Days are getting shorter, and the sun is coming out less. As fall begins, approximately 10% of Americans will experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (or SAD), a “type of depression that occurs with the changing of seasons.” To combat the disorder, medical experts for years have recommended “light therapy”, medication, and CBT therapy. This year, they’re adding another solution: cleaning your home.
In Jeanne E. Arnold & Anthony P. Graesch’s Life at Home in the Twenty-First Century: 32 Families Open Their Doors, which was published in 2014 but has since returned to shelves after renewed interest, the two authors discovered a connection between “high clutter levels” and “high cortisol levels.” “It’s difficult to find time to sort, organize and manage these possessions,” Graesch said in an interview in 2021. “Thus, our excess becomes a visible sign of unaccomplished work that constantly challenges our deeply ingrained notions of tidy homes and elicits substantial stress.” To put it more bluntly: “The stress of the material world can get to anybody.”
At SoClean Miami, our team has put together a guide on how cleaning your home this fall––even if it’s just for a few minutes–– can reduce your symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder.
It’ll Provide a Sense of Control
You may not be able to control the season, but you can control the little things, i.e how your home looks. As Clinical psychologist Dawn Potter, PsyD, explained in an interview with Cleveland Clinic in 2021, regularly cleaning your home helps people “know where everything is… And there’s also just a peace of mind from having an aesthetically pleasing place to wake up in and return to at the end of your workday, or if you’re working from home, of course, just to have your workday feel smooth and organized and put together.
It’ll Make Your Home Smell Better, Which Can Boost Your Serotonin Levels
Think of it as aromatherapy, which is often used to treat depression and anxiety. According to Science Direct, “Citrus Aurantium has stimulating effects on the central nervous system and contains Linalool and limonene, which have sedative properties and suppress anxiety symptoms.” As promoted by Psychology Today, scents like “pine, lavender, and frankincense,” also have healing abilities.
It’ll Reduce Your Cortisol Levels
Living amongst clutter can negatively impact your mood. In an article from Very Well Mind, the outlet reported that a “clutter environment can increase stress, confusion, and irritability.” A messy home can also affect your visual cortex, “making it harder to focus and complete projects efficiently.”
The cleaner your home is, the better you’ll feel.
Don’t Feel Like Cleaning Your House This Fall? Book Your Appointment with SoClean Miami Today.
As the #1 cleaning service in Miami, SoClean Miami specializes in residential cleaning services, office cleanings, boat cleanings, and Airbnb rental cleanings. Schedule your first appointment with us today on our website or on our WhatsApp, and get 10% off.