Guest post by Kristen of Celebrate Every Day With Me.
Are you productive when you talk on the phone? There are days when I am a mean-cleaning-talking machine. And there are other days (a few too many) when I don’t have anything to show after clicking end on my telephone — meaningful conversations aside.
One of my closest friends lives a couple hours away. But we make up for it in the number of times we talk on the phone each day and the lengths at which we talk on the phone. She tends to sit, comfy on the couch while we talk. I tend to pace around my house. (The reason I recognize this is that I have noticed when my kids are on the phone or pretend to be, they walk circles around the house. Hmmm.)
So in an effort to jump on Crystal’s bandwagon of amazing productivity, here are 20 quick ways to be productive while talking on the phone.
1. Pick up clutter
2. Sort laundry
3. Unload the dishwasher
4. Organize the pantry
5. Wipe down the counter or refrigerator doors
6. Wash a window
7. Go through a kid’s closet, removing what no longer fits
8. Spot-treat stains on clothing
9. Sort through a junk drawer
10. Purge unused mugs and sippy cups from the cupboard (Don’t we all have too many mugs?)
11. Take a Clorox wipe to your light switches and door knobs
12. Grab a stack of unfiled bills and sort them into piles on the floor
13. Purge your purse/wallet of trash
14. Cut coupons
15. Organize your video and dvd collection
16. Weed, if the weather is nice
17. Clean the microwave (Boil 2 cups of water, let sit for 10 minutes and wipe.)
18. Dust a room
19. Sort through the mail
20. Paint your toe nails (Who said productivity can’t be fun?)
Next time you hang up, you won’t have just a nice conversation to show for it, you’ll also enjoy the great feeling of accomplishment!
What do you like to accomplish when you are chatting on the phone?
Kristen Summers is a former event planner now blogging about fun ideas for children’s activities, party planning and creating memorable moments. She is the author of Teach Me To Serve: 99 Ways Preschoolers Can Learn to Serve & Bless Others. Catch up with Kristen at Celebrate Every Day With Me.
Jen Tobin says
Number 1, 2, 9 and 18 are my favorites. I am a big proponent of multi-tasking, especially when you can be put on hold for so long just trying to complete simple phone transactions.
Megan says
I like to make my phone calls while driving….I have a bluetooth wireless speaker in my car where my sunglasses holder used to be overhead. I am a stay at home mom of 2 boys but also do all the bookeeping for my husband’s company (almost a full time job). I find that once I drop my boys off at preschool and am heading to the gym or back home or the office to work, I can squeeze in a lot of my phone calls. If I need to hop out or turn off my car (when getting the mail, making a deposit, etc), it automatically switches to my phone. It is a great way to multitask. That way when I get to where I’m going, my talking is done and I can focus on the task at hand. I can’t call my 82 year old grandmother at home when my kids are loud but I can call her on the way to the office in a quiet car!
Angie F. says
I think Ellen is right, the key to this, as with many things, is to have a balanced and grace filled approach. No need for guilt to spur you on to productivity, nor should you feel you can’t do anything in case you might offend. There are times at the end of a long day, or in the middle of a busy or stressful one, when I welcome a chance to “push pause”, sit down and put my feet up while I have the full attention of a sympathetic, fully listening and friendly ear. In turn, I try to be sensitive to the mood and needs of the other person too. If it’s a light hearted chat, I’m likely to move around (I’m fidgety by nature too) and do stuff; but if it’s a more serious conversation and I sense that they need my encouragement and/or for me to catch (more subtle cues in their tone-what they are not saying) things I might miss if I were distracted, then yep, I’m gonna sit down and focus more intently for this one.
If I am talking to a friend or family member, especially one I know that I have a tendency to chat with for quite a while (or haven’t in a while), I simply ask, “Hey, I have a few mindless things I’d like to get done while we talk, if you don’t mind. Please let me know if any of it gets distracting for you.” It lets them know they are more important, but they probably understand that my days can get really busy and it’s great if I can use some hands free time to fold laundry and such. On hold time is always fair game!
My MIL takes it a bit far sometimes though…she goes “tinkle” sometimes while we’re talking and I don’t realize it until she flushes and then apologizes if when she has to put the phone down to wash up! Lol I just take it in stride and figure it’s an indication that our relationship has gotten stronger over the years (it was shaky to start) and she’s now very comfortable with me. I’m just glad she takes the time to call, and is so understanding of my unexpected interruptions, or whenever I have to cut a call short. I always make a point to call back asap, during quieter times. We try not to do that while driving. Speaking for myself, I really don’t want to be the cause of a senior citizen being in an accident! ;( Recent studies have also shown that we are still very distracted drivers, even when we are talking hands free, so I would be careful about that option.
I try to make call time at home productive time for both me and my friend or family member on the other end. For instance, my BFF is almost 300 miles away. We have 10 kids between us, so phone calls tend to be stop and go efforts with many interruptions, even with teens, and especially on her end. It used to bother me a little. Now however, we schedule a couple of most opportune times each week to touch base. Our kids know that’s Mom’s treasured best friend time. Sometimes we’ll each head out our respective doors for an individual walk “together” (or I’ll ride my bike on a stand in my basement, she hits the elliptical at her gym) while on our phones, to encourage each other in our fitness goals. We’ve laughed about sounding like obscene callers when we get out of breath on a hill!
I also have one friend close by with whom there never seems to be the right, or enough, time to get together in person, and a few long distance ones I miss dearly. When I am overdue for a catch up chat, I arrange it with one of them ahead of time. We pick similar chores to do and have a friendly competition to see how much we can accomplish while we’re chatting. 😉 It’s nice to spur one another on to love and good deeds, helping each other to declutter and make our homes a cleaner, cozier place for our families, while strengthening the bonds of our friendship. I would tend to put off those mindless chores and projects otherwise. I hate “wasting time” and doing them. True, I can memorize scripture, listen to music, talk radio or books on tape, but sometimes I’d rather use that time for grown up conversations on the phone.
I have used a headset, even back when I had a bulky cordless house phone. I’d just put on an apron, so I’d have a pocket to place it in, and off I’d go. Nowadays, of course, the headsets are slimmer and the phones much smaller, and blue tooth is available! The wonders of technology in our modern age. Btw: try a wet dishrag in the microwave instead, it will steam just as well and also disinfect the rag from germs! Good list and thought provoking post, Kristen, thanks!
Lety says
I like to set times for phone calls with my friends, too! Especially if it is someone I haven’t talked with in a while. That way we can give each other our full attention 🙂
Brandi @ Savvy Student Shopper says
When I’m on the phone, I have to pace around! I figure at least I am getting some exercise 😉
Jenny says
Actually, not related to the main point of this article, but with #17, I would caution you to be careful. Water can “explode” when heated in the microwave (under certain conditions). http://www.thekitchn.com/fact-or-fiction-exploding-wate-109388
I would be sure to put a wooden craft stick in or NOT opening the microwave for the full 10 minutes after heating it (or, I sometimes add an orange rind in the water…makes it smell good and don’t have to worry about the possibility of getting burned).
lyss says
Sorry, but I get way too distracted if I try to do something while talking on the phone….and get a crick in my neck in the process. I assume you have one of those headset things? To try to do something with both hands while holding a phone is quite difficult. Either way, it’s rare that I talk on the phone for very long. I see a phone call as a chance to sit and relax for a few moments, but I guess for those who spend alot of time on the phone it would start to feel like you’re wasting time.
Carrie #2 says
Sorry, can’t do this. I once had a friend who could do this while we talked and I was so jealous of how productive she was. I can’t seem to concentrate on a phone conversation and chores at the same time, though if the person was in the room with me I could (go figure. Since I can’t seem to just sit still and talk on the phone either, I walk/pace inside the house the entire time I am on the phone!! I should wear a pedometer to see how far I walk, since my phone calls to my parents are usually 30-1 hour, surely I walk at least a mile in that amount of time. So I guess I am multi-tasking by exercising and talking at the same time – just wish I could get a chore or two done while talking but I’ve attempted it too many times to know I can’t do it (even mindless ones like folding clothes).
Joanna says
My favorite phone activities are to pick up an embroidery, crochet, or knitting project. But I usually feel guilty even doing that when there’s housework to be done, so I end up wiping down the bathroom, hanging up laundry to dry, taking down laundry, folding it, and putting it away while I talk to my mom or a sister.
Lori in NC says
Multi-tasking is great – but do quiet chores — (not doing dishes in the sink! I still remember a friend who was doing that while we talked — seemed disrespectful of our time together).
1. Organize your sock drawer (or your kids’ drawers or your husband’s!)
2. Sweep with a broom (the entire house – if you have hardwood floors like us)
3. Pick up dirty clothes/towels from all the rooms and take them to the laundry room
4. Clean pecans — have a large bag from my cousin — I crack a bunch before I get on the phone – and then I can just quietly clean them with a nut pick while on the phone.
Kacy says
Just throwing my opinion out there. I kind of understand doing some things around the house if you are talking to people like doctors offices, etc. but doing a plethora of chores while having a conversation with close family and friends does not work for me personally.
I think there is a lost of art taking time out, being fully present and actively engaged in others lives. For me, the time spent on the phone is an investment in my relationships.
It actually kind of drives me nuts when I have phone conversations with people and I hear them typing on a keyboard, doing dishes, etc. (kids are an exception) because I can hear in their voice that they are not really involved in the dialogue and I tend to feel as though I am competing with other things, which is not a fun feeling.
All in all, I am not saying I am right or wrong, just my opinion on what works and feels best for me and the relationships in my life.
April says
I totally agree with you – I try to treat others the way I like to be treated, and it really annoys me when I’m talking on the phone with somebody and can tell that I don’t have their attention. So when I’m on the phone with somebody I try to give them my full attention and make a conscious effort not to do anything else that might distract me. That doesn’t mean that I won’t get a few chores done while I’m on hold with the electric company, but I don’t wash dishes or clean my house when I’m talking to my mom – I just talk to her. It might mean that I lose a few minutes of productivity, but it’s worth it to me to give her my full attention.
Judy says
I’ve been trying to use the time I’m on the phone to do squats or lunges, or other things, just to get my body moving and burn a few more calories 🙂
Cathy says
I only have a couple of people that I’m on the phone with for extended periods of time: my mom and a friend. Usually, if I know we will be talking in advance, I make sure and have one or two loads of laundry on my bed ready to fold and then sit and fold while we talk. It doesn’t take any brainpower to fold and I feel like I got something accomplished.
Camille E says
I’ve been on the other end of this too many times to agree. My mom always tries to be “productive” while talking to me on the phone. I find that many times she says “yeah” and “uh huh” at all the wrong places. Sometimes multitasking takes you away from the moment. I enjoy talking to my mom, but not if she is talking AND trying to sort through bills. She can’t fully concentrate on what I am saying and I end up feeling more distant and disconnected by the end of our conversation.
So my advice. If you are going to do something productive while on the phone- make sure it is something that doesn’t require much thought. Make sure you are fully listening and giving the person on the other end of the phone your complete attention. Wiping light switches doesn’t seem to require too much brain power- that would be a good one.
Carole says
I agree with Camille. Perhaps it’s better to not spend so much time on the phone that you can’t give your phone conversation your full attention when you do talk.
sona says
I also agree with Camille. As a mother who is many miles from her children, I appreciate a few minutes a week where we are connected fully. I finally had to stop calling her because it was very clear that everything/everyone had her attention. Lest you think something is wrong between us, no…. actually we have a wonderful relationship when in person. However, she too thinks she MUST do many things at once or feels guilty etc. She now calls me and even then she only does it when she is DRIVING somewhere. One must ask oneself, when the end has come is it one more dusted table or relationships that was your priority? We all spend our time doing what is important to us.
Jean says
I agree. I have a friend who does this. You can definitely tell she is doing something else. If I am giving her my undivided attention, I should have hers. I think it is very rude. Perhaps the phone conversations need to be much shorter!
Lety says
I totally agree with all of you! If someone is important enough for me to take time to speak with them on the phone, I want to make them feel that way. I don’t want to make them feel as if they are intruding on my time for housework/task completion. If I have too many things to do, then I don’t call or stay on the phone for only a few minutes.
Sonja says
I so agree!!! If you talk often, perhaps multi-tasking is okay. But if it’s a friend you rarely talk to, I think it is not thoughtful to keep the other person waiting while you reach to the back of your fridge while cleaning it out, etc. I understand things will come up like children needing attention, etc., but if I’m engaged in a phone conversation, why can’t the other person? I decided I would multi-task with one friend so as not to be annoyed. I valued our friendship more than to be annoyed, so I decided to do laundry, etc., while talking to her, too! (It did help the annoyance factor!) But I only do it with that one friend!
Ellen says
I am definitely a phone multi-tasker. It can be done well or badly.
I actually really don’t like talking on the phone and hate just sitting there with it in my hand – feels awkward. If my friend or mother was over, we would be in the kitchen visiting while I made dinner, or knitting, or wrangling kids. My mother maintained strong long distance relationships with her large family and close friends and she did it while homeschooling five children. You bet she used her hands to work while on the phone… and we kids new her real attention was on the phone! There was NO interrupting unless it was a necessity. Real friends will give grace for hectic seasons of life (even face to face visits with me these days are constantly interrupted by mothering demands).
That said, I choose hands-only activities while I talk on the phone (usually while my girls are napping or in bed). Wiping, dusting, sweeping, windows, knitting, folding laundry. I am a fidgeter anyway and tend to be always moving. Not sorting bills or figuring out coupons, because that has to engage my mind and I won’t be listening.
I think there needs to be common sense prioritizing engaged here and certainly a dose of grace from all parties.
Allison says
I agree with Camille also. I find that when I try to do something else while talking on the phone I have trouble concentrating on what the other person is saying. The other person often picks up on this too. The exception would be when I’m doing something really mindless like doodling or petting the dog.
Stefanie says
You took the words right out of my mouth. Personally, I dislike when I feel like people aren’t giving me their full attention, so I try to make sure I’m giving them mine when they talk to me.
Kristen @ Celebrate Every Day With Me says
Camille, thanks so much for the reminder. Making someone feel unimportant is never worth the added productivity.
Abbie says
That was a really gracious response Kristen. 🙂 I think you both have some great points for me to chew on.
Stephanie @ Mrs. Debtfighter says
I love this post!!! I, too, cannot sit still while on the phone! I have a friend that once on the phone with her, it’s at least hour. 🙂
Jennifer says
and I notice that when I do sit down on the couch to speak with someone on the phone…2 little children find me and start pestering me about various things…..:) I like this post! And I am always looking for a way to multi-task so this is perfect!
Ann says
Oh, this so happens to me too! I was reading this thinking – how can I do all this when I can’t even talk on the phone without being interrupted! My kids are old enough to know better too (13, 9, 6)!!
Angie F. says
When my kids were all younger, we used to have a special box near the phone in our kitchen. It held special toys, and they only came out when Mom was on important, or business, calls. I also taught my kids (from preschool age on) to come put a hand on my shoulder quietly if they needed me while I was on the phone. They knew it had better be important though, like someone was bleeding, or a child had puked, in order to interrupt! 😉 Tattletelling on a sibling was not a good reason!
Afterwards I would sometimes reward good behavior with a special snack, or a walk to the park to play for awhile. Never as a bribe, but just to reinforce their obedience and good choices while mom was busy. Hope that helps you ladies! 🙂
Heather says
This is a great post! I do this too…although I am notoroius for cleaning the downstairs bathroom while chatting it up on the phone so much so that I forget to tell the other party at the end when I flush! LOL! My friends get it…when onhold at the doctors office, it isn’t as funny! 🙂 My stepmom has an at home business as a seamstress and always has her phone attached to her with a little headset and chats it up with us kids/friends while she is removing sequins, etc. We tease her that she looks a phone operator, but seriously I am debating getting the same. Thanks for the other ideas…
Kristen @ Celebrate Every Day With Me says
Heather, you just gave me a good laugh! And the headset sounds like a great idea. 🙂
Sweta says
If you are trying to reach a customer service rep at a major company you can find out how to reach a human at this website http://www.dialahuman.com that way you don’t have to sit on hold forever listening to the annoying elevator music.
Kristen @ Celebrate Every Day With Me says
Wow, what a great tip! Thanks, Sweta!