Why Doing Chores Is A Great Activity For Brain Health
When you have that rare moment where there's no work to be done, completing a bunch of mundane chores is probably something you'd rather not spend your time on. But as it turns out, doing things like taking out the trash and doing the laundry can actually be a good thing for your brain.
According to Lifehack, certain daily tasks can boost your happiness, lower your stress, and heighten your sense of productivity. Take making the bed, for example. Studies have reportedly shown that those who make their bed every morning have a higher productivity drive, and leave the bedroom feeling less tired and more energized. "If you make your bed every morning, you will have accomplished the first task of the day," Navy Seal William H. McCraven said during his 2014 commencement speech at the University of Texas (via Simply Placed).
"It will give you a small sense of pride, and it will encourage you to do another task, and another, and another," he continued. "And by the end of the day that one last completed will have turned into many tasks completed."
Cleaning around the house can provide the benefits of a mini workout
That simple task as soon as you get up will make cleaning the dishes or vacuuming the house feel like something you can easily accomplish. And according to Canadian researchers at the Rotman Research Institute at Ontario's Baycrest Hospital, these chores can promote healthy brain health to keep the mind younger for longer (via Real Simple) as these sorts of tasks often require physical exertion.
"Understanding how different forms of physical activity contribute to brain health is crucial for developing strategies to reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia in older adults," lead author of the study Noah Koblinsky said in a statement (via Baycrest Bulletin). As HuffPost UK notes, the same neurochemical effects of exercise can be felt when cleaning, which can reduce stress hormones and stimulate endorphins that inevitably make you feel happier and energized.
Cleaning can also be extremely therapeutic (via Verywell Mind). After putting clutter back neatly where it belongs, a clean room can immediately clear the mind of stresses that have been building up throughout the day or week. It also gives your brain a chance to focus on one particular thing, rather than a million different thoughts at once.
"Humans crave structure and familiarity, especially during times of uncertainty," Jaime Zuckerman, a licensed clinical psychologist, told HuffPost UK. "When we seek out ways to reduce feelings of helplessness, cleaning is one of the ways we might decide to do that."