New Jersey Women Spend 2 Times Amount On Chores
Ladies, if you’re tired, run-down, fatigued, can’t stay awake, exhausted, or all of the aforementioned, you’re not the only one.
Although my wife and I “split” the chores, she always seems to do more than me. I do the laundry, dishes, and vacuuming; she does the kitchen, and bathrooms and cooks dinner every night. I think, and I’m sure you’ll agree that cooking is the hardest of all. She enjoys cooking for our family, but having to come up with something every night that everyone will like is something that would be a stressful nightmare for me. Especially since I’m not what you would call “someone who could prepare edible things.”
According to a new study in the medical journal The Lancet Public Health, women are more likely to spend double the amount of time than men caregiving, tackling chores, and doing housework, all tasks that can lead to a greater impact on mental health and even burnout.
Researchers analyzed data from 19 studies, which included data from over 70,000 individuals around the world. They found women in the U.S. spend about 4.5 hours per day caring for their families and homes, while men spend about 2.8 hours a day on the same or similar tasks.
All the household work and caregiving — typically unpaid, so-called “invisible” labor can in turn take a major toll on women’s mental health. This toiling includes everything from packing up the kids’ lunches and getting them to school, back from soccer practice, and a million other things.
Chores Affect Mental Health
Eve Rodsky, the bestselling author of Fair Play and a mom herself, tells Good Morning America that the type of unpaid labor women take on can be a factor in women’s mental health just as much as the amount of time that is spent doing it.
“Men hold cards that they can do at their own timetable, like mowing the lawn, whereas women are the ones still, to this day, responsible for tasks like meal planning, responsible for grocery shopping, and responsible for things like going to get their children when they’re sick if a school calls,” Rodsky said.
The author even came up with a “dirty dozen” of these trying chores for moms, which include everything from throwing out the garbage and doing laundry to policing kids’ screen time and tidying up.
6 Surprising Chores That Can Actually Make You Feel Good
Mowing The Lawn
For some, being outside in the fresh air and sunshine while doing physical work can be quite enjoyable. There’s something about seeing a freshly cut and neat lawn that can provide a sense of pride and accomplishment. This can lead to increased happiness and satisfaction. Also, the rhythmic motion of mowing the lawn can be meditative for some people, which allows to clear their minds and reduce stress levels.
Laundry
The process of doing laundry can provide a sense of accomplishment and productivity. It involves completing a task from start to finish. And the act of folding and organizing freshly washed clothes can be satisfying for some people, helping them create a more organized and tidy living space. The task of doing laundry can also be an aromatic experience with the fresh and clean scent of newly washed clothes. That surely can lift a person’s mood.
Dishes
Washing dishes may not be the most glamorous of tasks, but it can actually be a chore that brings happiness. For some, the act of washing dishes can be a meditative activity that allows them to focus on the task at hand and clear their mind of other distractions.
Cleaning The Bathroom
Scrubbing away grime and dirt and restoring order to a space that may have become chaotic, can provide a sense of accomplishment and even a feeling of control over one’s environment. while cleaning the bathroom may not be everyone’s favorite chore, it can certainly be a task that brings a sense of peace and contentment to those who find joy in tidying up their living spaces.
Vacuuming
Vacuuming, like any other chore, can bring a sense of happiness and accomplishment to some people. Cleaning up dust, debris, and other particles from carpets and floors can provide a tangible sense of progress and order. Especially when you see the results of a freshly vacuumed space. Some people enjoy the sound and motion that a vacuum cleaner creates. It’s almost like a a sense of calm and relaxation, which can be therapeutic.
Cooking
Figuring out what to eat daily and having to cook it may not be enjoyable for some people. Cooking can be considered a chore, especially if they feel like they have to cook out of necessity rather than as a hobby or a creative outlet. It can provide a sense of satisfaction, accomplishment, and creativity. When you’re preparing a meal for yourself or others, it can be a way to express your love and care for those you are feeding. Also, cooking can be a stress-relieving activity that allows you to focus your attention on the task at hand and forget about other worries for a while.
