Cleaning, the never-ending battle against dust and grime, is a chore most of us would rather avoid. Why spend hours scrubbing floors when we could be binge-watching our favourite shows or enjoying a nap? The thought of tackling that mountain of laundry or the dishes piled high in the sink is enough to make anyone shudder.
And let’s not forget the endless search for the right cleaning supplies – who knew there were so many types of sponges? It’s no wonder we come up with creative excuses to dodge this dreaded task. After all, a little mess never hurt anyone, right?
However, if you want to live a long and healthy life, you might want to think about picking up your sponge of choice, be it a Magic Erasers or microfibre cloth, right now…
It’s being reported that researchers have revealed a link between doing regular housework and continued health in old age. In a study published by a team of researchers based in Singapore, it was found that those in the 65-90 age bracket who engaged in what they termed ‘heavy housework’ (such as floor scrubbing) for, on average, more than 131 minutes a week, scored higher in cognition and attention. Even ‘light housework’ such as daily dusting led to improved memory.
Much of this isn’t actually related to the work at hand, of course, but rather, the mitigation of the ill effects of an overly sedentary existence. Indeed, ‘sit to stand times’ is a term used regularly within the study, and a ratio we should all be working on. But if you’re managing to skew that ratio in favour of standing whilst also getting your house looking spick and span…well, everyone’s a winner, right?
If you’re still not sold and are wondering how keeping your home clean can improve your wellbeing, you’ve come to the right place…
Sense of Accomplishment
Research has found links between having a sense of purpose and developing stronger resilience. What better way to work towards a goal than keeping a tidy house?
Even better is to align those daily goals to your values. If you’re an environmentally conscious person, for example, using eco-friendly sheets of laundry detergent will not only make sure your favourite hoodie is clean, but it will also chime with your goals to be greener. As the guys at Living Well point out, it can be excellent for your self esteem to identify ‘’an action or behaviour that will bring your life more in line with a particular value.’’
Better Time Management
How many times have you let the dishes pile up until flies stalk the sink, or not dealt with an overflowing washing basket until there’s a risk you’ll have to go to work tomorrow in your birthday suit? We all know just how fast these jobs go from minor inconveniences to major undertakings, until it isn’t just about getting it sorted anymore, but more a process of project management. Where do you even start and when will it all be over?
Effective cleaning is all about scheduling, routine and timing things with precision. A simple way to pull this off is by tackling things room by room; set aside a day of the week or a specific time slot to clean a particular room or space, and stick to it.
In doing so, you’ll develop an invaluable life skill, of better personal time management.
The Power of Aroma
Aromatherapy can boost our mood and wellbeing, and it’s no secret that our sense of smell plays a huge part in our emotions. Being in a house that has that fresh and clean smell is an uplifting feeling that can’t be replicated.
Of course, the ideal smell is a subjective thing, but many consider the aroma of lavender or chamomile to be particularly evocative of a peaceful space. Alternatively, the guys at Entrepreneur suggest lemon, jasmine or rosemary to be particularly soothing in times of emotional stress.
SENSE OF CONTROL
Not only is unnecessary clutter a clinically proven demotivator, but it’s also a physical barrier to getting stuff done. It’s not only cleaning that will inevitably suffer if you’re simply repositioning superfluous items; it’s also your sense of control.
Not feeling in control of things can leave us feeling helpless and stressed. Feeling more in control of your situation by being more organised is definitely something that will help improve your mood, whether it’s because you have a neater room or just because you’re more aware of your general living environment.
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Now to perhaps the most important impact of housework on health; the idea of cleaning as exercise. Indeed, when cleaning is done right, it’s said to burn 90 calories every quarter of an hour. Once you embrace the time spent with mop, bucket or brush as valuable, you’ll find it hangs over you far less.
This might be a bit more challenging, but really rolling up your sleeves and getting stuck into housework can be a very good way of taking care of your mental health. If you feel like you have some frustration you need to let out, throw yourself into the more difficult cleaning tasks, like scrubbing the floor or organising the attic. When you feel your blood pumping and your mind focused on one thing, it’s extremely therapeutic to take that pent-up energy out on something.
AVOID THE RISK OF ILLNESS PHYSICAL INJURY
Of course, on the most practical of levels, a clean and tidy house is also a safer one. Experts suggest that having a clean house can strengthen your immune system, keeping allergies at bay and preventing some respiratory issues. In the kitchen, good sanitisation prevents the spread of foodborne illness, too, and a tidy space in the heart of the home could well encourage healthier cooking practices, too.
And finally, in terms of physical injury, the presence of mess and clutter increases the chance of trips and falls. A concerted effort to remove shoes from the top of the stairs, boxes from the middle of the room and those upturned pieces of lego out of the path from bed to bathroom are all great ways to lower your chance of getting injured at home.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Cleaning…is there anything it can’t do? Superb for keeping the dangers of a sedentary lifestyle at bay, harnessing a daily sense of accomplishment and developing purpose, housework can also help us nurture effective time management skills.
But that’s not all; a clean house can be used to channel the positive aspects of aromatherapy, and one free of clutter is one less likely to cause injury to the occupant. Finally, and most importantly, regular cleaning is a great form of physical exercise. And with that, we’re off to buy a new duster!