Spring Cleaning: Amazing but Why?

As April begins, we tend to gravitate towards the flutter of spring cleaning.

It does feel amazing to air out the house and organize closets, but what is the draw for us to do so at this time of year?

There are some historical connections based in religions that evoke spring cleaning tasks as well. In the Jewish faith, cleaning in this season is linked to Passover, symbolized by families removing the yeast bread from their homes. In Christianity, Catholics clean the alter before Good Friday, and Greek Orthodox members straightened up their homes a week before lent begins. During the Persian New Year celebration of Nowruz, Iranians take spring cleaning to an extreme level with the concept of khooné takoonee, literally, shaking of the house. Before the moment of the new year, everything in the house is completely cleaned and renewed.

During the winter months, we hibernate. We are content to sleep longer and snuggle under blankets on the couch. With less sunlight, our bodies produce more melatonin, which is the hormone that triggers us to sleep.

Now that the days are becoming brighter, the increase in sunlight gets us energized. We shake off the tired feeling and begin to get to work.

Clutter can be tied to low productivity. It can overwhelm our brains with excess stress and racing thoughts. This robs the mind of motivation. It is a repetitive cycle, really.

Women especially are affected by the stress that a cluttered home can cause. Stress releases the hormone cortisol. And while it is needed to help us move past uncomfortable situations, chronic secretion and high levels of cortisol can have negative effects on the body.

Also, at least for me, with the rays of sunshine coming through the windows, I definitely notice the dust from the past season that has settled in some places. (And I notice my dirty windows!)

Nature has a sense of humor and knows what she is doing.