Dishwashing could help relieve stress

After a stressful day at work, some of us may might hit the gym, have a glass of wine or simply settle down in front of the TV in order to calm the mind. But why not try washing the dishes instead? No, really. According to a new study, dishwashing can boost mental well-being.

Researchers say dishwashing could be an effective stress reliever.

Published in the journal Mindfulness, the study found that engaging in mindful dishwashing – focusing on the smell of the soap, the feel of the dishes and the warmth of the water – can trigger a positive state of mind.

Mindfulness is the ability to omit negative or distracting thoughts to enable complete awareness of one’s feelings and senses in the present moment. The practice is believed to reduce anxiety and stress, as well as contribute to improved sleep quality and reduced risk for depression.

In this latest study, co-author Adam Hanley – a doctoral candidate in the College of Education’s Counseling and School Psychology Program at Florida State University – and colleagues set out to determine whether a positive state of mind could be reached through a simple day-to-day activity: dishwashing.

“I’ve had an interest in mindfulness for many years, both as a contemplative practitioner and a researcher,” notes Hanley. “I was particularly interested in how the mundane activities in life could be used to promote a mindful state and, thus, increase overall sense of well-being.”

Nervousness, mental inspiration improved with mindful dishwashing

The team enrolled 51 college students to their study and asked them to wash dishes. Before they did so, half of the participants were required to read a descriptive passage about dishwashing (the control group), while the other half were required to read a mindful passage about dishwashing, which emphasized the need to be mentally focused on the task at hand.

“While washing the dishes, one should only be washing the dishes. This means that while washing the dishes, one should be completely aware of the fact that one is washing the dishes,” reads an excerpt of the mindfulness passage.

After participants completed the dishwashing, the researchers assessed their state of mindfulness.

Compared with control participants, the team found that those who engaged in mindful dishwashing – in which they focused on the scent of the soap, the warmth of the dishwater and how the dishes felt as they washed them – experienced a more positive state of mind.

For example, mindful dishwashers experienced a 27% reduction in nervousness and a 25% increase in mental inspiration, compared with control dishwashers.

It is well established that stress can have negative implications for health; it contributes to 60% of all human illness and disease, according to The American Institute of Stress.

Based on their findings, Hanley and colleagues suggest a mundane chore like dishwashing could boost psychological well-being and, in turn, reduce feelings of stress, as long as one is mentally engaged in the task.

While numerous studies have hailed mindfulness for its health benefits, a study reported by Medical News Today last month suggests it may be associated with false memory recall.

Written by Honor Whiteman

Copyright: Medical News Today