Go Ahead, Sweat the Small Stuff

Sometimes it really is the “small stuff” that makes a difference. Many of us are so busy with our jobs and transporting children, or caring for parents, that we feel overwhelmed by myriad tasks we feel we “need” to do but run out of time for. In addition to the jobs that “need” to be done are those that we’d “like” to get done. These undone tasks sometimes hang there in the back of our minds like cobwebs in the corner, becoming irritating and distracting us from being truly present in the moment. Some examples of these tasks may be: planting or maintaining your garden, taking time to pursue your hobby, cleaning out your gutters, rearranging your bedroom, making an appointment for your pet at the vet, scheduling a haircut, getting the time to have lunch with a good friend, making the arrangements to spend a weekend out of town, or calling your aunt who lives states away and needs to talk since her husband died. These are the types of things that nag you after you go to bed. It seems like there are so many things to do that it is easy to feel paralyzed by indecision and not even know where to start. Many of these tasks are far from life and death situations that must be resolved, yet feel heavy, like a ball and chain you drag around . It can be beneficial to tackle these tasks, weed out the unnecessary ones, and then just take a workday or two to get them done.

How many of you have ever put in a day working for yourself at home? Many of us will work for a boss eight hours or longer, but when it comes time to getting our own needs met we are out of time, energy, or motivation to take care of ourselves and our own environments. Sanctioning a day or even four hours of YOU working for YOU can be very freeing and empowering. It is enough time to make a difference. I’ve found that this technique helps free me up to enjoy the other parts of my life and that it helps improve my focus. I feel more in control of my life and more effective. With a block of uninterrupted time, it is amazing what a person can accomplish.

Try making a small list of goals that could be accomplished in one day and that might lighten your load or bring you pleasure. Take control of your time by scheduling it in and then making it a priority. Maybe it is framing or hanging some artwork that would inspire you. Or actually blocking out time for a hike with a friend or even something as mundane as throwing out all the single socks from the wash to free up the time you used to spend searching for the lost mates. By taking a block of time and dedicating it to what you feel is important or would help improve the quality of your life, you may find yourself with more energy and reduced stress, less anxiety and more freedom. Do this once a month, or more often if possible. Then you will probably have much less need to “sweat the small stuff.”