Leveraging Psychology to Keep Your House Tidier
Exasperated with the mess? These nine tips will help you create lasting change.
Posted June 2, 2026 | Reviewed by Kaja Perina
Some people have a natural instinct to keep their environment tidy. I, unfortunately, am not one of those folks. I tend to prioritize other activities over clearing and organizing–writing, my vegetable garden, a cookie recipe I’ve been wanting to try. The house frequently spirals out of control, and I become frustrated with myself.
Hoping to break this cycle, I looked for research studies that would provide evidence of what would help me stop procrastinating and be less messy. My attempt at a literature review brought up nothing. Home cleanliness, it seems, is not a major research field. Then I had an epiphany: what works to change health behaviors would also likely work to change cleaning behaviors. As a health psychologist, I decided to take a taste of my own medicine and practice what I preach. Here are nine principles from health psychology to help you, like me, keep your home cleaner.
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Emily Hylton Jean, Ph.D., MPH , is a psychologist, writer, and consultant committed to bridging the gap between scientific research and public knowledge.
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