That pile of laundry on the chair isn’t just annoying — it might actually be raising your cortisol.⁠ ⁠ A UCLA study found that women living in cluttered homes had significantly higher levels of cortisol, the hormone linked to chronic stress. The more stuff visible in their space, the more overwhelmed they felt — and the longer those stress levels stayed elevated throughout the day.⁠ ⁠ Meanwhile, men in the same households? Not nearly as affected.⁠ ⁠ Researchers suggest this may be due to cultural expectations around domestic responsibility — where women are often socialized to notice, manage, or feel guilt over household mess, even when it’s not theirs to fix.⁠ ⁠ It’s not just about cleaning — it’s about mental load.⁠ So if clutter makes you want to scream? You’re not being dramatic. You’re being human.⁠ ⁠ [Source: UCLA Center on Everyday Lives of Families, 2010]⁠ ⁠ Credit: @girls