Study: Washing dishes mindfully can relieve stress

The mindfulness excerpt is from Zen Master Thich Nhat Hahn's The Miracle of Mindfulness

> While washing the dishes one should only be washing the dishes. This means that while washing the dishes one should be completely aware of the fact that one is washing the dishes. At first glance, that might seem a little silly. Why put so much stress on a simple thing? But that’s precisely the point. The fact that I am standing there and washing is a wondrous reality. I’m being completely myself, following my breath, conscious of my presence, and conscious of my thoughts and actions. There’s no way I can be tossed around mindlessly like a bottle slapped here and there on the waves.

I vouch for this, this is true. Washing dishes is relaxing and calming if and only if washing dishes is not the source of your anxieties. But the act of moving rhythmically, the sensation and sound of water and seeing a dirty dishes turn shiny and clean is uplifting.

The thing is, any single task that forces a cognitive unburdening is relaxing and calming and good for you. My list:

1. Driving long distance on open road. With or without company or music. Just love it.

2. Watching nature programs (BBC Earth). The voice of the great David Attenborough is simply a force on its own.

3. Doodling fonts type faces. This has been an old part time affectation of a brief affair with amateur DTP in my teens.

4. Sitting on a playground swing (yeah you first have to fight those crazy little blighters for your turn!)

There is a story of a Buddhist student (probably Zen) who asked his master what he should do since he had finished eating. The master replied "Wash your bowl." It is the simple things that make up life and have provided meaning for people for millennia. It's not surprising that these are the things we should be doing mindfully.

I use it as a precursor to mindfulness. Before setting to a difficult task, I'll do the dishes and clean the kitchen really well.

Really not about washing dishes but about mindfulness.