Need some motivation to fold that laundry piling up on the couch? ? Well, it turns out that doing chores, like laundry, actually helps your brain to remain sharp. So, you may want to go ahead and start folding those sheets and towels right now!
According to a recent study of 66 cognitively healthy older adults [published in the journal BMC Geriatrics], who spent more time tidying up their home, meal-prepping, doing housework, yard work, other to-do list activities, displayed more brain volume in the hippocampus and frontal lobe, which are the brain areas that help with memory, learning and cognition.
Movement is well known to keep your body stronger and younger, but that same act of moving also helps to keep your brain active and enhances the quality of brain health. In fact, the benefits of doing chores can help to relieve stress because cleaning, decluttering, and organizing helps to calm down the nervous system.
If you are like most people, however, you may need to retrain your brain to think of folding laundry as a benefit rather than a chore. For example, try putting some music on, fold the sheets and towels to the beat, and remind yourself that you are contributing to your health,
well-being, and brain power!
If you want to learn more about retraining your brain, contact me. I’ve got some good ideas to help get you started.