We do many things simply because they must be done; it is part of life. You can pay others to do most of them, but few can afford that. These tasks include washing dishes, cleaning the bathroom, changing the sheets, and countless duties in our work lives. The real challenge with these things is not learning how to do them—they are not hard to learn. A task is truly mastered when you learn how to enjoy it. If you can enjoy the task, it is far more likely to get done, and so much more of your life becomes enjoyable.

Here is the secret to enjoying a mundane task: Skill has the potential for artistry. And artistry has the potential for joy.

There is also something special about doing what must be done. Everything falls apart if these tasks aren’t done—they are vital. They are a way we show respect and gratitude for what we have. When I was a child, I wasn’t happy to be asked to sweep the floor. I will never forget the story my mother told me about sweeping. She said there had been a famous and revered monk in a monastery. When a visitor saw him sweeping floors, they were surprised and asked why such a holy and important person would be doing such a menial job. He replied, “I sweep floors to the glory of God.” I think of this story every time I sweep. What must be done, must be done. As the saying goes: “Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.”

I had another early lesson in appreciating menial tasks. I could say my college major was “Washing Pots.” I had a job in the cafeteria and came to enjoy the role of pot-washer. I could zip through them and get off early, or take my time and hone my skill. I had my own little domain, with a squirter hanging from the ceiling that made people wary of my wrath. I didn’t have to wear a hairnet to serve food to people who treated me like an inferior, or work with burned‑out and unhappy cooks who had been there for thirty years. It was just me and my daily challenge. I could focus on getting something done and take a break from my studies at the same time.

And I am still washing pots and dishes. Sometimes, if I don’t know what to do next, I wash dishes. It is a task always available in our house, so I can keep getting things done while thinking about what to do next. Alexa devices are almost everywhere these days, so I use them to play music while doing a chore—not to let my mind wander, but to set a rhythm for the task. I equip myself with good dishwashing tools (brush, scrubber, sponge, dish soap) and invest in my enjoyment of the task. I challenge myself to make every motion graceful, fast, and efficient — no wasted motion.

Whatever the task may be, as your skill improves, the task becomes more automatic. This frees you to think about further improvements to the process. As you perfect the process, you begin to appreciate the artistry that has emerged. You look forward to it because you enjoy your ongoing creation: an ideal process that uses as little of your time as possible to accomplish the task perfectly. Even if no one appreciates your work, you have found a way to take pride in it and honor the effort.

If we have to do it anyway, why not get the most out of it? If we can enjoy it, the task is far more likely to be done when it should be, and it is no longer a burden. Take some time to think about the “secret” I mentioned. It is already well known to those who are artists at living. And who doesn’t want to be an artist at living?