Washing dishes is a very effective anti-stress technique

Stress is one of our modern enemies. And one of the worst. It significantly increases levels of cortisol, a hormone that ultimately triggers an inflammatory response in our body. If this situation persists over time, we not only run the risk of suffering a stroke or a heart attack, but it also increases our predisposition to developing cancer. In fact, stress not only takes a heavy psychological toll but also a physical toll.

Being aware of the damage caused by stress, it’s understandable that in recent years more and more people are seeking anti-stress techniques to help them deal with the conflicts and worries of everyday life. However, the interesting thing is that you don’t need to take a quick psychology course, or even embrace Buddhism and dedicate an hour to meditation. There are small everyday actions that can become authentic relaxation exercises.

It’s not what you do, but how you do it: Washing dishes to de-stress

A study conducted at Florida State University revealed that washing dishes to de-stress is an excellent relaxation technique. These psychologists recruited 51 people. Before beginning the experiment, half of them read a short passage referring to mindful dishwashing . The other half read a descriptive passage about the task.

The mindful  passage  focused on the importance of being fully present and focused on the task. One part explained: “While washing dishes, we should only wash dishes. This means that during the task, we should be fully aware of what we are doing. At first glance, this may seem trivial. Why should we concentrate so much on such a simple task? That is precisely the key.

Just being there, standing and washing dishes, is wonderful in itself. We can take advantage of that moment to be ourselves, to be aware of our breathing, actions, and thoughts. We won’t be rejected; we’re just fully present, doing something.”

Researchers found that people who washed dishes while being fully present, concentrating on the temperature of the water, the smell of the detergent, and the feel of the dishes, reported a 27% decrease in stress and anxiety. This is certainly a significant result considering it’s a mundane task we might do every day at home.

In contrast, the group that simply washed the dishes automatically, as usual, reported no benefit after the task and could even feel angry and frustrated.

Mindfulness in everyday life

In reality, these results are not surprising.  Mindfulness  is the experience of being fully present, living in the here and now, without making value judgments, simply noting what happens, as if we were mere observers. Adopting this attitude has a therapeutic and relaxing effect for two fundamental reasons:

1. We let go of the need to control everything and learn to flow, which allows us to get rid of tension and that inner voice in our mind that’s constantly planning everything.
2. We let our minds clear, at least for a few minutes, so that we put aside worries, which are our main source of stress.

Therefore, everyday activities, such as eating, walking, or even washing dishes, if done with full awareness, can be a very effective stress-relieving technique.

Reference:

Hanley, A.W. et. Al. (2015) Washing Dishes to Wash the Dishes: Brief Instruction in an Informal Mindfulness Practice. Mindfulness ; 6(5): 1095-1103.