Ever been in a clean house which was initially in a mess? How does it feel? Rejuvenating, right?
How does it feel when you get straight out of the shower after a long sweaty day? Refreshed and motivated, right?
The same case applies to our environment…
The Day It All Became Clear
Uneducated on the flaws of waste in our environment, I believed that cleanliness around my surroundings didn’t really matter or affect me in any way. Well, I thought that my mind was sturdy enough to sustain dirty environs. This fallacy was not long-lived when I finally moved out and started a life of my own. This shift dramatically shifted my life as I moved from a clean parish-pump neighbourhood to a sophisticated and crowded dirty part of the city. This shift greatly corrupted my mental space, clouded my thinking and of course, putrefied my general health.
Arriving at my new apartment was sensational but this “joy” didn’t last a day and quickly gave way to discomfort. The streets were filled with garbage, the air was filled with haze not forgetting the clogged sewers and the processed sewer water that was channeled to nearly all houses in the city. My apartment itself, though sound was surrounded by unfinished and unkept buildings. Having seen all these, I was overwhelmed by the constant visual and sensory assault from the chaos, the dirt and the litter around me.
Consequences: The Link Between Environment and Mind
Changes in my mental, emotional and health plights were almost instantaneous. My thoughts felt scattered and focusing on my tasks, decision making and creativity which were always my vigour had now become out of reach. The cluttered environs outside seemed to seep into my mind, making it a struggle to think clearly and stay organized. My emotional state was equally meddled with as my anxiety and stress levels skyrocketed. The persistent mess around me made it harder for me to relax and often felt hopeless. It was as if the dirt was not only outside but inside my mind as well. My anxiety was manifested in different ways like having trouble sleeping, finding it hard to maintain an optimistic outlook and of course, my patience wore thin.
These, made me comprehend that there is an unbreakable link between a dirty environment and our mental states.
Actions taken to recoup my space and mind
I had enough, I couldn’t live like this any more and change was due. The first step I took was to organize my own living space and create a more meticulous environment. This meant taking some time off to rearrange everything in my house and cleaning every single corner of this crib. The immediate satisfaction I received from this was ineffable and I could now clearly think and relax.
Next, I joined a group of environment enthusiasts who advocate for cleaner environs in schools and the communities surrounding them. This meant that we had to do regular campaigns, drives collecting waste around these places and tree planting. This not only improved the environment but also gave us a sense of accomplishment control and belongingness.
Beyond physical cleanliness, I also started engaging in exercise, regularly hitting the gym and giving myself days off social media to walk in green parks and connect with nature. These excursions proved to me that spending time in cleaner and greener spaces not only helped me reset my mind but also gave me mental clarity and a significant drop in my stress levels even when I couldn’t change the environment around me.
Conclusion
My harrowing experience taught me that a dirty environment can significantly cloud one’s thinking and emotional state. The dirt and pollution around us aren’t just physical barriers but can also become mental barriers too. However, we can reclaim our mental space and improve our well-being by taking steps to clean and organize our surroundings.
Living in clean environs is not only about aesthetics but about mental clarity, emotional health and overall quality.
I encourage everyone to take a moment to assess their surroundings and consider how they might be affecting their mental state . Small changes can make a big a big difference and together we can create environs that support clear thinking and emotional well-being.