The Effects of a Messy Bedroom are Greater than Many Think

Our surroundings can have serious negative effects on our health and wellbeing. There are 25% of Americans living in at least a moderate amount of clutter. But when that mess is in the bedroom, it offers a special kind of threat to our wellbeing. We spend half our lives in our bedrooms.

A messy room can have a negative impact on both physical and mental health. The “background stress” that comes with clutter can increase anxiety and depression, and it may have lasting effects on blood pressure and the immune system. Further, a messy room can promote pests like dust mites, which can cause problems with asthma. Here's what we found out.

Background Stress

A messy room can take a toll on mental health. According to a Psychology Today report, being surrounded by clutter can make it harder to concentrate. It may also affect overall mental hygiene, leading to increased risks of anxiety and depression. This means the more time we spend wading through the clutter, the less effective we're likely to be in other areas of life.

Some researchers attribute this to “background stress,” which can be broken down into five areas: financial, occupational, environmental, medical and social. Research has shown environmental background stress, such as clutter, can have severe effects on a person’s well-being. People subjected to this and other types of chronic low-level stress may also react more poorly to acute stressors, which could have lasting effects on blood pressure and immune function.

You can remedy the effects of background stress in your bedroom by adopting these simple habits:

• Establish a spot for everything, even your jacket or bathrobe. Over the side of a chair doesn’t count.
• Make your bed every day to set the cleaning mood and motivate yourself to keep the room looking nice.
• Fold and put away laundry as soon as it’s out of the dryer.
• Give yourself adequate storage, such as shelves and cubbies, to keep items organized.

Asthma and Bugs

A messy room is harder to clean than a well-organized one, and if you aren’t vacuuming and dusting every corner regularly, you may end up with some serious problems. More clutter means more places for pests to make their homes, and when that home is your bedroom, the effects can extend into your physical health.

One of the biggest problems is dust mites. Responsible for six different types of allergens — one of which can be found in their fecal matter — dust mites are a major factor in the development of childhood asthma and a common irritant for asthmatics of all ages. The microscopic bugs most commonly colonize mattresses and pillows, but they can also make their homes in plush toys, carpeting, drapes and more.

We can keep dust mites under control by washing the sheets weekly in hot water and removing clutter. Make sure floors are clear of dirty laundry and other items the little allergen-makers could be using as additional breeding grounds. Other areas we could be neglecting include shelves, windowsills and the space beneath the bed.

If our most intimate space is messy, it’s time to do something about it. We can reduce our background stress, slow the threat of dust mites and keep the clutter from developing into an unmanageable problem. Our rooms are our most sacred spaces, so why not start today in making them the healthiest and happiest places they can be?

Copyright 2019, Wellness.com