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 door, a broken kitchen faucet that squirted you in the belly if you turned it all the way on, or nasty caulk in the bathroom tub.
The things we tolerate day-to-day generally feel too insignificant to draw our attention away from our busy lives, so we turn a blind eye and suck it up.
When we set goals for ourselves, we tackle the big stuff – the sweeping changes we want to make in our life – more meaning, more money, love, or better health.
Simply put, we’re motivated to go after 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 a jar, 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 my 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 everyday.
It’ll be done in no time.
But what about all those petty annoyances you’re tolerating?
Like all the little day-to-day tasks, those insidious beasts actually deplete your energy and make it harder for you to hit those big goals!
Unlike those endless day-today tasks however, getting rid of the petty annoyances is generally a pretty easy, one-and-done effort.
And the really good news?
Addressing them will instantly boost your mood and give you the energy you need to work on that big stuff.
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