Why Delegating Chores Is Making Life Boring—and How Doing Them Changed Mine!

For as long as I can remember, I’ve enjoyed being a couch potato. Mental tasks always felt more stimulating and satisfying than physical ones, and sometimes I’d feel a bit too important for the daily chores - you know like the washing dishes, drying clothes and the endless list we try to avoid.

Recently, I spent time with a friend who seemed to enjoy doing all the things I avoided—cooking, cleaning, and so on. We were both going through challenging times, but she seemed to be dealing with it all so much better.

Curious, I decided to give some physical activities a try—not out of necessity, but just for fun.

I started on a weekend when I’d usually be glued to my screen, typing away or Googling the most irrelevant questions. I decided to cook a simple meal of paneer. By lunchtime, it was done, and the satisfaction I felt was immeasurable. Not to mention, the compliments from my family were the validation I didn’t know I needed.

Since then, I’ve made it a weekend ritual. I even send dabbas to friends occasionally. Working with real ingredients and efforts to source the same has drastically reduced my cravings for outside junk food as well!

This experience got me thinking about how little I had valued physical tasks in my adult life. Of course, mental tasks fuel innovation and growth, while physical tasks ground us in the present—both essential for a fulfilling life.

Delegating chores like buying groceries or handling daily errands had robbed me of the grounding experience of real-world responsibilities. In retrospect, my reluctance to engage in these tasks might have slowed my personal growth.

The virtual world has made life convenient, yes, but also oddly detached. One click, and the task is done. But are we really alive in the fullest sense when everything we do is virtual?

So, I started digging deeper and realized a few things.

Mental Tasks: The Abstract Pursuit

• Mental tasks, like brainstorming strategies or managing spreadsheets, are necessary for professional growth. But they’re also deeply abstract, often lacking tangible, immediate results. They may resemble structured activities from our school days—organized, repetitive, and guided by external systems. This structure can sometimes feel more familiar than transformative.
• Mental achievements rarely provide immediate, visible outcomes. This can lead to a cycle of needing external recognition for a sense of accomplishment.
• Living in a world of ideas and abstractions can feel like inhabiting a fantasy, where success is intangible and often fleeting.
• Without genuine passion for the work, mental tasks can heighten stress rather than alleviate it.

Physical Tasks: Grounded in Reality

Here’s what taking recent baby steps has taught me:

• Reduced anxiety: Physical activity—whether it’s as simple as household chores or as intense as exercise—releases endorphins and dopamine. These hormones naturally improve your mood and lower stress.
• Meditative effects: Unlike mental work, which demands precision and focus, physical tasks let your mind wander. This can be incredibly calming, even therapeutic.
• Intrinsic satisfaction: Finishing a chore or preparing a meal brings visible, meaningful results. The sense of achievement comes naturally, without needing someone else’s approval.
• Anchored in reality: Physical tasks tie directly to the real world—something mental work often lacks. There’s a joy in seeing, touching, or tasting the results of your efforts.

Why Adulthood Needs Physical Responsibility

Neuroscientists have found that physical activity activates the brain’s reward system, providing a faster and more consistent release of dopamine compared to intellectual work. This explains why completing a simple task like cooking a meal often feels more satisfying than finishing a spreadsheet.

So how do we actually start?

1. Dedicate time to physical tasks: Block out time for cooking, cleaning, or even gardening. These activities will counterbalance the mental work you do.
2. Try activities that combine both: Yoga, hiking, or DIY projects blend mental focus with physical effort, creating a holistic sense of well-being.
3. Stay Consistent: Treat physical tasks as essential parts of your routine, just like your professional responsibilities.

The Takeaway

The virtual world may keep us efficient, but it also distances us from life’s physical joys. By embracing physical tasks, we connect more deeply with ourselves and the world around us. The balance between mental and physical work is key to a fulfilling, grounded, and resilient life.

So, the next time you think about outsourcing your chores, remember—you’re not just saving time; you might also be missing out on life.

What’s one physical task you’ll embrace this week? Share your plans in the comments!

#PersonalGrowth #LifeSkills #BalanceInLife

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Sources:

1. Harvard Health Publishing. (2021). The benefits of physical activity. (https://www.health.harvard.edu)

2. Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1990). Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience.

3. Ratey, J. J. (2008). Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain.

4. Roberts, K., & Smith, L. (2020). The Role of Responsibility in Personal Development. Journal of Occupational Psychology.