Stop Tolerating Things That Suck

When we were in our 20s, Paul and I called them petty annoyances. We used to complain about them. We used to laugh about them.

They were things like a missing knob on the closet in the apartment we were renting, a broken kitchen faucet that squirted you in the belly if you it all the way on, or ugly caulk in the bathroom tub.  

These are the things we tolerate in everyday life.

When we set goals for ourselves, we tackle the big stuff – the sweeping changes we want to make – more money, more love, better health.

We’re motivated to set the goals that get us more of what we love in life and less of what we hate.

And that’s a good thing.

You’ve probably heard the time management analogy of 2 jars, rocks and sand…

Fill a jar with sand, (all the small everyday tasks) and there’s no room for the rocks (the time/energy it takes to meet your big goals) – but fill the jar with rocks first, and you can still get most of the sand inside.

This is truly the best advice I’ve ever gotten about managing time.  

I used to cross all those little things off the list first – get everything done – feel that breath of ahhhh AND NOW, I can get to the big stuff.  

Only, I never did get to the big stuff.  

The day was over, or I was wiped out, and so I’d think, “great, everything is done, I can start fresh on my goal in the morning.” 

Except the next morning presented a new list of daily tasks that needed to be attended to first and the cycle went on and on – me being insanely productive and getting nowhere.

Start with the big stuff. Give it your best energy. It works.

But what of all those petty annoyances?

Unlike all the smaller everyday tasks on your list, the way you respond to the petty annoyances (aka the things you’re tolerating) will either boost or deflate your ability to hit those big goals.  

They are energy sucks with the power to drain and deplete you.
And you’re probably so used to tolerating them that they’re rarely even on your list making radar.

Insidious.

Here’s the good news.

Getting rid of the petty annoyances is easy. It will boost your mood, increase your energy and make feel a whole lot happier while you’re working on the big stuff.

This Week:   Stop Tolerating Things That Suck

1. Spend a full day this week looking at your life with fresh eyes, as if you were seeing it for the first time. (Use your mindfulness tools to stay present.)

2. Jot down every item that truly makes you feel UGH.

3. At the end of the day, cross off any item that is not relatively easily remedied (unless it’s aligned with your actual goals).

4. Re-list them in order of easiest to hardest.

5. Each week block the amount of time it will take to knock one of those petty annoyances off your list.

And remember, day to day attack the tasks aligned with your BIG goals first.