10 Productivity Hacks That’ll Motivate You to Do Those Pesky Household Chores

It’s never easy to muster up the energy to tackle those pesky household chores during the precious weekend hours. Try as you might, there’s always something else that will draw your attention away from the task at hand. Lucky for all of us, there are a few productivity hacks to help you check off everything on your to-do list.

A pad of paper marked To-Do List surrounded by pen and glasses

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Make a List

This might seem a little obvious, but many of us rarely actually grab a pen and paper to jot down our to-do lists. By creating a list, you’re clearly outlining what needs to get done and when. To ensure it doesn’t become overwhelming, however, the general rule of thumb is to keep your list to less than five items – anything more than that and you’re bound to procrastinate.

A tired woman turns off her cellphones alarm on her bedside table

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Tackle Tasks First Thing in the Morning

This might seem particularly daunting to those who love to sleep in, but setting your alarm at a reasonable hour and kicking off your day by crossing a few items off your to-do list will set you off on the right foot. Don’t believe us? Go ahead and try it next weekend – you might find it’s not as hard as you think.

A hand holding a cellphone featuring a timer on the screen

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Set a Timer

There’s nothing wrong with engaging in a little healthy competition with yourself, right? So why not set a timer on your watch or phone and see how quickly you can tackle some of your chores. You can even reward yourself at the end with a little treat.

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Lauren Kolyn

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Follow the One-Minute Rule

Author and blogger Gretchen Rubin made headlines a while back with her “one-minute rule.” It’s simple: immediately complete any task that can be finished in one minute – be it taking out the garbage, hanging up a jacket or putting a plate in the dishwasher. You’ll be surprised by how organized and stress-free you’ll feel after completing even the simplest of tasks.

A blue rubber gloved hand cleans a large window with cloth and solution

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Batch Similar Tasks Together

If you’ve got a handful of tasks that require more time to tackle, try grouping them together and completing them as a unit. If your windows are in desperate need of a good wipe-down or closets need to be organized, do all of them in the entire house at the same time.

A woman wiping down a photo frame while listening to music through large headphones

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Avoid Absolute Silence

Complete silence will only lead to the temptation to duck out of your house or listlessly switch on the TV. Listen to music, an audiobook or podcast to help you focus on the task at hand while engaging your mind. You’ll be shocked by how quickly you can cross an item off your to-do list if you simply pop on a pair of headphones.

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Lauren Kolyn

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Complete the Hardest Tasks First

If you’ve got five items on your to-do list, tackle the most difficult and/or time-consuming chore first. Although you might be tempted to leave it for last, the sense of satisfaction you’ll feel knowing you’ve already completed the toughest task will be reward enough. Everything else after that is easy.

A green gloved hand wipes down a kitchen with a bright yellow cloth

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Take on One Task at a Time

This one might seem a little obvious, but some of us are “scattered cleaners.” If you’re washing the dishes, finish washing the dishes before emptying the dishwasher, taking out the garbage or reorganizing your entryway closet. You’ll feel more accomplished knowing you’ve fully completed each task.

A kneeling woman's hand turning her phone off while it's plugged into the wall

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Put Your Cellphone Away

There’s nothing more distracting than a cellphone, so simply put it away – out of sight, out of mind. However, if you’re worried that hearing your text messages coming in from another room will tempt you to take a quick peak, silence your ringer or put your phone on airplane mode.

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Don’t Look at Your Phone When You Wake Up

Keeping on the theme of cellphones, try not even checking text messages, newsfeeds or social media posts for an entire hour after you first wake up. This will only help you get into the groove of tackling at least one item on your to-do list as soon as you start your day. Peeking at your messages afterward can be your oh-so-satisfying reward.