Cleaning & Tidying - Why Bother?

Ah, cleaning and tidying. It's something that we all have to do at some point in our lives (for many of us poor suckers, it's an ongoing, regular, never-ending 😫 occurrence!). Some people love it, but let's be real - most of us don't!

If you're "some people", then you're very lucky and I envy you. For the rest of us poor slobs, cleaning and tidying can sometimes (or oftentimes, depending on who you ask) just feel like way too much effort.

It's time-consuming, it can be physically demanding and sometimes it's just plain gross (Eg. cleaning a skid-marked toilet, pulling hairy clogs from the sink, or wiping up whatever the hell that is that's leaked all over the inside of the bin 🤢).

In this fast-paced, time-poor culture that we're currently living in, we often have so much going on in our lives that cleaning can seem like a real hassle - especially if you're working full time and have so many other things that you need to fit into those precious few hours of freedom that you get each week.

When you have so many other priorities in your life, you might be tempted to put cleaning on the back burner because, well, is it really that important?

The answer to that question is going to look a little different for everyone and it really depends on what your priorities are.

If cleaning isn't much of a priority for you, here are a few reasons that it may be a little more important than you think (some of these reasons you may not even be consciously aware of!).

Opting not to keep your environment clean and tidy can lead to:

Increased Mental Clutter

They say that the state of your external world is a reflection of your internal world - if your mind is a mess, then chances are, your home, car and workspace are as well, but the opposite can also be true.

A messy home/ car/ workspace can result in increased mental clutter making it hard for you to focus, concentrate and/ or relax - even if you don't consciously realise it.

Take a minute to tidy the room you're currently sitting in (or relocate yourself to the least-messy room in your house and tidy that instead). Pay close attention to the way you feel beforehand compared to the way you feel afterward.

Even if you weren't consciously aware that the mess was bothering you, chances are, now that the room is clean and tidy, you feel more calm, relaxed, peaceful and clear-headed.

The state of our environment has much more of an effect on our mental state than we realise.

Feelings Of Stress, Anxiety and Overwhelm

Even if you've opted to watch tv, read a book, or catch up with friends instead, chances are, deep down, your subconscious knows that you're going to have to deal with that mess eventually, which can lead to feelings of stress, anxiety and overwhelm.

You don't feel like cleaning, so you let your space get messy and you tell yourself that you'll deal with it later. "Later" rolls around and you still don't feel like cleaning, so you procrastinate and do something else instead.

The longer you procrastinate, the worse the mess becomes. The worse the mess becomes, the more you procrastinate. Eventually, the mess becomes so out of control that just looking at or thinking about trying to tackle it brings along all sorts of uncomfortable feelings (such as those mentioned above).

Although it's easier said than done, it's better to stay on top of your cleaning before it gets out of control. Life's hard enough without adding extra (and unnecessary) stress!

Inconvenience, Disorganisation & Losing Things

One of the most irritating things about being in a messy environment is just how damn inconvenient  and frustrating it can be.

You can't find your car keys, so you end up being late for work, which starts your day off on the wrong foot because now your manager and your colleagues are mad at you.

You get out of bed in the morning and have to weave your way around piles of clothes scattered all over the floor, tripping on a stray shoe which causes you to stub your toe on the dresser.

You have plans to go out on a Friday night and want to wear your favourite shirt but just realised that it's still in the laundry basket after you spilled juice on it the other week and now you don't know what to wear.

It may seem inconvenient to wash your plate and cutlery immediately after dinner, but it's definitely nowhere near as inconvenient as having to wash up before you eat in a sink stacked full of dirty dishes because you have no clean plates left.

Feelings Of Shame & Potentially Embarrassing Situations

It's always nice to have your friends over for a pizza night or your family over for a weekend BBQ but what happens when someone you know decides to drop in unexpectedly?

If your house is a mess, you may be tempted to hide behind the lounge and pretend you're not home, but what if they've already seen you through the window and now you have to let them in? Chances are that you may feel ashamed that this person (or people if you're super unlucky!) now knows that you live in such squallor.

You may try to make yourself feel better by reminding yourself that at least they haven't seen the state of your bathroom! Until they mention that they really need to pee. You then wonder how you'll ever look this person in the eye again. Is there any coming back from this?

You don't have to keep your house looking like a display home, but it could be a good idea to make sure your bathrooms and main living areas are clean and tidy so that you don't lose face in front of your friends and family during one of their random pop-ins.

Potential Health Risks & Uninvited Pests

Not only can a messy environment be bad for your mental and emotional health, it can also be bad for your physical health.

Mould and dust can contribute to respiratory issues and increase allergy symptoms such as sinus pain and congestion, coughing, sneezing and itchy eyes, and failing to wash your dishes properly or disinfect your surfaces can lead to nasty bacteria that can make you sick.

Neglecting to keep your space clean can also lead to all sorts of nasty pests such as mice, rats, ants and cockroaches infesting your home. These pests can bring in diseases and leave their droppings everywhere which is not a healthy environment to spend your time in.

Now that you are aware of some of the negative impacts that can be caused by mess and clutter in your home, do yourself a favour - wash your dishes, clean your bathroom, vac and mop the floors, put your things away, wash your clothes and bedding, throw out the trash, wipe away the dust and pet dander.

It may not be easy or enjoyable, but once you're done, I can guarantee that you'll feel a whole lot better.

Now that your space is clean and tidy, give yourself a pat on the back and reap the rewards of a clear mind, better physical and mental health, and a sense of pride, accomplishment and calm. Also, enjoy feeling organised and knowing where your things are!

How do you feel about cleaning? Do you love it, or do you hate it? What state is your environment in right now? Is it clean and tidy, or, after reading this article are you off to give it a good scrub? I'd love to hear from you!

Happy to have you here and I hope you have a great day/ night! 

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Hope to have you back soon. Thanks for reading.

Lisa. 😊xx