Our Favorite Chores to Do While Multitasking

Let’s be honest, many household chores are boring—mind-numbing, boring. There simply are not many ways to make folding laundry exciting. However, with a little multitasking, it may be possible to make the mundane less mundane and maybe even entertaining.

The Oxford dictionary defines multitasking as doing more than one task at the same time. We’ve all multitasked at some point. You may even be doing something else right now as you’re reading this blog post, like eating lunch or enjoying your morning coffee.

While multitasking may seem like a great way to get a lot done all at once, not all multitasking is created equal. Some studies have shown that when you switch from task to task, it can be more distracting than focusing on a single task. However, for many of us, certain types of multitasking can be great for helping keep us motivated and even entertained while performing routine, mundane chores.

Keep Motivated by Multitasking During These Chores

It doesn’t matter what size or type of home you have, there are mundane chores that always need to be done. These are the routine tasks that may need to be completed daily, weekly, or even monthly. Topping our list of the most mundane are:

• Hand-washing dishes
• Sorting and/or folding laundry
• Dusting
• Vacuuming, sweeping, washing the floor
• Window cleaning
• Pulling weeds in the garden

What do these chores have in common?

• They don’t require an extreme amount of focus.
• They’re chores that have repetitive movement.
• They’re easily compatible with another, more interesting or entertaining task.

Multitasking while doing any of the above-mentioned chores can have one major benefit—motivation. If you can pick a second task, something to do while working on a mundane chore, you may feel less bored. Keep your motivation up, and you’re more likely to complete the chores instead of procrastinating.

Ways to Multitask

To make boring chores less mind-numbing, choose something fun to do simultaneously. Studies have shown that listening to music can actually help you work harder. Turning up the tunes may be the perfect and one of the easiest ways to multitask with any of the chores we’ve listed above. What kind of music? That’s entirely up to you. If it makes you happy, turn up the volume and see how fast that load of laundry gets folded.

Other distractions you can use when washing dishes, dusting, and folding laundry include listening to an audiobook or podcast, watching a favorite movie or show, and talking (with Bluetooth hands-free headphones or on speaker phone) with a friend or loved one. Depending on your career, you may even be able to dictate notes or emails with online speech recognition software.
Window washing, vacuuming, mopping, and weed pulling can be turned into cardio workouts. If you’re going to multitask in this way, don’t forget to warm up before and do your post-work stretching/cool-down after.

A little motivation with music and other distractions is a great way to get the boring chores done faster and have more fun. Another option is to hire out larger chores, like window cleaning. Our teams at United Window Cleaning can tackle each window, both inside and outside glass, and check for any damage. Need your skylight or ceiling fans cleaned? We can do that too. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.