Amid spring cleaning season, it can be tempting to dismiss housework as drudgery, so dreaded or anxiety-inducing that it is best delegated to others if at all possible.
But experts from Zen monks to psychologists say there are mental health benefits to be found in such manual chores as sweeping, mopping and clearing away clutter. These tasks can encourage mindfulness or permit the mind to wander, all while producing a sense of achievement in accomplishing the basic tasks of daily life.
As one Zen saying goes: “Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.”
What the monks know
Zen apprentices, or unsui monks, spend much of their time cleaning and tidying.
