Menial chores are necessary
to satiate our time
and also temporarily
anaesthetise our minds,

a way of occupying hands
while letting our brains rest
from mulling over everyday plans
and so become de-stressed.

Alternatively, when we're bored
with nothing much to do,
it's better to be slightly  chored
than just boil up a brew.

There is some satisfaction in
completing little tasks
and it also lets us answer something
when somebody asks

"So what have you done today then?"
But there is a problem lurking:
clearly we do things the best we can
to minimise our working

although there may be better yet
which we just haven't found.
Repetition creates habit
and we can end up bound

to do things in the same old way
that we think is the best,
regardless of alternatives
that others might suggest.

Habits can turn into rituals,
demanding strict observance,
where we cease being masters of them
and just become their servants,

angered if we're asked to alter
the way we run our lives,
unable to effect a change in
our fixed emotional drives.

We live in a world of changing ideas
where new technology reigns
and we need to be able to throw away
outdated mental chains.

We need to remain adaptable
since dogmatism's rife,
remaining open to innovation
in all aspects of life.