I’ve never liked housekeeping, but always admired those who do. I constantly heard “I just can’t rest if there are dishes in the sink,” and I would say, “oh yeah… me too” – total lie. If I left myself to my most selfish wants, I could sleep all day with chaos in the kitchen. Anyone who knew me in high school and college knows, I was kind of a pig. There still is a bit of that tchotchke and, chaos-lover inside me: just ask my collection of salt shakers and art supplies, Christmas ornaments, and mason jars. Oo! And the antique sewing machine I can’t give away – even though I don’t sew. All of that considered, that doesn’t mean the chaos of a dirty and cluttered home doesn’t affect my peace.

I first noticed how much someone’s environment affected their mental health with my daughter. I would try to put her down in her room for a much needed nap (for the both of us). Her toys would be all over the floor, and it never worked. She couldn’t rest. So we started a cleanup routine before nap time, but bigger than that, I started to realize how much a clean home calmed me down too. It made me more creative. It made me calmer.

According to a study by The Institute of Education and Child Studies in the Netherlands, physical stress levels were higher for caregiving women in cluttered homes. They tested the stress hormone (salivary alpha-amylase [sAA]) in women’s saliva who were caregiving an infant simulator doll in messy and clean environments. The women in messy environments had higher sAA readings in the chaotic cluttered condition compared to the clean and neat condition. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666497621000643?via%3Dihub

Here goes “science” again, proving what we all know to be true. Calm environments lead to calm dispositions. I’ve noticed it feels like physical space leaves room for mental, emotional, and spiritual space. Not to mention, when a friend or family member swings by unannounced, you’re not ashamed of letting them in and having a cup of coffee.

All that said, we know what we need to do in order to be who we want to be. If we want to be peaceful people, it will be easier in an orderly environment. I guess cleanliness really is close to Godliness.

I also want peace for my kids, and I want to set them up to know what that feels like. So what have I learned about keeping house and calming my environment? Of course, not enough, but a few things. Here we go:

1. Don’t put it down – put it away: pretty straightforward. When you come home, don’t put your keys on the counter, hang them on the key hook. Don’t put your gum wrapper on the sidetable, take it to the trash. If you don’t have a spot for it, make a designated spot for it or toss it. After a while of implementing this, you’ll get into the habit of it, and it will be easy. Just remember, you’re setting an example for the rest of your family. They will NOT help you in this endeavor right away, so don’t get frustrated when they just put stuff down. Set the standard with your own actions.
2. Always have an outbox. If you buy things, you need to get rid of things. Also, I feel better knowing my things aren’t going to the trash, so I always have a thrift store box. There are some great thrift stores nearby: one that uses its proceeds to help kids who are runaways and homeless, and another that helps people who were victims of human trafficking. It helps me know that even if I give something away that I regret a few days, weeks, or months later (which come to think of it, I don’t think I ever have), I know that it went to help people I wouldn’t be able to help if left to my own devices… In short, it was worth it.
3. Check your drawers on laundry day. If there are things in the bottom of your drawer that you haven’t worn in weeks, and you would rather do laundry in your PJs than wear it, toss it! Donate it to a local thrift store, or, if ripped and stained, rip it up and go clean the floor behind the toilet with it, or scrub the window tracks with it, and toss it.
4. Think about the square footage you’re gaining. Is keeping it worth the real estate? If my house is worth $400,000 (for example) and it’s 2,000 sq. ft. That means, if you have a kid’s toy that takes up one of those 2,000 sq ft. It better be worth $200 in time, beauty, decor, health… something. Now, I know, I know, we’re talking square feet and not cubed feet, but it still helps give a base line. When I look at a pile of old sweatshirts and ill fitting t-shirts, I think, “That’s 3 square feet of space I just gained. That’s worth $600.”

Lastly, be patient with yourself. This stuff doesn’t happen overnight, and that’s ok. Enjoy your successes, and don’t expect to have a perfectly organized house tomorrow. It’ll happen – enjoy the process, and celebrate every time you gain an inch in your home.