Washing the Dishes

Learn about the benefits of mindfulness.

Mindfulness is a mental practice that involves focusing your attention on the present moment while labeling and accepting your feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations. Mindfulness is considered a non-judgmental approach to staying in the moment. The benefits of mindfulness include reduced stress, improved mental health, increased focus and concentration, better emotional regulation and improved physical health. 

Mindfulness involves 4 key concepts: 

• Present Moment Awareness – paying attention to what is happening in the here and now instead of dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. 

• Non-judgmental Observation – Observing thoughts and feelings without judging them as being good or bad. This helps you accept what it is without emotional connection to it. 

• Focused Attention – practicing mindfulness often involves focusing on a particular object or sound to anchor your attention. 

• Acceptance – Mindfulness focuses on acceptance of thoughts and feelings without trying to suppress or ignore them. 

When I explain mindfulness to clients, I try to find examples that they can relate to which will make it easier for them to understand. Washing the dishes is an example of a mindfulness tool that will help clients stay in the moment and focus their attention. To mindfully wash dishes, we would focus on the sight of dishes in the sink, the feel of the water, the smell of the soap, and the movement of the sponge on each item. When fully engaged in this task our minds have shifted from whatever worry or feeling was bothering us to the task of washing dishes. To state the obvious, this same approach is effective with other tasks such as cooking, showering and driving. This mindful approach allows our bodies to relax and can enhance overall well-being. The main thing I want my patients to know is that whatever they are doing, they should do it mindfully.