Often, you will hear the saying, "Don’t sweat the small stuff." This can only apply to some areas of life. Letting go of the driver who cuts you off, an unfriendly bank teller or your loud neighbour.
However, not caring for small things could lead to stress and financial difficulties. So, what is the small stuff worth sweating?
These are small, constant irritations that we endure every day.
The dying houseplant you have been meaning to restore for six months. Now, it pleads for a few drops of water and a bigger pot. It will take no more than 15 minutes to save this houseplant. Is it worth avoiding?
The things you always have to move to get to the stuff you always seem to need, and time you promise to reorganize the space every time. Take a few minutes to assess the space. Start with five minutes.
The keys you misplace every day because they don’t have a home. You do have a hook somewhere to solve this problem. This could become a big financial loss. If you lose important keys, such as the car key, house key or office key, it will take a long time to recover them, and the stress is massive.
A picture has needed hanging for months. Now is the reminder, before guilt takes over your peaceful existence. The burned-out bulb you meant to replace, but you only remember just before bed. That is not a recipe for peaceful rest.
Alone, they seem minor, but these tiny annoyances tend to multiply, creating substantial mental and emotional chaos. Anytime you have this kind of irritation, you might feel frustrated and bad about yourself. And of course, there is blame involved. Whose job is it to fix small things in the home anyway?
Be the hero and fix the things you can. Pay a teenager to fix the things you can’t fix.
I want you to confront one of those issues today. Pick the smallest, most easily fixable thing that's been bothering you. Maybe it's installing the key hook, replacing the light bulb, or whatever else you have neglected for the last few months or years.
Small things are easily fixable and don’t require a special skill. Start by scheduling a time. To prevent further procrastination, prepare the tools you will need.
Studies show that even minor annoyances can contribute to increased stress and overwhelm, decreased focus and productivity, anger and shame.
Fixing just one small thing can create a surprising sense of calm and control. It's a small win that frees a little space in your mind for more important things.
Being proud of your well-functioning home can positively affect other areas of your life. Take care of it, and your home will take care of you.
Transformational life coach Ranka Burzan owns a professional organizing company in the qathet region and has written several books on reducing clutter. For more information, email [email protected].
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