The Science Of Spring Cleaning
Cleaning is practically a Spring institution!
Source: The Honest Company on Unsplash
A spring was in our steps this week as September rolled around, and with it came the first week of, you guessed it, Spring!
And what a glorious start – instant warmer weather and brighter days, with some parts of the country reaching the high 20s and early 30s on the thermometer towards the end of the week.
This season always brings with it much more optimism, as we cast off the sleepy hibernation of winter and throw open the shutters to the world once again.
Many of us find that with renewed warmth and more sunlight, mustering the energy for more activity outside and around the house becomes easier and more enjoyable, and taking a much-needed walk is a rewarding experience, rather than a cold, quick traverse from one place to another. Spring is a time when strolling with no particular place to go becomes our relaxation prerogative.
But perhaps the institution this season is most notable for is the ultimate yearly spring clean. Some dread it, some revel in a chance to bring up their homes new again – either way it’s something we have all fully been made aware of at some point. But did you know it’s a notion that goes way back?
Spring cleaning isn’t a new concept.
Source: Jennifer Burk on Unsplash.
With documented origins attributed to several different lands and times, from civilisations getting ready for harvest festivals to religious groups preparing their holy places for observances and holidays, the tradition of spring cleaning has been handed down to us through the ages. Some even say the act of spring cleaning came from the necessary airing out of houses adopted from practices in colder countries where homes are shut up all winter and sooty fires are the primary heat source.
While we don’t have to contend with that sort of next-level grime in most Australian homes, the notion is here to stay – with shops even having spring cleaning sales, which defeats the purpose of spring cleaning if you think about it.
But perhaps why the real, time-honoured tradition of spring cleaning has survived millennia is because the psychology of it and it’s positive psychological effects have shown us that it has so many benefits for our wellbeing, mental health and productivity, and just helps us to feel happier all round.
Winter is usually associated with tiredness due to decreased sunlight triggering more melatonin production, at times depression due to decreased vitamin D or seasonal affective disorder, and generally staying indoors, putting our energies into keeping warm and doing as little as possible.
According to psychology, disorganised spaces are more often than not signs of lower physical activity, which may explain why we all tend to let our homes go a bit over the colder months.
But when Spring comes to town and that heaviness is lifted, we find the clutter and confusion that was created from many hours spent indoors is now distracting and stressful – and finally feel a compulsion to do something about it.
Cleaning is the new feel-good.
Source: The Creative Exchange on Unsplash
If this sounds like you and how you approach Spring each year, you’re in for a treat.
Spring cleaning has been shown to reduce stress, improve mood and heighten creativity. And studies have gone on further to say that organised and uncluttered spaces actually promote us to eat healthier and be more generous. Additionally, those who take charge of keeping their homes clean and tidy usually also take charge of their general health, including weight – new diet idea? Cleaning! Not to mention, it provides much-needed exercise.
No wonder why these lifestyle behaviours are more actively pursued in Spring, not only because the weather is more desirable and we all want summer-ready bodies, but our spring cleaning is a triggering effect for better behaviours that make us feel good.
So whether you’re doing just a good clean, a KonMari or basically setting your house on fire and starting again, spring cleaning is infectious because it literally makes us better people as we embark on a season of prosperity.
This year I’ve gone one step further by incorporating plants in the form of an indoor windowsill herb garden into my spring cleaning regime, which is another great idea to enhance your now uncluttered space – and reduce stress while enhancing productivity, plant experts say. While I am the master at killing all forms of flora, all you need is a kit and handy instructions to get you well on your way to a truly serene, green space.
If this doesn’t sound like you yet but you really want to start adopting the annual tradition, psychologists say it’s actually an easier habit to take up than you may think – even if you hate housework.
Your spaces “do not have to be pristine”, says an article in Psychology Today. Littered environments promote more littering, so all you need to do is ensure your space is cleaner or tidier than it was, and the most efficient for you personally, to trigger the health and lifestyle benefits that spring cleaning offers.
Sometimes I think that maybe our New Year’s Resolutions shouldn’t just be reserved for the beginning of a new calendar year, they should be made as a salute to Spring because it’s in this fine season that the real change and personal growth begins – one microfibre dusting cloth and op shop run at a time...
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