Having a messy room does not mean you are depressed. But, depression can increase the chances of having an irregular space.

Have you ever noticed how a messy environment in front of your eyes completely changes your mood?

The physical environment has a powerful influence on our emotions, but does the environment where you live and work every day reflect your state of mind?

First, we have different levels of concept about order and cleanliness, but the commitments of the week, work, spouse, children, home and anything else that requires commitment can reduce the desire to do "basic" work. A 2020 study found that the greater the chaos in a family, the more difficult it is to bond between parents, children, and relatives who visit you at home.

Depressed people often have little energy. When you have trouble getting out of bed, the last thing you might want to do is sweep the house or clean the toilet. Depression involves a lack of interest in things that you may have previously found necessary.

A 2021 study found that the level of clutter in the home was an indicator of psychological well-being in people. But again, it's hard to say which comes first: depression or a tendency towards clutter. If you're living with depression, seeing a messy room can trigger feelings of overwhelm or, worse, self-blame for not keeping the environment clean.

Remember that cleaning can also be a physical activity! Mopping the floor, washing the windows and dusting can all increase your energy and mood will change for the better.  

5 tips to clean the room even when you don't feel like it:

-Set a timer for a short period (5–10 minutes) and clean as much as you can

-Put on nice music in the background or listen to a motivational podcast with headphones

- Make it a family affair! Involve the children and spouse or partner and make them work as a team

- Make cleaning a habit

-Reward yourself. After finishing your work, you can watch a movie or just take a nap and relax