Positive Impact of Doing Household Chores on Lifespan and Healthspan

By Bellamkonda K. Kishore, M.D., Ph.D., MBA

Lifespan is the length of time in years a person lives. Healthspan is the length of time a person lives in good health, free from chronic diseases, severe illness, and disability. Healthspan focuses on quality of life rather than the total number of years lived (lifespan). The average life expectancy in India at the time of independence in 1947 was 32 years, which reached to 72 years in 2024, i.e., more than doubled. There are several factors for that, such as drastic reductions in infant/maternal mortality, the eradication of major infectious diseases, improved sanitation, and expanded healthcare infrastructure. These gains are supported by better nutrition, increased literacy, and improved access to medical care. So, now many people in India are living up to their 70s. But their healthspan is decreasing due to a surge in chronic diseases, multimorbidity, and poor lifestyle choices. This growing “healthspan-lifespan gap” for India is approximately 9.2 for men and 11.8 for women, meaning people live over a decade in poor health despite rising life expectancy. While the global average healthspan-lifespan gap is approximately 9.6 years, India’s situation is more severe. In a 2025 analysis of 183 WHO member states, India’s high burden of disease places it among countries needing urgent, proactive, and preventive health strategies to bridge this gap. Driven by non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and poor diets, this gap in India is higher in urban areas and is threatening India’s economic demographic dividend. 

Ironically, although the healthspan-lifespan gap in the United States is 12.4 years (life expectancy 79 years) most elderly Americans are increasingly mobile and self-reliant due to a strong preference for “aging in place,” supported by assistive technology (e.g., walkers, smart home devices) and, increasingly, smartphones. Besides, people in countries like the USA are used to doing their chores from childhood, without depending on others, such as domestic helpers. Culturally, they are “self-reliant”. In a 2014  article published in the Atlanta Dunia I linked self-reliance of working-class people to high per capita GDP of the country, such as the United States. Here, I would like to present growing evidence that being self-reliant by doing household chores positively impacts both lifespan and healthspan and offers other benefits. Healthspan does not necessarily mean free from chronic diseases. It also comprises how one can manage with chronic diseases and be self-reliant in day-to-day life, just as most Americans do. It is possible to maintain a high quality of life despite a decreasing healthspan, through proactive management, adaptation, and a focus on psychosocial health, the “healthy aging”

In recent years, evidence is accumulating that doing household chores improves longevity and healthspan by improving physical and mental health as follows.

Positive Impact of doing Household Chores on Longevity or Lifespan: Household chores are linked to longer life, as it acts as physical activity, reducing frailty, and lowering mortality risk in older adults. Even light chores contribute to longevity. Studies have demonstrated that doing household chores on regular basis: (i) improved physical and mental health; (ii) cognitive benefit; and (iii) reduced mortality by reducing chronic disease risk, and cancers (see below for PubMed citations). 

Positive Impact of Household Chores on Healthspan: Household chores positively impact healthspan by reducing disease burden and mortality risk as above. But excessive housework can cause stress and poor health, especially in women. Moderate and regular household work improves brain volume, better physical function and lower dementia risk in older adults (see below for PubMed citations).  

Positive Impact of Household Chores on Physical and/or Mental Health at All Ages: Household chores offer significant physical and mental benefits at all ages, and boosts self-esteem. Mindful chores like dishwashing can reduce nervousness. Cooking at home improves physical health by enabling better nutritional control – reducing processed food intake, lowering BMI, and managing chronic conditions like diabetes. Mentally, it boosts self-esteem, provides a creative outlet for stress relief, fosters mindfulness, and promotes social connection through shared meals (see below for PubMed citations).  

Bonus Benefits of Household Chores: Research supports the idea that performing household chores can positively influence workplace efficiency by fostering essential professional skills and improving mental clarity. Key studies indicate that the discipline and organization required for domestic tasks often translate into higher job performance and better executive function. Stress Management: For many, the office feels less stressful than managing home responsibilities, making professional tasks seem more manageable. Distraction Management: While chores can disrupt focus, they can also prevent “slack” time by replacing less productive habits.  Time Management: Organizing home life can directly improve time management in the workplace, resulting in higher task proficiency.

The above may explain higher lifespan, better quality of life, and higher per capita GDP in countries where people do their own household chores.

PubMed Citations Supporting the Above:

Please copy and paste the PMID+Number in Google search to access the scientific publication.

PMID: 37280557; PMID: 37854240; PMID: 23139642; PMID: 34044683; PMID: 24942970; PMID: 40598362;
PMID: 39018094; PMID: 23667441; PMID: 37951874; PMID: 21350247; PMID: 37280557; PMID: 24139277; 
PMID: 32052986; PMID: 38089027; PMID: 37927818; PMID: 23919266; PMID: 28943267; PMID: 29320997; 
PMID: 33546613; PMID: 38469121; PMID: 34810188; PMID: 36514054; PMID: 33256652; PMID: 37554140; 
PMID: 23469186