Make it count!

Life is short, so why settle for something that is less than comfortable? We spend so much time doing things we HAVE to do rather than those we WANT to do, and much of what we have to do is less than enjoyable right there and then, and in the long run.

This brings up the question why we don’t make more of an effort to make all the things we do as enjoyable as possible.

This, of course, applies not only to activities, but also to the way we live our lives and how we feel about our own personal spaces. That includes work environments, living spaces, the places we go to for relaxation … everywhere really. Of course, some of those spaces cannot be modified just because we feel like it – even though painting that bowling alley in a more pleasing paint colour than surgical appliance pink would be a favourite of mine.

That said, of course you have full control over your living environment – once obvious discussions with those affected by any changes have  been concluded to everyone’s satisfaction. And I’m not just talking about a lick of pain here. Anything that is making you uncomfortable or less than happy should really be up for discussion. If your partner’s collection (be that shoes or trainsets, cough, cough) is taking over more space than it should, that is most definitely a reason for negotiations.

Speaking of negotiations, it’s best not to look at those as a win/win situation to begin with. Keep in mind that being flexible on something that is a mild annoyance to you may give you a lot of leverage when it comes to you being less than accommodating on something that means a lot to you.

Now that those technical bits are out of the way, let’s consider what it is you want to ‘make count’: that would be dealing with anything that makes you feel uncomfortable or gives you a sense of ‘work needs to be done here’. As you can see, many of those things are not actually subject to any discussions or negotiations – they are simply what they are: things to do. The main drive here is really to get started and getting things out of the way – physically as well as mentally.

Sometimes it’s down to taking a habit that allows you to not worry too much about what you are doing or need to do, but simply going ahead and doing them. Those could be very small things, like opening your mail when it comes in rather than piling it somewhere and forget about it, or cleaning spots on the lounge table when you become aware of them rather than waiting for a time when you are cleaning already. You can see what I mean: those are all small items that take no time at all to do, but they can become an annoying issue that bugs you for days.

Something else to keep in mind is that putting off doing certain things will not make them any easier to deal with! Anything that is repetitive can come across as a chore, and letting it sit will not take that sense away until it is finally done. On the other hand, if you do it right away, this will turn into a long time of not having to worry at all about it and free your mind in the process.

How we feel about our home is often determined by what we perceive as pending stuff. What if you turned that sense around and consider your home in terms of what has been done already? Simply by looking at things the other way around will make a difference and allow you to better assess what is good rather than dwelling on what is bad.

Take care of things as they appear rather than letting them sit for ‘someday’. Making sure that you live comfortably, be it the place you live in or the mindset you apply to your life in general, will most certainly make your life more joyful, less stressful, less worried.

If you have enjoyed reading this, you may find these other articles interesting:

• The role of mindfulness in decluttering
• Partitioning work and life
  
• Getting to know your wardrobe