Of Monotony and To-do Lists by Konnie Enos

 

“I am done. I am so done.” Yes, I said that. Then I added, “Until tomorrow.”

I’d spent at least three hours doing some of my monthly paperwork which is dependent on us receiving money. Jerry had gotten his, but I had not, hence I wouldn’t be done until I received mine, today. Then again I’m never done because money is always going out and coming in.

I think my son put it perfectly, “No matter how often I do them, I’m still going to have to do chores. It never ends.”

I laughed. “Welcome to life.”

Yes, the dishes are always going to need doing. You’re still going to have to clean off tables, counters, and stove. You’re still going to have to collect the garbage and make sure it’s deposed of. You’re still going to have to sweep, mop (and vacuum, if you have rugs). There are still surfaces to dust and bathrooms to scrub. There are still clothes to get clean and meals to prepare. You also still have to shop, for groceries, cleaning supplies, and toiletries.

If you have pets, as we do, there is still feeding them, making sure they have ‘bathroom’ access (letting the dogs outside) and brushing them, bathing them, and taking care of their medical needs.

I’m sure my son considers bathing one of those chores he hates yet always has to do.

No matter what chore you manage to get done, it is still going to need to be done again. Maybe not the next day, but eventually. That is life.

Complaining isn’t going to change it. Living on your own isn’t either. No matter what you do in life, like it or not, there is going to these pesky tasks that must be done regularly and they’re never going to stop needing doing. Both chores and to-do lists are never-ending. There is always something else that needs doing.

In fact, in life, there are always tasks that must be repeated. Even at work. Whether you own the business or just have a job, there are tasks, no matter how mundane which has to be repeated often.

At this moment, I can’t think of any tasks which would never need to be done again as long as you’re alive. That is what life is. Some of those tasks are pleasant to do and some you’d rather avoid.

Then there are the tasks you can’t do, which still need doing. I can’t sweep or mop a floor. (I can walk, but being on my feet for that long kills my back due to breaking it nearly 50 years ago.)

I also detest scrubbing bathrooms, but someone has to do it.

While I don’t mind cooking, I hate having to always decide what gets cooked. I mean you have to when you live alone but in a family this size someone else can decide once in a while.

My son hates chores period. If he’s required to do it, then he’ll put it off until we start yelling at him, then he’ll complain the whole time he’s doing it. Though I think he likes complaining because he’s always doing it.

My husband just plain hates chores too because he does everything in his power to avoid all household chores. (I’d love to get him off his duff, but he’s stubborn too. His attitude is also why I have so much trouble with my son doing chores.)

So what never-ending chores to you hate or avoid? Which ones do you enjoy? Have you found ways to make the unpleasant tasks easier to bear or do you just muddle through them? Does music blasting through the house mean someone is doing chores? Do you find your to-do list getting ever longer because there simply aren’t enough hours in the day?

Chores have to be done, but what things do you do to make life pleasant?

Do you read, write, or do handcrafts? Do you do puzzles or word games? Do you exercise? (Yes, unbelievably some people like exercising.) What is that thing, or things, you do to relax or let off steam?

A good life must be balanced.

If you have to do those unpleasant tasks then when you’re done reward yourself with an equal amount of time to do something you do enjoy. I suggest putting both pleasant and unpleasant tasks on your daily to-do list. You’ll check more off and feel better about what you are accomplishing.

I mean you’ll have to do those unpleasant tasks anyway, why not make your day as pleasant as possible?

Smile. Make the day a brighter day.