These things, for me, can change depending upon where I am and if others are around.
Surely some has to do with age...like what we have in memory to recall. When I'm in the garden I often find my thoughts wandering to my days as a young kid and my visits to grandparents and their garden, way of life and so on. Especially good weather days -- hot ones, well more like get done and get out!!
Milking is another place and time that's relaxing.
There's mental release and a different association with attention to the work at hand.
Do you sometimes have your most creative ideas while folding laundry, washing dishes or doing nothing in particular? It's because when your body goes on autopilot, your brain gets busy forming new neural connections that connect ideas and solve problems. Learn to love being bored as Manoush...