little steps to greater well-being
Yesterday I had an epiphany:
Cultivating a sustainable sense of well-being requires a shift in focus from achieving “big” things to paying closer attention to the little things that nag at us.
Here are some of my “little things”…
The ongoing stench of trash in my garage because I live in the country and my trips to the dump aren’t frequent enough.
The half-done parking area down by the shed.
The passport renewal forms that have been sitting on my desk since July…
These things - and many more - nag at me in little ways every day, but because they’re not “essential” I tend to overlook just how impactful they are on my overall well-being. Maybe you can relate?
Yesterday I decided to try a new approach.
Instead of adding one or two personal items to my daily task list, which so far has never worked, I have decided to dedicate a whole day each week to focus on them and nothing else.
Not my clients
Not building my business
Not even ministry things, as unrighteous as that may sound…
I’m calling it my “hearth and home” day - even though I don’t have a fireplace - and on my first try, I can already see results.
For me, this looked like…
Taking the trash to the dump and deciding it will become part of my weekly H&H ritual.
Calling landscaping places to price gravel (and actually visiting one to see the product firsthand!)
Completing the passport renewal forms and making a plan to finish the job on my next H&H day.
As weird as it sounds, doing these seemingly inconsequential, voluntary things gave me a sense of accomplishment and groundedness beyond what I would have experienced in my typical productivity-oriented day.
When we tend to the “little” things in our personal lives, we are more able to operate from a position of overflow in every realm we’re called to.
I realize not everyone can dedicate a full day to personal things; this is a relatively new development for me in this mid-life season. But even a short block of time on any kind of regular rhythm will help you chip away at those things that will only get done if you intentionally attend to them.
Which makes me curious… what “little things” nag at you? And how would it make you feel to actually do something about them?
For TRUTH…
- Constance
