Okay, so I’ve been thinking about things that just kinda rub me the wrong way. Not big, dramatic stuff, but the everyday little things. It’s funny how you notice this stuff more when you’re trying to get things done or just live your life, you know?
Noise, just unnecessary noise
This is a big one for me. I remember trying to focus on sorting out some old paperwork last week. Just needed quiet concentration. But nope. The neighbor decided that was the perfect time to start some mystery DIY project involving a hammer and what sounded like dropping heavy objects repeatedly. And then there’s the constant pinging from phones. Everyone’s phone, everywhere. It’s like a symphony of interruptions. I actually started leaving my own phone in another room when I really need to knuckle down. It helps, kinda.
People Beating Around the Bush
Seriously, just say what you mean. I was working on a small community project a while back, trying to organize volunteers. Getting a straight answer from some folks was like pulling teeth. Lots of “maybes” and “I’ll see” and vague comments. It just wastes time. Just tell me yes or no! Or if there’s a problem, spit it out so we can deal with it. This indirectness drives me nuts because you can’t plan anything solid. I ended up having to just make decisions and tell people, “This is the plan, let me know ONLY if you absolutely CANNOT make it.” Seemed to work better, surprisingly.
Leaving Things Unfinished
This isn’t about huge projects, but little things. Like:
- Making coffee and leaving the empty pot on the burner.
- Using the last of something and not writing it on the shopping list.
- Starting a task, getting interrupted, and just… never going back to it, leaving tools out or papers scattered.
I see this happen all the time. It creates this invisible workload for someone else, usually. Or just makes the place look messy and chaotic. I always try to finish one small thing before starting another, or at least put things back where they belong if I get pulled away. It’s about closing the loop, I guess. Makes things smoother for everyone, especially for your future self who has to deal with the mess otherwise.
Overcomplicating Simple Stuff
Sometimes people or systems make things way harder than they need to be. Filling out forms that ask for the same info three times in different sections. Software updates that change everything around for no clear benefit. Meetings that could have been an email. You know the drill. I spent ages the other day trying to figure out a new online bill payment system. The old one was fine! This new one had more steps, confusing menus… ugh. Keep it simple! That’s my motto. If it works, don’t “fix” it into oblivion.
So yeah, that’s some stuff off the top of my head. Just things I’ve noticed through trying to get on with things. Doesn’t ruin my day, usually, but man, sometimes you just gotta shake your head, right?
