I sometimes look forward to boring tasks
- Karen Wilson: Family Corner
- January 14, 2025
- 104
What tasks do you find boring? Washing dishes? Folding laundry? Making dinner? Dusting shelves?
What about repetitive tasks — you know the ones you do every day without much thought? Maybe they are the ones you have to make a point of noticing to make sure you did them because they are so automatic.
How much mental energy do they take? Usually not a lot. So how could you make use of the mental space they provide?
I love to read, but I seldom have time to sit and read words on the page. In fact, I rarely sit at all. I’m even typing this while standing. Anyway, the point is I sometimes look forward to boring tasks because they give me the opportunity to listen to a wide variety of things I would have likely read in the past.
I usually start the day with a podcast or book about fitness. It gets me in the mood to put in the bike or treadmill miles. Once I’ve gotten my body moving, I switch to something about improving things. I lean toward material about managing, organizing and getting things done. I generally listen to podcasts about writing while I feed the chickens or put up fencing for the cows.
When chores are done, I’m in the mood to write. I’ve generally thought of some things to write about as well. I dictate parts of columns and other things into my phone as I work. Something about motion often gets my mind working too. I just have to have a convenient way to retain the ideas until I can do something with them.
Unfortunately, I have remembered I had a really good writing idea, only to have forgotten the actual idea. I just know I had one. Fortunately, I have become more diligent in recording the ideas.
What about you? Trying to solve a problem? Maybe make a point of thinking about it the next time you fold laundry. Making a meal you have made dozens of times before? Write yourself a note to think about that complicated situation at work. Turn over ideas while you prepare ingredients. Jot down ideas as they come to you. You can decide if they are good ideas later. Just let the ideas flow while you chop or simmer.
Need to have a difficult discussion with someone? Maybe practice what you will say while you dust the living room. Mutter to yourself while you vacuum so no one will overhear. Have a small notebook or your phone handy to capture that line that sounded just right.
My preference leans to projects and tasks that get done once. Repetition is not my forte or my particular favorite, but the same things need to be done on a regular basis, so I have worked to discover the joy in them.
If you look at repetitive tasks as an opportunity, you may find you look forward to allowing your mind to work as your hands do the necessary tasks.