News Daily


The Times Real Estate

Australia

  • Written by The Conversation
Why is a messy house such an anxiety trigger for me and what can I do about it?

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the sight of clutter and mess in your home? Have you walked in the door only to feel overloaded by scattered papers, unwashed dishes and clothes in disarray? Maybe you’ve even had arguments because it bothers you more than it bothers you partner or housemates.

You’re not alone. Many people report a messy house can trigger feelings of stress and anxiety.

So why do clutter and chaos make some of us feel so overwhelmed? Here’s what the research says – and what you can do about it.

Ever felt that mess bothers you more than it bothers you partner or housemates? Shutterstock

Read more: Sorry, men, there's no such thing as 'dirt blindness' – you just need to do more housework

Cognitive overload

When we’re surrounded by distractions, our brains essentially become battlegrounds for attention. Everything competes for our focus.

But the brain, as it turns out, prefers order and “singletasking” over multitasking.

Order helps reduce the competition for our attention and reduces mental load. While some people might be better than others at ignoring distractions, distractable environments can overload our cognitive capabilities and memory.

Clutter, disorder and mess can affect more than just our cognitive resources. They’re also linked to our eating, productivity, mental health, parenting decisions and even our willingness to donate money.

A woman looks at the camera while standing in a messy room. Mess can profoundly affect mental wellbeing. Shutterstock

Are women more affected than men?

Research suggests the detrimental effects of mess and clutter may be more pronounced in women than in men.

One study of 60 dual-income couples found women living in cluttered and stressful homes had higher levels of cortisol (a hormone associated with stress) and heightened depression symptoms.

These effects remained consistent even when factors like marital satisfaction and personality traits were taken into account. In contrast, the men in this study seemed largely unaffected by the state of their home environments.

The researchers theorised that women may feel a greater responsibility for maintaining the home. They also suggested the social aspect of the study (which involved giving home tours) may have induced more fear of judgement among women than men.

We will all live with clutter and disorganisation to some degree in our lives. Sometimes, however, significant clutter problems can be linked to underlying mental health conditions such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, hoarding disorder, major depressive disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and anxiety disorders.

This raises a crucial question: which came first? For some, clutter is the source of anxiety and distress; for others, poor mental health is the source of disorganisation and clutter.

Not all mess is a problem

It’s important to remember clutter isn’t all bad, and we shouldn’t aim for perfection. Real homes don’t look like the ones in magazines.

In fact, disorganised spaces can result in increased creativity and elicit fresh insights.

Living in constant disorder isn’t productive, but striving for perfectionism in cleanliness can also be counterproductive. Perfectionism itself is associated with feeling overwhelmed, anxiety and poor mental health.

A man cleans an already tidy house. We shouldn’t aim for perfection. Shutterstock

Mess makes me anxious so what can I do about it?

It’s important to remember you have some agency over what matters to you and how you want to prioritise your time.

One approach is to try to reduce the clutter. You might, for example, have a dedicated de-cluttering session every week. This may involve hiring a cleaner (if you can afford it) or playing some music or a podcast while tidying up for an hour with your other household members.

Establishing this routine can reduce clutter distractions, ease your overall mental load and alleviate worry that clutter will spiral out of control.

You can also try micro-tidying. If don’t have time for a complete cleanup, commit just five minutes to clearing one small space.

If the clutter is primarily caused by other household members, try to calmly discuss with them how this mess is affecting your mental health. See if your kids, your partner or housemates can negotiate some boundaries as a household over what level of mess is acceptable and how it will be handled if that threshold is exceeded.

A man and child sort laundry together. Managing mess is the whole household’s job. Shutterstock

It can also help to develop a self-compassionate mindset.

Mess doesn’t define whether you are a “good” or “bad” person and, at times, it may even stimulate your creativity. Remind yourself that you deserve success, meaningful relationships and happiness, whether or not your office, home or car is a mess.

Take comfort in research suggesting that while disorganised environments can make us susceptible to stress and poor decision-making, your mindset can buffer you against these vulnerabilities.

If clutter, perfectionism or anxiety has begun to seem unmanageable, talk with your GP about a referral to a psychologist. The right psychologist (and you may need to try a few before you find the right one) can help you cultivate a life driven by values that are important to you.

Clutter and mess are more than just visual nuisances. They can have a profound impact on mental wellbeing, productivity and our choices.

Understanding why clutter affects you can empower you to take control of your mindset, your living spaces and, in turn, your life.

Read more: Men do see the mess – they just aren't judged for it the way women are

Read more https://theconversation.com/why-is-a-messy-house-such-an-anxiety-trigger-for-me-and-what-can-i-do-about-it-211684

Top 5 Providers of SEO Focused Guest Posts in Florida You Can Trust

Many companies today aim to increase their online presence, which is a good use for guest blogging. In guest blogging, you compose content for the benefit of other websites that link back to yours. This promotes your business and increases... Read more

The Role of Litigation Lawyers in Brisbane

Litigation lawyers in Brisbane play a crucial role in the legal landscape, ensuring justice is accessible and efficiently administered for the clients they represent. They have expertise in handling disputes that may result in court proceedings, with their work encompassing... Read more

Edge Computing: Revolutionising Connectivity in the Digital Age

Edge computing is rapidly transforming how organisations process and manage data, bringing computational power closer to where it's most needed. In an increasingly connected world, Microsoft Azure services are at the forefront of this technological revolution, enabling businesses to leverage... Read more

What You Need to Know About Towing a Caravan

Towing a caravan can be an exciting way to explore Australia's vast landscapes, but it also comes with its own set of challenges. Whether you’ve just purchased a new caravan or are browsing caravans for sale, understanding the ins and... Read more

How to curb short-sightedness in kids

Kids should play outside more to reduce the risk of short-sightedness and potential adult blindnessWe are in the grips of a ‘myopia epidemic’: more than 20 per cent of Australians have myopia or short-sightedness, tipped to rise to 50 per... Read more

The Importance of Fast Energy Services in Your New House

Moving to a new place is challenging and accompanies a lot of work. From packing to getting everything to your new place and unpacking, there’s alot to consider. One important necessity people forget to check is if the electricity and... Read more