When doing chores, what I notice in myself is that the more intense my desire is to be done and get on with something else, the less enjoyable the chore is.
The antidote then, that I’ve been experimenting with in my own life, is to reverse this innate response to be done with it asap—and to take my time doing the chore instead.
This isn’t the type of advice you might be used to hearing.
In our modern world, the conversation is focused around hustling, automating, outsourcing, delegating, optimizing—and we hear stories about eliminating busywork, taking full control of your calendar, living life on your own terms, and so on.
…Which typically becomes the predominant thought process precisely when we’re kneeling down on our already sore knees, touching other family members’ undies, folding and organizing a seemingly endless mountain of clothes, all while trying to uncover the floor before the next series of obligations begin.
…It’s no wonder chores are such a misery for so many of us.
But, when you take away the rush, when you eliminate the asap, when you detach yourself from all those preconceived notions and focus on just doing the task as it is—suddenly, the intensity softens, the discontentment fades, and the irritation clears.
The secret to contentment in the “here” has less to do with removing irritating tasks and more to do with stopping the ceaseless desire to be somewhere else.
Give it a try.
P.s. In case you missed it, you can read the best of what I posted to MoveMe Quotes last week, here.