...you might want to invest in a speakerphone or a headset.

I do a lot of socializing by phone, and I’ve trained myself not to be physically idle while yakking, but to do some mechanical task like washing the dishes or sorting papers.

I may not be able to concentrate on the finer points of the paper-sorting while carrying on a coherent conversation, but I can go through a pile and separate out the obvious trash (e.g., out-of-date grocery-store flyers). Then I can go through what’s left and separate out, say, anything money-related (e.g., receipts, bills, statements). When I get off the phone, I’ve accomplished at least a “rough sort” of some of the papers.

In fact, talking on the phone helps keep me from either getting bored with the process or getting caught up in trying to do whatever the items require.

P.S. Congrats on getting that load of laundry done. Accomplishment is accomplishment.