As the flowers begin to sprout again and new leaves begin to grow on what looked like dead trees, we begin to get excited about spring. This season, which fortunately the climate of our country offers every year, has always represented a time to resume, a time to "blossom". In fact, if Mother Nature thinks of this time as a new beginning, why not us?
When Franchell Hamilton - doctor, psychologist and chemist - put the whole house to work to clean, she was surprised by the feeling she got afterwards.
"I noticed that this once scary task was actually quite enjoyable and I was trying to figure out where it came from. In those moments, I felt like I had just cleared my mood," she says.
Hamilton then adds:
"One of the reasons was that I could do this with my family. I also felt that as I cleaned up, I had a sense of purpose, no matter how idiotic it may sound."
Other health benefits of "spring cleaning"
1. Helps you to (refresh). Even if you are throwing away or donating things that you no longer need at home and that you have had there for years or are just cleaning up, you are shifting your energy. Thus, you are more open to change and you are in a better "space" to move forward.
2. Cleaning can make you happier. Leading psychological research has linked clutter to stress and anxiety and found that keeping the house clean and tidy has a positive benefit on your mental health. Research has also shown that every hour of cleansing you do each week is associated with a 53% increase in happiness.
3. Burn calories. Individual cleaning tasks such as vacuuming, ironing and gardening are physical activities that can burn from 150 to 300 calories per hour.
4. Better concentration and less stress. A study by the Institute of Neuroscience, Princeton, found that in disorganized spaces, people are more stressed, confused, and less productive. Clutter can visually distract and serve as an annoying reminder of unwashed tasks and chores, while cleaning gives people a sense of mastery and control over their environment.
Now, you can get to work!
Source: Psychology Today
