9 Productive Things to Do While Watching TV

I am the worst at extreme multitasking. If I’m reading an article on my phone and someone tries to talk to me, I will retain nothing of what said person just told me. Sometimes when you’re watching your shows it’s easy to curl up in a blob underneath a pile of blankets and feel overly unproductive. While there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, there are plenty of productive things to do while watching TV or Netflix or your streaming service of choice.

1. Workouts

You can try out some TV workouts (I have ones for Grey’s Anatomy & Gilmore Girls and Gossip Girl & Friends). You can bring your shows to the gym by downloading them onto your iPad/Kindle/other devices. You can even just stand in front of your laptop or television and do some squats, sit-ups or planks.

2. Mindless tasks on your to-do list

Check your to-do list for any tasks that don’t require a ton of focus. This might be something simple like polishing your shoes, putting labels on boxes or even washing your makeup brushes.

3. Dust your room

This is a task that you probably don’t do often enough but probably should. I don’t remember the last time I actually dusted my room, but dusting while you’re watching your shows is both productive and a nice way to perk up your room.

4. Fold laundry

This can certainly be filed under “mindless tasks on your to-do list” but considering the frequency at which I fold my laundry while watching my shows, I thought I’d give this one a call out. I love watching my shows while I fold laundry. Folding laundry is a fairly mindless but necessary task and watching shows make it fly by more quickly.

5. Cook a meal/snack

If you’re bringing your laptop into the kitchen be sure to keep it far from the oven and far from any potentially messy ingredients (ie: flour and cooking spray). This mostly works if you’re making something you’ve made many times before or something that requires minimal effort (ie: putting premade cookie dough onto a tray). Perk: you get to eat the results.

6. Organize your closet/makeup collection/pantry/etc

Cleaning and your shows? Perfect. Feel less guilty about bingeing on a season by organizing something while doing so. Only allow yourself to watch your shows if you’re organizing part of your room while doing so.

7. Disinfect your electronics and other objects you touch often

Phones, laptops and other commonly touched items can be full of germs. This is so simple and it’ll make you feel a lot better about constantly being on your phone if you know it’s clean.

8. Paint your nails and toes

This will prevent any smudges before they’re dry–watching shows doesn’t require that you pick up anything or potentially destroy your fresh coat. Plus, this is a great way to prevent (well, deter) shoveling snacks into your mouth while you watch your shows…guilty!

9. Clean out your purse/backpack

Throw away all of those receipts and gum wrappers at the bottom. Move your loose change to a jar. Put away those four tubes of lipsticks you forgot you owned. Boom! This is one of the easiest productive things to do while watching TV!

What is your favorite productive thing to do while watching TV?