The average adult spends two hours and 11 minutes every day feeling stressed – the equivalent of five-and-a-half years over the course of a lifetime, a study has found. Researchers found heavy work-loads, financial worries, health problems and family dramas means the average adult spends the equivalent of more than 15 hours a week feeling under pressure.
But as well as going for a walk, having a glass of wine and watching a film to relive stress, more than half turn to cleaning to calm them down. And the relaxation kicks in after just 13 minutes of tidying.
And six in ten of the 2,000 adults polled by household cleaning experts Kärcher, claim that having a clean and tidy house instantly makes them feel calmer and less stressed.
More than three in ten Brits even clean as soon as they get home to unwind, with 34 per cent even admitting to cleaning things which didn’t need it just because they were feeling stressed. Jack Sweeney, from Kärcher UK said: "Our lives are becoming more stressful than ever before, so it's important to take some time to relax and calm down, particularly after a long day.
"While reading and listening to music are well-known stress relievers, it seems the old adage 'tidy home, tidy mind', also rings true. Not only does cleaning your home leave you feeling satisfied and house proud, but being able to sit down in a tidy room is often relaxing in itself."
The study, of 2,000 adults, found more than two thirds of the population (69 per cent) often struggle with the daily demands of modern life.
The tell-tale signs of stress, according to respondents polled by OnePoll.com, were found to be snapping more than usual at friends, family or colleagues, followed by general irritability and feelings of being overwhelmed.
It also emerged that the relationship between cleanliness and calmness often runs deeper with four in ten saying that a dirty home was often the cause of their stress in the first place. And over two thirds of Brits who clean their home say the feeling of productivity associated with it helps to alleviate their stress.
Washing up was found to be the most common chore to do when stressed, followed by vacuuming and doing the laundry, with cleaning the bathroom and toilet even listed among the most common stress-relieving chores.
Jack Sweeney, from Kärcher UK added: "The research shows that the act of cleaning your home is adopted by many Brits as an effective stress management technique, with the end result of a cleaning session, a clean and tidy house, helping more than half of the nation unwind.
"At Kärcher, we strive to deliver products that make this process even more rewarding, ensuring a tidy home also equals a tidy mind."
For more information about Kärcher and its range of products to help with all your household chores visit www.karcher.co.uk.
Top ten chores to do when feeling stressed:
Washing upVacuumingLaundryWiping down the kitchen surfacesTidying things awayDustingCleaning the bathroom/toiletsCleaning windowsIroningMopping the floors