For many of us the onset of spring is a reminder to start our annual spring overhauls – decluttering, organising, and cleaning! While spring cleaning has the obvious benefits of an organised closet, a sparkling counter top, and possibly more open spaces, more importantly, it has been associated with improved mood, decrease stress and heightened creativity!

Clutter can increase stress by distracting us and overwhelming our senses with extraneous stimuli – toppling piles and unsightly messes as well as associated smells and noises. Piles of papers can indicate that work is endless and that even when we finish what we are working on there is more to be done. If you think you are the only one with a few piles of junk around the house, think again. Most Aussies believe that work place environment and cleanliness are among their top five stressors.

Beyond negative emotional effects, a disorganised working area is also associated with less physical activity. On the contrary, organisation and order have been associated with choosing to eat more healthily, being more generous, and conventionality. With both the physical and psychological benefits to office cleaning and decluttering, why doesn’t everyone do it?

Even though many office dwellers believe a clean space will improve their performance, there are certain barriers to getting rid of the junk. The time and energy it takes to decide what you want and to make a plan are often saved for more crucial tasks. Furthermore, many of us would rather spend our few minutes of down time relaxing rather than organising our file cabinets.

Take comfort in knowing that your desks do not have to be pristine for optimal working. The key is finding what environment is most efficient and productive for you.  Studies have also shown that littered environments encourage more littering; once you make your space tidier, you won’t want to ruin your hard work.

So, while organizing and discarding items might not be enjoyable for everyone – the longer term psychological effects (not to mention more closet space) are reason enough to try a spring cleaning.

Be clean, b2b clean