 So is it possible to psych yourself up to do something boring like folding laundry or filing paperwork? The research from the UCLA School of Management tells us this approach. Try pairing each boring task with something more engaging and attention-grabbing. For example, in experiments, researchers found study participants would brush their teeth 30% longer if they watched a nature documentary while brushing. And in another experiment, people stuck with their workouts longer if they just listened to an audio book while exercising.