Why am I more productive when the wife is out of the house?

[David]

When my wife isn't home I work on the cars and the house, clean house, wash dishes and clothes. When she is home I sit around and watch TV and surf the internet? Even if she's in another room or in the kitchen, I'm still unproductive.

I'm bringing this up to the Pelican brain trust because I mentioned this to a coworker and they admitted to being the same way.

Is there some strange psychology to this?

[recycled sixtie]

Perhaps your wife enables you to be lax when she is around. When gone you may feel that you have to do something to keep busy.

[wdfifteen]

Same here. For me, it’s because I won’t be interrupted, or told I should be doing something else.

[svandamme]

I'm single, things will get done when they get done.
My garage is more important then kitchen or bathroom remodeling.

We are hunter gatherers not frigging domestic aids.
Men get a women hoping she won't ever change
Women on the other hand want to change men.

It's obvious that your wife has trained you
Must be some psychological trickery or pavlov reaction involved where you she got your subconscience fearing her return
When she's around you are simply awaiting instructions

Think about it. How does she punish you if you aren't keeping busy?
Hold out?
nag?
destroy your things?
slap a news paper on yer nose?
electroshocks on yer nuts?

Or maybe it's subliminal... while you sleep. You don't even know it.
Sleep with one eye open bud. You'll see

Watch some Malcolm in the Middle , there are loads of techniques for manipulation demonstrated in that show

[legion]

I'm the same way.

In my case, I have young children and it's hard for me to find time to do things where I'm not interrupted by others or interrupting a nap. I find myself home alone maybe once a month for a few hours and I tend to knock things out quickly.

I find myself spending more time planning how I can involve kids in my activities than planning the activities themselves. For example, last weekend, I needed to rake leaves. Doing it by myself would take about an hour. The problem is, if I'm outside, my boys want to be outside with me. So I planned on having one kid rake and the older one run the blower and/or leaf sweeper. The oldest is 7 by the way. I knew they would get bored, wander off, start playing with outside toys, etc. I ended up attacking the problem in a way that was easier for them to understand rather than the most efficient way. It ended up taking me 2 hours, but I got some "help" for the first half hour. At least they got some experience helping dad.

[McLovin]

I'm the same way.

I'm not sure why that is.

I think part of it is I don't want her to see how quickly I can get things done. It diminishes the perception of the work.

What would take her 2 hours to do, I can do in 30-45 minutes.

So when she sees what I've done, I get way more credit than I deserve.

[fastfredracing]

My wife is a weird one. She is not a cleaner, and would probably be a hoarder if I was not around.
She will rarely clean up , or throw old stuff away, yet gets all pissy pants at me when I start cleaning . If I was a psychologist, I would guess she sees me cleaning, and feels guilty. She always tells me to leave that alone, " I will get it " But she never does.
When she is gone, I am on like Donkey Kong . I go through the house like a hurricane. Or, I wait till she is asleep . Sometimes it makes me nutty, but in life, you gotta choose your battles.
She is a weird one ... but I love her .

[Gretch]

Like in hunting when I have to field dress my harvest............ I don't want any help, criticism OR peanut gallery.......

Like when I do my laundry......... i do it MY way........... if she is not around, I don't have to listen to how I am SSSOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO ****ing it up.......

[David]

Originally Posted by svandamme

It's obvious that your wife has trained you
Must be some psychological trickery or pavlov reaction involved where you she got your subconscience fearing her return
When she's around you are simply awaiting instructions

This seems most likely.

[BeyGon]

With my wife it's always wanting something, you are in the middle of something and she wants something else. I can't get anything done when she is around so I just don't try. When she asks when I am going to finish something I just tell her I am spending my day with her, I can finish that thing tomorrow. And not lie.

[LWJ]

I am exactly the same. Somewhat lazy at home. Wife gone? I happily work my butt off.

[drcoastline]

I'm the same way. It's simple, it is very difficult to get things done when they are around. Up your Azz, in the way, complaining you are making a mess, asking questions, tryin to tell you how to do it, etc. For me it is easier to do nothing than to try and do anything.

[tabs]

It is the constant distraction of wanting to and or fking them that drains you of your essence...

[VincentVega]

Originally Posted by drcoastline

I'm the same way. It's simple, it is very difficult to get things done when they are around. Up your Azz, in the way, complaining you are making a mess, asking questions, tryin to tell you how to do it, etc. For me it is easier to do nothing than to try and do anything.

wait, I dont think we live with the woman??

[Captain Ahab Jr]

Must be doing it wrong

I get so much more done when my wife is around as I'm busy as hell trying to keep up with her work rate

[masraum]

Hah, funny, my wife is gone right now. I spent the first day or two not doing much, but now I'm starting to get stuff done.

[varmint]

Easier to work without the nagging.

[stomachmonkey]

You can either tell me what to do, or how to do it, but not both.

When they are around they simply get in the way and "the help" they offer is anything but.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by tabs

It is the constant distraction of wanting to and or fking them that drains you of your essence...

I was thinking along the same lines.

I get the same amount done whether she's here or not. For many, many years she held a full time job and I came and went as a contractor. Sometimes it was office time, or maybe something to be made in the shop. I had all my days to myself.

Now that she's retired, I just go on the same way as if she's not here. But once in awhile will fall victim to tabs theory.

[ckelly78z]

I work like a dog when my wife is away. When she is home, I tend to see her sitting on the couch watching TV, and I get lazy as well. After 30 years of marriage, i'm scared how much I like being alone, with no interuptions.