Although these are mostly avoided and put off, cleaning and organizing have been shown to lower stress, aid productivity, and calm the mind. So whether you’re tidying your home KonMari-style or simply organizing your kitchen equipment, many of us are finding delight in simple household chores.
Daily tasks are a significant boon since they help you cross items off your to-do list and have been shown to improve how you view your day and see yourself. Here are household chores that make you happier.
Preparing Your Meals
This chore is a great opportunity to be innovative and resourceful and provide and receive nourishment. There’s a lot to be said about the culinary process, which begins from picking quality, fresh ingredients and ends with the pleasure of turning it into delightful dishes followed by praises from your stomach and the people you’re serving it with. Think of cooking as a creative and learning outlet, as it requires being present and hone skills and values.
According to research published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, at-home meals were associated with more powerful, happier feelings and less stress than meals consumed away from home. This is because our home is a privileged setting where good food is nurtured, healthier options are chosen, and more pleasant feelings are stimulated. You could even impress yourself with all the creative dishes you could come up with.
Decluttering Your Space
Sometimes, we get too preoccupied with work, relationships, and other important aspects and issues in our lives that result in neglecting to maintain order and cleanliness in our homes. However, in doing so, you could be doing more harm to your health than good.
Data shows that not keeping a regular schedule to organize and clean your home affects your productivity and well-being, thus triggering cortisol or stress hormones. Dust, grime, and even mold are attracted to clutter. As time goes by without cleaning it, a negative effect on the air quality of a space accumulates, making your home stuffy and heated.
Decluttering makes a room feel lighter and sunnier and allows the air to move freely. Thus, it improves your mood and brings you more happiness as it aids your emotional and physical health. It’s beneficial, especially if you live with aging parents, have children and pets, or live in a densely populated region such as the city.
Making Your Bed
We spend almost a third of our time in the bedroom. The aesthetics and feel of that space influence our overall mood. It is not easy to maintain a sense of calm, relaxation, competence, and grounding while surrounded by disarray. A neatly made bed quickly transforms the entire room’s appearance, imparting a subtle sense of tranquility and expertise.
A made bed demonstrates that you are concerned about yourself and your house, and the sensation of being cared for may help lift your spirits and relieve emotional stress. On the other hand, a disorganized bed contributes to your day’s stress levels.
According to studies, people who take time to fix their bed, pillows, and blankets every morning are the most straightforward triggers of happiness. It also improves your productivity level and provides a better sense of well-being. Making your bed serves as the first task you’ve accomplished for the day, which results in an increased desire to complete other activities throughout the day.
Maintaining Your Garden in Good Shape
While mental health professionals warn that depression is a worldwide epidemic, experts uncover new ways to stimulate our bodies’ natural production of feel-good hormones, which can help keep despair at bay. It’s as simple as getting your hands dirty and digging around your backyard. Gardening improves your serotonin levels, a pleasant chemical that enhances the immune system and acts as a natural anti-depressant.
If you don’t have one already, invest in a few plants, flowers, vegetables, and trees to set around your home. You can also install an aesthetically pleasing garden shed to help organize your garden tools and equipment to avoid cluttering your garden. Additionally, having an outlet to show off your gardening prowess and skills outside your home can lower your risk of a heart attack.
Consider doing chores as a spa treatment for your mind. Take this time to practice being present by noticing the relaxing qualities around. Say, the scent of soap, the softness of blankets, the colors of plants, and the temperature of the water. By doing this, you are subconsciously reminding yourself that you can be okay and that you are safe at that moment.
This routine is also effective when you feel overwhelmed with everything that’s happening around us. So the next time you start feeling annoyed about doing your chores, think of the many benefits it can give you.
