People Who Can't Sleep Until Everything Is Clean Usually Have These 11 Deep Reasons
The cleanliness of a person's surroundings can keep them up at night.
Pormezz | Shutterstock After getting home from an exhausting day of work, school, or even an event, the last thing a person wants to do is clean up their surroundings. Feeling utterly burned out, ordering takeout or taking a nap is likely what the average person may do, as they are unbothered by any kinds of mess. However, whether it's because they feel powerless or their nervous system is on edge, people who can't sleep until everything is clean usually have these deep reasons.
While many may think this is due to perfectionist tendencies, it can also stem from trauma or even people-pleasing. These individuals will stop at nothing to keep their house organized, even if they're losing sleep over it. It might mean sacrificing rest, but for them, cleanliness really is next to happiness.
People who can't sleep until everything is clean usually have these 11 deep reasons
1. They're calming their nervous system
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Most people can attest to the fact that times have changed drastically in the last few years. From grocery prices rising to homes becoming unaffordable, there's been a spike in anxiety. People feel like they're worse off than they've ever been, so it's not a shocker that they're using cleaning to calm their nervous system.
Wanting a good distraction, many people find that cleaning and tidying up is a good way to ease themselves before bed. As a study published in Social Psychological and Personality Science explained, daily cleaning helps ease people's stress levels. So, while it may not always be fun, clearing up a mess is a good way to ease tension.
2. They equate chaos with danger
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People have stressful lives. Whether it's unexpected call-ins from work or fearing walking around at night, there's chaos to be found everywhere you look. There's already too much mess going on in the average person's life. And even if their relationships are stable, they can't always control their chaotic environment.
There are certain things they must bear, even if it equates to danger. However, this is exactly why these individuals always keep a clean house. From their past experiences, they've learned that uncontrolled chaos inevitably leads to a much bigger mess. To avoid this, they do their best to take care of the things they can control and leave the rest up to fate.
3. Mess triggers their unresolved trauma
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Not everyone had a stable life growing up. From messy parents who neglected them to partners who made them hold the weight of the world on their shoulders, these unresolved issues bleed into their daily lives, causing them to develop patterns. In the past, their life was a chaotic mess, and now, as adults, it triggers their trauma.
Feeling helpless, they've worked hard to create their dream life. This is why they refuse to keep their environment a mess. While the average person may not understand it, they've learned that keeping a tight ship leaves little room for more mishaps to occur.
While their thinking sounds logical on the surface, never addressing trauma has its downsides, too. As author and stress expert David Hanscom explained, suppressing emotions can actually damage memory. So, if someone finds that mess triggers them, they should seek professional help.
4. They fear disappointing others
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People who can't sleep until everything is clean usually have a fear of disappointing others. So consumed by other people's thoughts about them, they're chronic overthinkers and perfectionists, and hate the thought of people not liking them.
In their mind, if people don't like them, that must mean there's something wrong with them. Because of this, they hold themselves to a standard that the average person doesn't even think about. They take it too far, causing their mental health to deplete in the process.
5. Stillness feels uncomfortable
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Most people who have experienced success probably worked themselves to the bone to get there. Whether it's working during college or doing overtime to make ends meet, their work ethic created a bit of a problem. When push comes to shove and they're forced to relax, they never know how to.
After spending so many years in survival mode, they don't know how to function. Feeling as if they still need to work hard, they do the only thing that's left for them to do: clean their house. And while cleaning is good, never taking a rest is dangerous.
As clinical psychologist Monica Vermani pointed out, "Falling into habits of overwork can result in chronic stress and burnout. The impacts of chronic workplace stress and burnout include... fatigue, hypertension, difficulty concentrating, irritability, changes in appetite... depression, anxiety, feelings of detachment, isolation, a decline in job satisfaction, and disconnection from friends and family members."
6. They use order to silence their inner thoughts
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For those who can't silence their thoughts, they already know how devastating it can be for their mental health. Always thinking the worst, people who can't sleep until everything is clean usually have deep reasons, including being unable to silence their inner thoughts.
Staying busy is always better than ruminating at 3 a.m., because even if it damages their sleep schedule, being tired and exhausted is better than crippling anxiety. So, broom in hand, they spend an insane amount of time making their home pristine. Not just because it feels good, but because the result puts their mind at ease.
From their spotless home, they're able to feel more relaxed about whatever the future throws their way. So long as their home is in order, they feel much better in weathering whatever storm heads their way.
7. Chaos makes them feel powerless
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Most people want to feel in control of their environment. Not only does it bring a better sense of security, but it also makes them feel more powerful in the long run. Unfortunately, life has a way of making the average person feel helpless, as some things are simply out of their control.
Not knowing what will happen tomorrow or years from now is absolutely terrifying. For perfectionists, they already know that planning things down to every last detail is essential in keeping their sanity in check.
As psychologist Lisa Liggins-Chambers explained, "Lack of control in situations is deeply personal, especially when the outcomes impact you or your community." However, when they can't control their environment, these people resort to the only thing they can control: their home.
8. They learned early on that mistakes are dangerous
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Having so many expectations placed upon them at a young age, any time they messed up, they were met with belittlement. Every single mistake they made was highly scrutinized. As a result, they became perfectionists who never allowed themselves to mess up.
Even if it wasn't always realistic, they found a way to be highly critical of themselves. Because of this, they aren't just perfectionists at work, they're also "clean freaks" at home. Spending an obscene amount of hours deep-cleaning every surface, they never realized how bad this habit was.
9. They were taught that comfort must be earned
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When the average person gets home after a grueling day of work, their first thought is how they can relax. Feeling exhausted and overwhelmed, the last thing on their mind is to fold the mountains of laundry they still have sitting on their bed.
And for individuals who are obsessed with cleaning, they don't know any better, because they were taught that they needed to earn comfort. Convinced that what they do is never enough, they strive for a level of perfectionism that is concerning.
Whether it's spending hours cleaning their room or doing projects throughout the home, if everything isn't in order, they deem their efforts futile. However, this level of thinking is dangerous.
As psychologist Rick Hanson explained, "Sometimes, you can really feel what you need to do by feeling what's happening for you when you don't... ease up, unwind, recharge, put your feet up, take a load off, just chill. Because when you don't rest, you wear out, wear down, and start running on empty. Then you're not much good for yourself or anyone else. But when you get some rest and get more rested, you have more energy, mental clarity, resilience for the hard things, patience, and wholehearted caring for others."
10. They're highly critical of themselves
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It should come as no surprise that those who prefer to keep a spotless home tend to be meticulous. Of course, this isn't always the best trait to have. But everyone needs a bit of grace every once in a while.
Even so, perfectionists can't help but hold themselves to a different standard. With zero mercy, they're quick to pick themselves apart and label anything less than perfect as lazy. So, even if it isn't the healthiest mindset to have, it's not stopping them from becoming their worst critic.
11. Their nervous system is constantly stuck in readiness mode
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People who can't sleep until everything is clean usually have a deep reason: they're always stuck in "readiness mode." They simply don't know how to relax enough to get a good night's rest. So they spend countless hours tidying up their home.
While this obsession with cleanliness isn't necessarily healthy, there's no denying that cleaning itself has its own set of perks. As psychologist and author Sherrie Bourg Carter said, "Clutter in one's workspace constantly signals to the brain that one's work is never done." So, while resting is important, they can't rest unless their home is in order.
Marielisa Reyes is a writer with a bachelor's degree in psychology who covers self-help, relationships, career, family, and astrology topics.
