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Featured Health and Fitness

Washing Dishes Helps Reduce Anxiety, Stimulate Brain

By Leslee Jaquette

Washing clean dishes can be peaceful.
Washing clean dishes can be peaceful.

No wonder I am so peaceful and smart. The reason? I have washed tons of dishes!
No kidding! According to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal “Wash Dishes While You Cleanse Your Mind,” reporter Ann Lukits notes that washing dishes may be a simple way to reduce nervousness and increase mental stimulation.
Building on a study described in the journal Mindfulness, she tells how mindful dishwashing also heightened the sense of time pleasurably slowing down. I can attest to that. It seems not unlike poor Sisyphus, my pile of greasy, nasty dishes just kept growing! HA!

I wonder if washing nasty, dirty dishes is as peaceful.
I wonder if washing nasty, dirty dishes is as peaceful.

Anyway, the study says that other studies have associated altered time perception with greater psychological well-being. It points out that not only meditation increases mindfulness, a peaceful state, but that everyday, routine daily activities can serve as good practice. Maybe that is why gardening or vacuuming can be relaxing?
The study’s figures showed that nervousness ratings decreased by 27% in the mindful dishwashers, while mental inspiration increased 25%.
To be clear, the subjects were washing “clean” dishes. Wonder how the results would change if they were washing three-day-old, lasagna-crusted dishes?