Are you one of those who love to clean their home deeply every few months and feel so much calm and peace in their mind, body, and spirit after that?
I am one of them.
Every few months—sometimes after a quarter, or a little more, ok in 4 months—I feel a familiar pull inside me. It’s quiet but strong, like an inner whisper: “It’s time to reset.” And without fail, I find myself opening cupboards, emptying drawers, rearranging clothes, organizing my kitchen, or rearranging the storeroom—not out of pressure or perfectionism, but because something inside me genuinely enjoys it.
It feels like a ritual—one that brings clarity, freshness, and calm into my life.
I often joke that Marie Kondo is my spirit guide in moments like these. Everything must have a home, a purpose, and a sense of belonging. But over time, primarily through my work in holistic and functional medicine, I’ve realized that this habit isn’t just about tidiness. It’s deeply connected to how my body reacts to the world, how my emotions move through me, and how my nervous system finds peace.
This blog isn’t meant to preach or tell anyone how to live—it’s simply a sharing of what I’ve noticed in myself. Maybe you’ll see a bit of yourself in it, too.
Clean Spaces, Calm Nervous System
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been sensitive to smells—perfumes, strong fragrances, chemical odors, even unpleasant smells like urine or sweat. They don’t just bother me; they change my mood almost instantly. My stomach turns, irritation rises, and I feel nearly attacked by the scent.
For a while, I thought this was just a quirk.
But over time, I learned something deeper:
Our sense of smell is directly connected to the limbic system—the brain’s emotional center.
This is why certain smells can:
- Trigger old memories
- Shift our mood
- Activate stress responses
- Create a need for control or escape
For me, a clean space and a neutral or fresh natural aroma make my entire body relax. There’s no irritation, no emotional spike—just calm. It’s not about being perfect. It’s about feeling safe and grounded.
Is It OCD, or Something Else Entirely?
People sometimes ask if this habit is a mild form of OCD.
But the truth is, I don’t get distressed if something is slightly out of place. I can ignore it for a bit, adjust to it, or return to it later. There’s no compulsion—just preference.
What I experience is more aligned with:
- Sensory sensitivity
- Highly attuned awareness
- A nervous system that feels calmer in orderly environments
Many sensitive people feel overwhelmed by clutter, noise, or strong sensory input—not because they’re “fussy,” but because their body processes information more deeply.
For me, cleaning isn’t a ritual to reduce anxiety.
It’s a ritual that creates joy, clarity, and peace.
The Emotional Meaning Behind Tidying
I’ve come to realize that when I clean, it’s not just my cupboards that are being sorted—it’s my mind.
A messy space feels to me like a messy internal landscape.
Not unsafe. Not unbearable. Just noisy.
So when I declutter the kitchen or reorganize my wardrobe, I feel like I’m also:
- Releasing old energy
- Making space for something new
- Refreshing my mental and emotional environment
- Inviting clarity back into my life
Cleaning, for me, is an act of love—for my home, my body, and my inner peace.
The Body’s Wisdom Behind These Habits
- Histamine sensitivity
- Smell-triggered migraines
- Mold or chemical sensitivities
- Gut–liver detox imbalances
- Nervous system hyper-reactivity
The Spiritual Side of Tidying
On a spiritual level, I’ve noticed that every time I clean deeply—every few months—something inside me shifts. It feels like an emotional or energetic renewal.
Many traditions believe that clutter holds stagnant energy. When we clear physical space, we also clear:
- Emotional residue
- Old patterns
- Heavy or stuck energy
- Mental fog
This may be why my quarterly resets feel so necessary. My home reflects my inner world, and when one is refreshed, the other naturally follows.
I don’t force it.
I don’t schedule it.
It arises naturally—like a season changing within me.
Cleaning as a Form of Self-Compassion
I used to question myself:
- “Why am I like this?”
- “Why do smells affect me so much?”
- “Why do I feel unsettled when things are out of place?”
Now, I’ve softened into the truth.
This is simply how my nervous system and spirit move through the world.
I don’t clean because I have to.
I clean because it brings me peace, clarity, and joy.
I clean because it reconnects me to myself.
I clean because my space—like my body—deserves care.
If You’re Like This Too… You’re Not Alone
The next time you feel the urge to clean or reorganize, try seeing it not as a task, but as a conversation with your inner world.
Ask yourself:
- What am I letting go of?
- What am I making space for?
- How does my body feel in this environment?
- What helps me breathe easier?
You might be surprised by the wisdom that rises.
I would love to hear from you about your reset.