Puttering around: Why small tasks feel so therapeutic

• At the most superficial level, puttering (occupying ourselves in a desultory but pleasant way) may be useful because it occupies the mind so that we devote fewer resources to the things that are worrying us.
• Even if we struggle with structured forms of meditation, for instance, we may find household tasks can anchor us in the here and now. But that will depend on where we place our focus.
• On YouTube, there’s even a huge audience for videos of other people going about their chores, with millions of views for some of the most popular clips.

Unlike other distracting activities – such as playing computer games or watching trashy TV – puttering also has the advantage of being proactive and useful, increasing our “perceived control”.

When we feel anxious, a sense of helplessness can heighten the physiological stress response, increasing levels of hormones such as cortisol. Over the long term, the sense of helplessness can even harm the function of the immune system.

We can gain a perception of control from activities that may have little effect on the situation that’s bothering us.