Do you prefer to get the entire job done the first time?

United States
August 21, 2007 1:37pm CST
Do you find that you'd rather do the entire job, even if it would take you a little bit longer? Or, do you like doing part of the job and then come back later to finish up? The other day I was just about finished sweeping the kitchen floor, when a thought occurred to me that I needed to sweep the livingroom, hall and bedrooms as well. At first I balked at the idea, considering that would mean at least another half hours worth of work. But, the more I thought about it, the more sense it made. Think about it. Here I have worked thirty minutes getting a nice clean kitchen floor and then someone tracks dust and dirt from the rest of the house over it. And, I have to sweep the kitchen floor again. That would mean even more work for me! So, I gave in and started sweeping the rest of the house! Guess it was easier than doing the same job twice. I'm the same way when it comes to mowing the lawn or doing dishes. I don't like to leave jobs half done. Chances are I'll never have a chance to come back to finish the job. I guess it works different for everyone. Do you find yourself doing the same thing? Do you find it easier to do the entire job the first time? Or, do you break it up and just do a little bit at a time?
3 people like this
15 responses
@DanaMark (807)
• United States
21 Aug 07
I hate to leave a job half finished. When mowing the lawn, I don't want to stop and have lunch in the middle. I want to get the lawn done first. A few days ago my wife decided it was time to tackle a landscaping project we have been putting off. It involved digging, placing a border, and filling with 25 bags of rocks. It was "backbreaking" work. About half way through she suggested we quit for the day (she was sitting on a lounger supervising!) I didn't want to quit then. Even though my back already ached, I wanted to finish the job. I'm glad we did. It rained all day the next day. That gave me time to loosen up my back again! lol.
• United States
22 Aug 07
Lounge chair supervising! Sounds like my type of yard work! It's way too hot here to be working outdoors. But, I am happy that your landscaping project turned out well.
• United States
21 Aug 07
I like to do things well the first time. And I like to do it all at once, straight through.I only stop in the middle of a job if I run out of time.
1 person likes this
@KrisNY (7590)
• United States
25 Aug 07
I try to finish jobs right the first time- Makes sense- otherwise it takes longer to get something done- From work at my job to home- I’m not saying I always get it done- Most times I am interrupted and then the job isn’t finished-
@vega83 (6342)
• Bahrain
8 Sep 07
Well, I can't really say about household chores for myself, since I don't do many of those. I do have the reputation of an extremely lazy person, ha ha, but that's not entirely true. I like to take up projects every now and then, whether it's making a craft, a painting, or fixing something. I don't start a lot of projects but when I do, I do them and complete them in one sitting, even if takes hours and hours, that's just the way I am. I don't like to leave things undone or half done. I think that strikes out my laziness quality, since a lazy person wouldn't do that, right?
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
24 Aug 07
Hi beautyqueen. It really depends on my mood and whether I can be bothered doing it all at once. Sometimes I do bit by bit and other times I do it all at once. Just the other night I spent a few hours at night cleaning the kitchen and bathrooms. Then put a few loads of laundry on too. Felt really good afterwards because both my hubby and son were asleep so I had noone to disturb me!
• Kottayam, India
22 Aug 07
First time itself.
@cutepenguin (6431)
• Canada
22 Aug 07
I break jobs up and do them a bit at a time. It's easier for me - plus, I am easily distracted, so if I don't do things partway at a time, I just won't do them at all.
@friendship (2084)
• Canada
22 Aug 07
I prefer to get the entire job done the first time. I don't like breaking the job up a little bit at a time. I don't feel comfortable with delaying it. I want to finish it entirely and then move on to other job.
@carlaabt (3504)
• United States
22 Aug 07
Most of the time, I would really prefer to do the entire job all at once, but sometimes that just isn't practical. As far as cleaning goes, I try to get the majority of my cleaning done in the morning before my son gets up. That way through out the day, I only have to do the picking up and cleaning of the kitchen after meals. But I really do try to have the sweeping, cleaning the bathroom, changing sheets on my bed, putting away laundry, etc, done before my son gets up, because otherwise there will be too many distractions, and it won't get done. Sometimes my son gets up early for some reason, though. And then I find I don't get everything done that I want to. I like to clean both bathrooms twice a week. If my son is up, I can't get that done because he wants to see what is going on, and he tries to take my cleaning supplies. Then the job doesn't get done until the next day, and I HATE it. I hate having a room only half clean.
@healer (1779)
• India
22 Aug 07
I don't like things to be left undone when i realize it has to be done. I cannot leave it that way when that has to be done or set upright, i don't keep any work for tomorrow and so in a way i am always busy. We get some feeling of freedom when things are done at the right time and so thats keeps our mood fresh and wanting to be what we are. I try to finsih things as soon as possible and enjoy after that like watching movies or hanging out with friends or doing something that we like.
@Nardz13 (5055)
• New Zealand
22 Aug 07
Hi there. Im a person that likes to get the job done, in the first instance, I cant stand to wait around, or cut the job in half and get back to unfinished work later... I prefer to get the job done, right at that moment...
@arcidy (5005)
• United States
21 Aug 07
Well that all depends on what the job is. Like for instance if I come back from grocery shopping I would like to get the job done the first time because I dont wat to keep going back and getting more groceries which is why I carry more bags at a time. But if its a much harder job that will take hours then I will take a few trys to finish it.
@theprogamer (10534)
• United States
22 Aug 07
I almost always do things straight through, particularly common chores. However, some megachores need to be rationed out and divided along a period of time. I once did an entire yard reworking and it took more than 12 hours. Needless to say, I felt tired and sore. I learned my lesson and will not try something like that again. Just do the short chores in order and once through so you don't have to bother with them again for awhile, or end up forgetting about them later. Plan the longer chores ahead and be careful if you feel compelled to do those straight through.
22 Aug 07
I beleive in getting the job done correctly and getting it done quickly. This usually means working by myself and not relying on others, i work a lot better this way
@peanutjar (5198)
• Canada
21 Aug 07
I do it all at once,that way its all done.I hate leaving something unfinished,it annoys me and the little voice in my head tells me"better finish it before its double the mess!"