Tidying up, arranging our books or washing the dishes can reduce anxiety and stress, and increase our focus
Feeling shattered? Want to strangle your workmates? Hanging on till December 23 by the tips of your fingernails?
I have the solution.
Do the dishes. Have a chat with your pot plants. Wipe the dust from your computer screen.
READ MORE:
* How singing can improve mental and physical wellbeing
* ‘Hit pause’ on flagship mental health programme, says National
Evidence shows that puttering about is therapeutic. Tiny little tasks can be soothing and a pleasant distraction that will give your mind the time out it so desperately needs now.
One study looked at the mental health benefits of doing the dishes. The researchers found that getting our hands in the suds meant our minds concentrated on the washing-up, leaving less capacity to focus on things that worry or stress us.
Research participants reported a significantly better mood after doing the dishes. Washing the dishes seems to cleanse not only our plates but also our busy brains.
Feeling out of control can drive high levels of anxiety and cortisol in our bodies. Research again suggests we can gain a sense of control from small activities, simply by changing something around us.
Such as reshelving a pile of books.
Studies of people in nursing homes found those who were allowed to set their room up as they wished enjoyed better physical health and were even less likely to die than those whose rooms were set up by staff.
Maybe tidying our desk is far more important than we give it credit for.
My family hate that I arranged our bookshelves by colour. But research psychologists have found that organising objects into groups may provide the brain with more obvious cues for navigating chaos and soothe our brains with its predictability.
Take that, cynics. My shelf of yellow and orange book spines, adjacent to the shelf of red ones, may be my secret weapon for thriving in this crazy, messed-up world.
And who would have thought folding and putting the washing away could make us brainier? Brain imaging studies show that increasing the number of distracting objects around us (each vying for our attention) makes our brains tired and makes it harder to concentrate. Removing clutter lets our brain focus on the task at hand.
The benefits of physical exercise for our mental wellbeing are well known, but it seems housework can have similar benefits - reducing anxiety, smoothing stress, and increasing our focus.
But here’s the kicker - it will only work if we think it will. Research shows those who expect to have a clear mind after going for a run are most likely to return home with a clear head.
So, if we hate the idea of tidying up, hand-washing the dishes, or folding the washing, we are less likely to get the mental health benefits these activities can deliver.
We are in the grip of the silly season. My advice to you, dear readers, to get through it, is to get your duster and vacuum cleaner out now and give the house a good seeing to (or even tackle the office kitchen) and delight in every moment of mindfulness such tasks will gift you.
Meri Kirihimete.
