5 Jobs You Can Do While Watching TV

Sometimes, I love to just veg out on the couch losing myself in watching mindless shows on television. Who doesn’t?

But as a busy mum of 2.95 children, usually the reality is, I need to make the most of my downtime by multi-tasking.

One of my favourite ways to achieve this is making the most of watching television and doing other jobs at the same time. Multi-tasking is a badge of honour that all mums should be proud of.

I think the inspiration comes from my Great Aunty Nell, famous for being the world’s meanest hair washer, and for taping her daytime ‘stories’ to watch whilst ironing.

Know the five simple jobs you can do while watching TV. Enjoy the time while it stands still!

1. Evaluate the budget and pay bills

Reviewing the budget and paying the bills are two of the most useful things you can do while watching television. Calculate your total expenses for the past week and see how you’re tracking on your budget to date. Are you over the limit? Or something not adding up? Don’t panic about it right now, the commercial is about to end, but set an appropriate time in the next few days to deal with any issues.

Everybody hates dealing with their bills. By doing it in front of the television while you are relaxed and in a good mood will make the task less terrible. Pay any bills online during the ad breaks and leave the more complex bills for a time where they have your full attention.

2. Clean out your inbox

My email inbox is constantly sending me messages about how full it is. I also probably sign up to more email reminders than I’ll read in this lifetime. Dealing with emails that have been growing mould in your inbox is a great use of TV time. Delete any junk mail and answer all the emails that don’t need too much time put into them. Just make sure you set aside time to go back to all the more complicated ones you left there.

3. Spring clean your purse and handbag

Does your handbag double as a snack bar/rubbish bin/makeup counter/mobile desk all rolled into one? Mine also masquerades as a baby change table and sand pit at times. Giving your purse and handbag a spring clean is a fabulous job to do whilst watching television. Throw out anything you don’t need, then organise all the items you do need and place them in appropriate pockets and cut down the many hours spent looking for your keys or other handbag essentials.

4. Plan your meals

Now here’s one of the best possible things to do while watching TV, particularly if you’re into cooking shows! Plan your next week or month of meals. Never tried it before? Check out our beginners guide to meal planning. For extra efficiency and to make sure nothing ruins your plans, once you’ve worked out the meal plan, you can do your grocery shopping online during the next show!

5. Making your to-do list

Writing a to-do list is a great way to motivate yourself to get things done (or for those of us with baby brain actually remember to-do). There is nothing more satisfying than crossing jobs done off a list! Whilst you’re in front of the TV, put together your list for the next day or week writing down all the tasks you want to take care of, or enlist the help of a free app if you like to be paper free.

If you put your mind to it, there are loads of things you can do in front of the TV. Even the dreaded ironing.

Do you multi-task in front of the TV? What’s your favourite task to knock off with half your eyes and ears on the box?

*Krissy Hacker is a wife and SAHM of 2, expecting a 3rd whose arrival is eagerly awaited so she can return to drinking wine. She loves reviving old school ways of doing things and would do anything to get out of housework!