While some still find it difficult to keep the room neat and with everything organized in the closet, or in a drawer, and not accumulating in an armchair in the corner of the room; There are those who cannot rest easy knowing that they left dirty dishes in the kitchen, the armchair with the cushions out of place or the dining room table with various items on it.
For many, keeping everything in correct order is not a sign of seeking perfection, but rather represents a defense mechanism to regain control of emotions and compensate for external uncertainty.
Modern psychology was in charge of analyzing why some people become obsessed with a tidy house and experts have the answer: they are looking to reduce anxiety and it is the best way to find emotional regulation.
What does it mean that a person always seeks to have a tidy house?
There are people who are not calm knowing that there are still dirty dishes to wash. Those around them may perceive them as “cleanliness freaks” or always seeking perfection, but the reality goes further, being a habit that has to do with the emotional aspect.
The psychologist Sara Navarrete was interviewed by the magazine ¡Hola! and explained that order works as a way of trying to calm what is happening inside us. And the chaos of everyday life, problems at work, debts, fatigue, make us look for small ways to regain a certain feeling of control and that is found by cleaning or organizing, something that can generate immediate calm, even if it is temporary.
“External order often functions as a way to regulate the internal world. There are people for whom tidying up is not a matter of aesthetics or practice, but rather an emotional one. When a person feels uncertainty, stress, mental chaos or anxiety, putting order in the house gives an immediate feeling of calm and control,” he indicated.
This is why some people need to sweep the house, organize drawers or wash dishes before going to bed no matter how tired they are. They are not looking for a perfect house, but to feel that something is back in order so they can feel calm.
Then, the house becomes a reflection of how we feel.
“Many people feel that, if the environment is orderly, they are there too. It is something symbolic, like a projection that we make towards the outside of our inner world,” says the specialist while emphasizing that “we live in a hyperstimulated society, with a lot of information, pressure and noise. For some people, order becomes almost an emotional refuge. It is a way to create a feeling of stability in the midst of a life that often feels accelerated or unpredictable.”
And when there are too many disorganized stimuli around, the brain needs to constantly process more information, something that can increase mental fatigue, anxiety and stress.
Why order acts as an emotional regulator
The answer is simple, because it provides our brain with predictability and a sense of control. When we feel overwhelmed by stress or anxiety, organizing our environment reduces cognitive overload and decreases cortisol productiondirectly calming the nervous system.
Why does it happen? Here some data:
Emotional regulation: The brain associates external chaos with a lack of control, which raises the stress. Ordering returns the feeling of mastery.
Security Search: In times of crisis, order acts as a predictable and safe haven.
Physical anchor: The act of folding, sorting, or cleaning forces the mind to focus on a mechanical, controllable action. This facilitates a mental break that stops looping thoughts, helping to relax the amygdala.
Mental clarity: the environment and the internal state are connected. Reducing chaotic external stimuli makes it easier for our mind to process emotions better and reduces the likelihood of impulsive reactions.