential cleaning tasks. Unfortunately, that can make spring cleaning even more daunting--and it can make it difficult to keep the house clean even once you've accomplished those tasks. At Senior Helpers Hillsborough County, we offer regular help with home and self-care tasks to seniors in Sun City Center, Riverview, Brandon, Valrico, Tampa, and Lithia. Contact us today to get a better idea of what senior care options might be right for you.