It’s confession time.
I hate cleaning.
And truth be told, I’m not especially fond of making dinner either.
Organizing my closet? No thanks.
Getting stuck in traffic? The absolute worst.
But what if I told you that one little tool has flipped my utter disdain for these scenarios on its head? Something that makes the cleaning much more bearable. The cooking downright pleasant. The organizing somewhat enjoyable. The traffic… well, I can’t think of anything that can fix traffic but it definitely makes it a tad more tolerable.
So what is this one little tool?
Podcasts!
I use podcasts to make boring tasks more enjoyable.
I am obsessed with podcasts. If you’ve read the About Me section of this blog, it’s there for you in black and white.
Podcast Junkie.
My husband and children completely agree. They are all too familiar with the following statements coming out of my mouth:
You guys, I’m going to be cleaning and listening to a podcast.
Code for:
Don’t bother me unless the house is on fire.
Or perhaps…
I’m putting my earbuds in. Podcast time.
Code for:
Mama is off limits unless someone needs to go to the ER.
I’ve been a huge fan of podcasts for years now. Listening to them allows me to unplug while completing tasks that often feel annoying and burdensome. I can listen to an interesting interview. Catch up on politics. Decompress with some comedy. Find inspiration and encouragement. There are so many possibilities.
Whenever I need to take care of annoying tasks around the house, you’ll find me popping in my earbuds and listening to a podcast.
I actually end up enjoying the time I’m spending doing not-so-enjoyable things.
Simply put, I use podcasts to make boring tasks more enjoyable.
It’s magic, I tell you!
I have my favorite podcasts covering a variety of topics. Politics. Pop culture. Spirituality. Intentional Living. And I always finish a podcast episode either feeling better informed, in a better mood, more spiritually grounded, or curious about exploring other subjects in depth.
Instead of feeling like I’m wasting time, I feel like I gain so much through the time I spend listening.
Are you a fan of podcasts?
If you are, I encourage you to incorporate listening to them as a tool to make boring tasks more enjoyable.
And if you’re not a fan, it could be that maybe you haven’t found the RIGHT podcast yet. Want some recommendations?
I’ve listed my favorites at the end of this post. So keep reading!
But if you’ve genuinely tried a few different podcasts and you still REALLY, truly feel like they aren’t your thing, well, guess what?
AUDIOBOOKS!
OK, it’s now confession time part two.
I am not a fan of audiobooks. I think they are an incredible resource and have friends who listen to audiobooks all the time. It’s just that when I try to listen to one, my mind wanders and the daydreaming begins. I end up backtracking to catch what I missed. But before long I realize I’ve drifted off again. It’s like that movie Groundhog Day where the same day continues repeating over and over and over… I get absolutely nowhere.
For some reason though, this doesn’t happen to me with podcasts. I have no idea why but there you have it.
So if you know that podcasts aren’t your thing but you do enjoy audiobooks, I encourage you to listen to one the next time you’re stuck doing a bunch of unappealing chores.
However, if you aren’t yet hooked on podcasts and just don’t get what all of the fuss is about, PLEASE give them a shot!
I guarantee that once you find the right podcast or podcasts, you will feel less resentful towards all of the chores and responsibilities you have to do. Don’t be surprised if you find that you’re actually motivated to dive in and chip away at everything on your to-do list.
As promised, here is a list of some of my favorite podcasts:
Daily News Source:
The Daily with Michael Barbaro, New York Times
Up First, NPR
Politics / News:
Pantsuit Politics with Sarah and Beth
Fresh Air with Terry Gross
Pop Culture:
The Popcast with Knox and Jamie
Lifestyle:
The Nuanced Life with Sarah and Beth
The Simple Show with Tsh Oxenreider
What Should I Read Next? with Anne Bogel
Do it Scared with Ruth Soukup
The Lazy Genius Collective with Kendra Adachi
Spiritual:
The Robcast with Rob Bell
On Being with Krista Tippett
Oprah’s SuperSoul Conversations
Homeschooling
Homeschool Sisters Podcast with Cait and Kara
And what about podcasts for kids!?!
Podcasts, (and audiobooks) are also a fantastic tool for kids. The drudgery of cleaning their bedrooms, taking out the trash, setting the table, and putting their clothes away becomes more tolerable with an enjoyable podcast to listen to.
Here are some that we’ve listened to or that have been highly recommended:
Science:
But Why: A podcast for curious kids
Stories:
Little Stories for Tiny People
The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian
Mindfulness:
History:
If you find something you like, the easiest thing to do is subscribe via iTunes, (or wherever you get your podcasts) and new episodes will magically arrive in your feed.
And be prepared for podcasts to change the way you experience all of those annoying responsibilities. I cannot encourage you enough: Use podcasts to make boring tasks more enjoyable.
Are you already a fellow podcast junkie? If so, what are some of your favorites? I’d love to know!
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