If you’re feeling stressed you may find solace in sudsing up the stack of dishes from last night’s meal. In a study conducted at Florida State University, researchers found that washing dishes not only elevated stress, but also improved emotional stability. They evaluated fifty-one college students participated, who were divided into groups of mindful or controlled dishwashing methods.
One group washed the dishes mindfully (by smelling the soap, focusing on really feeling the shape of the dishes, and enjoying the temperature of the water, etc.) while the second group washed the dishes in a traditional way more so to simply finish the task.
The students who washed the dishes with mindfulness reported a 27% decrease in nervousness and an increase of 25% positive mental inspiration. Who knew that such a mundane, daily activity can be done in a way that’s beneficial to your mental health??
READ MORE: Study Reveals The Most Unexpected Way to Reduce Stress
