What Health Advantages Come From Performing Housework?

Housework, which involves physical activity and is an indicator of the ability to live independently, can contribute to healthy brain health as you age. A recent study published in Neurology found a link between doing household chores and a lower risk of dementia.

Chores such as washing dishes, vacuuming the floor, cooking, or doing laundry are good for many aspects of your health, including reducing stress, boosting happiness, and protecting against heart disease. Older adults who spent more time on household chores showed greater brain size, which is a significant benefit.

Chores can also lead to creative problem-solving, lower dementia risk, and promote health-promoting exercise snacks. They can increase motivation, sharper memory, attention span, and better leg strength, and by extension, greater protection against falls in older adults.

The findings suggest that doing housework may contribute to longer survival by improving older adults’ physical and mental health. Additionally, the benefits of doing chores can relieve stress, as cleaning can promote a sense of control and organization.

Performing household chores for 30 minutes as physical activity can be effective in reducing heart disease, similar to running or daily activities. A study published in Neurology in 2022 found a link between doing ordinary household chores and a lower risk of dementia.

Housework helps keep your home clean, organized, and disease-free, which can not only reduce stress but also build self-esteem. By encouraging independence, people usually feel satisfied after completing the task.

Why are chores good for adults?

Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L suggests that chores can help individuals develop responsibility, independence, and developmental skills like fine motor strength, coordination, motor planning, visual perception, organization, and following instructions. They also provide proprioceptive input, regulate sensory systems, improve attention and behavior, and support self-esteem. Examples of chores include washing laundry, putting away dishes, wiping down counters, vacuuming floors, collecting trash, and helping with cooking tasks. If a loved one with Down syndrome struggles with adding chores, visual supports can help make the transition easier.

Does doing housework keep you healthy?

A study involving 130, 000 people from 17 countries found that doing household chores can be just as effective as going to the gym in reducing the risk of heart disease and extending life. The research, which followed 130, 000 people from 2003 to 2010, found that performing 30 minutes of physical activity five days a week could reduce the risk of death from any cause by 28% and the rate of heart disease by 20%.

The positive effects were consistent regardless of whether the person was working out, walking, or doing chores like vacuuming, scrubbing the floor, or gardening. The study highlights the importance of regular physical activity in maintaining overall health and well-being.

Is doing household chores healthy?

Recent research suggests that doing chores can be beneficial for physical and mental health. According to the study, “Inspired by Distraction: Mind Wandering Facilitates Creative Incubation”, undemanding household tasks allow the mind to wander, allowing it to consider old problems with new eyes. This can lead to more creative ideas than demanding tasks or just resting. This suggests that doing chores can be a beneficial way to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

How useful is the household chores to you?

Household chores can help improve planning and time management skills in children. By helping with household chores, children can learn to think ahead and make the best use of their time. As they take on responsibilities, encourage them to plan when and how to complete these tasks. Chores also teach life skills, such as cooking, laundry, housework, and budgeting, which are essential for children who may not live at home forever.

Teaching these skills early on will make them a natural part of everyday life, preparing them with the confidence to do things independently when they leave home. Therefore, it is crucial to teach these skills early on in a child’s life.

Why doing household chores is important?

The completion of regular chores, such as cleaning or laundry, can facilitate the development of responsibility and self-reliance in children. Furthermore, tasks that have a direct impact on the child, such as cleaning their room, can also facilitate the development of self-reliance.

Is doing housework as good as going to the gym?

House cleaning is a form of exercise that can burn calories through various activities such as sweeping, scrubbing dishes, and dusting. However, not all cleaning methods are equally effective in burning calories. CottageCare explores the differences between cleaning and exercise to help individuals stay fit while maintaining a clean home. While cleaning can be a workout, not all cleaning methods are equally effective.

For instance, scouring crayon marks off walls and pushing a vacuum cleaner around the carpet might not be as exhausting as cleaning the walls. Therefore, it’s essential to find the best cleaning method for your specific needs and preferences.

Can housework count as exercise?

It is widely accepted that physical activity, encompassing activities such as walking, dancing, and household chores, constitutes an integral component of the recommended daily exercise regimen. It has been demonstrated to contribute to improved sleep quality, enhanced brain health, and a reduction in the risk of developing cancer and cardiovascular disease. Consequently, it can be considered a beneficial daily habit.

What are the disadvantages of chores?

Repetitive-motion chores can cause injuries such as tendinitis, rotator cuff pain, trigger finger, carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, and golfer’s elbow. To prevent these injuries, it is essential to practice safe cutting techniques, keep knives sharp, keep everyday items within reach, wear gloves, unplug power tools and appliances before working on them, limit alcohol and certain medications, and relax with a cold beverage after work.

To reduce injury risks, practice safe cutting techniques, keep everyday items within reach, wear gloves, unplug power tools and appliances before working on them, limit alcohol and certain medications, have a safety buddy when using stepstools or ladders, and take breaks and rotate between activities. When performing repetitive motions that cause soreness, do it for five to 10 minutes at a time, then take a break and return to it.

In conclusion, taking precautions and practicing safe cutting techniques can help reduce the risk of injuries and prevent long-term health issues.

Does housework keep you healthy?

This study aimed to report the contribution of domestic physical activity to total weekly physical activity and the relationship between domestic physical activity and leanness in the Northern Ireland population. A cross-sectional survey of 4563 adults was conducted, with data collected through face-to-face interviews using computer assisted personal interviewing. Gender and age group differences in domestic MVPA activity and the ratio of domestic to total MVPA were explored using non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis tests.

Self-reported volume and intensity of physical activity in the home and self-reported height and weight were used to determine the association between domestic physical activity and leanness using an ANCOVA. Results showed that 42. 7 of the population report levels of physical activity that meet or exceed the current United Kingdom recommendations, with domestic physical activity accounting for 35. 6 of the reported moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA).

For women, if domestic physical activity was excluded from total MVPA, only 20. 4 would be deemed to meet current recommendations. Time spent in domestic physical activity at moderate or vigorous intensity was found to be negatively associated with leanness.

Is housework as good as walking?

A study involving 130, 000 people from 17 countries found that household chores can be just as effective in reducing heart disease risk and extending life as regular physical activity. The research, which followed 130, 000 people from 2003 to 2010, found that performing 30 minutes of physical activity five days a week could reduce the risk of death by 28% and heart disease by 20%. The positive effects were consistent across all activities, including gym visits, walking, vacuuming, floor cleaning, and gardening. The study suggests that regular physical activity can be just as beneficial for overall health.

Are chores good for the brain?

Household chores, often seen as annoying, can actually be beneficial for brain health. Cleaning and organizing your home can have positive cognitive effects, such as preventing dementia and improving working memory and executive function skills. A sedentary lifestyle can contribute to the onset of dementia, so incorporating habits that involve movement, even without strenuous exercise, may help prevent dementia. A study published in Neurology found that regular household chores could lower the risk of dementia by 21.

Dr. Vijay Ramanan, MD, PhD, notes that maintaining independence with completing chores is beneficial even for individuals with dementia. As long as the individual is still capable of safely completing housework, it can be beneficial for their cognition to continue with household responsibilities such as cleaning and washing dishes.