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We've all heard about the benefits of healthy eating, regular exercise, setting aside some time to relax and doing more of the things we love but can decluttering our home really offer health benefits as well?

As stress is more prevalent in our lives than ever before, psychologists have looked into the causes and although there are many, it has been found that a disorganised, untidy and clutter-filled home is not only a symptom of stress, but it can also cause it as well.

The thought of setting aside some time to do a big clear-out may not be a very appealing one so if you’re lacking motivation in this area, here are just a few of the health benefits of decluttering which may help.

Decreases cortisol levels

Cortisol is a steroid hormone that regulates a wide range of processes in our bodies including controlling blood sugar levels, regulating our metabolism, influencing memory formation and even our blood pressure. Most of us will have heard of it because it plays a very important role in helping the body respond to stress. If we’re producing too much of the hormone, it can lead to a variety of health problems and the main reason for increased cortisol production is stress.

So what does this have to do with how tidy your house is? Research has revealed that we secrete cortisol when surrounded by disarray - such as a disorganised, cluttered and chaotic home. Your house should be somewhere you can relax and forget about the stresses of the day so get cleaning. Be ruthless with throwing away things you really don't need and any excess items you're not sure what to do with, put into self storage so it's out the way.

Mental and physical health benefits

According to a study that was published in Time Magazine, a clean home isn't just a nice thing to have - it's actually a necessity for good mental and physical health. Researchers tracked the physical health of nearly 1,000 volunteers and it was found that those with the cleanest homes were the healthiest and the most active.

One of the main reasons for this is because the majority of us spend an incredible 90% of our time indoors. This means that we're breathing in dust mites, pet dander, mould, pollen, bug skeletons and toxins from cleaning products. All of these toxins manifest themselves as symptoms most people attribute to allergies but is in fact the result of an unclean house.

Reduces anxiety

A cluttered home is a stressful place to be. Just looking around at the mess can cause anxiety to build up and we all know how frustrating it is when you're looking for something but can't find it among the drawers and cupboards full of useless things we insist on keeping.

Having cluttered surfaces is distracting because there is so much for the eye to take in. Decluttering can make it easier to relax however because you're removing visual stimuli and it has even been known to help insomniacs get a better night\’s sleep. Your bedroom and every other room in your house should be a calm and restful space where you can relax and wind down from the pressures of everyday life.

If you would like information about the self storage facilities we have available in your area, please feel free to contact M Store and we will be more than happy to help.