Mess can really make you feel the stress. So when your home is in chaos, your brain can feel like it’s in total chaos, too.
By Nicole Fuge, Mama Disrupt® Managing Editor
For me, a messy house equals a messy mind.
And I often feel really triggered by the message – ignore the mess, it’s what a ‘normal’ house with kids is supposed to look like.
Don’t get me wrong, I understand the intention. As modern mamas, we already have enough on our plates, the last thing we need is pressure to have perfectly clean houses all the time. And I agree. But when the kids are being tiny tornadoes my house is in chaos, it’s all a bit too much.
So if you’re like me and wondering why this happens. here are a few reasons why mess equals stress.
“HAVING A CLEAN AND ORGANISED SPACE [AS MUCH AS YOU CAN WITH KIDS] CAN HELP REDUCE STRESS AND PROMOTE A SENSE OF CALM AND CONTROL IN YOUR LIFE AS A MUM.”
1. Overstimulation
A cluttered environment can be visually and mentally overstimulating, making it difficult for your brain to focus and process information. And this constant stimulation can make you feel even more stressed and anxious.
2. Lack of control
As a self-confessed control freak, motherhood came as a shock, because I quickly realised I can’t control everything.
And having a messy house can make you feel as though you have lost control over your environment, leading to feelings of helplessness and stress.
3. Time management
A disorganised space can make it harder to find things when you need them [like when you’re trying to wrangle the kids and you’re already running late]. Running around looking for things can feel like a massive waste of time and make you more stressed.
4. Guilt and self-judgement
Society [and social media] often place expectations on mothers to maintain a clean and organised home. So if your house looks like a bomb went off, you may feel guilt and self-judgment, which can contribute to more stress.
5. Health concerns
I used to stress a lot about the cleanliness of my home when my kids were babies and crawling around. I knew they need a certain level of exposure to build up their immunity, but because dust and allergens can affect their health, I needed our home to look and feel clean.
6. Impact on children
A disorganised environment can also affect a children’s behaviour, making them more agitated or less focused – and this can increase your stress as you try to manage their big emotions and your own.
Declutter your home and declutter your mind
To reduce stress, consider setting aside time to declutter. Break the task into smaller, manageable steps and get the whole family involved. You can even turn it into a fun game.
Having a clean and organised space [as much as you can with kids] can help reduce stress and promote a sense of calm and control in your life as a mum. It’s worth a try, right?
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