Fortitude Fridays #34

read time: 5 mins

A few ideas as you head into the weekend.

Today at a Glance:

• Quote: Simplify.
• Question: Subtraction vs Addition.
• Article: The Christmas Tree Effect by David Epstein
• Tactic to Try: The Frustration List.

 

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Quote to Ponder:

"The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak."

-Hans Hofmann (artist)

​By eliminating the superfluous, we allow the essential to shine.

Remember, when everything is important, nothing is important.

 

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Questions to Ponder:

Which areas of your life are currently causing you stress or feeling chaotic, and.....

How could streamlining those aspects better reflect your core values and priorities?

​In the pursuit of well-being, we often add to our routines, hoping for better results. Yet, sometimes, less is more. By eliminating non-essential activities, we find balance and centeredness. Subtraction is often overlooked, creating room for self-reflection and simplifying our lives. Well-being is individual; tailor your approach. Focus on self-awareness; sometimes, subtraction leads to balance.

Take a moment and reflect on these questions, then this next week I challenge you to try subtracting something from the area you identified and see how it goes. You might find yourself pleasantly surprised.

 

My Answer: Dinner used to be the most dreaded part of my day. Figuring out recipes, cooking time, and catering to everyone's tastes added stress. Then I discovered sheet pan dinners and rejoiced at their simplicity, quick preparation, and minimal cleanup. For this phase of life, ditching complexity in favor of healthy simplicity works well for us.

 

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Article to Check Out:

​The Christmas Tree Effect by David Epstein

David Epstein, the author of Range, discusses our tendency to add more to our plate rather than subtract.

"Humans are hardwired to add stuff to solve problems, and we often overlook better solutions that involve taking stuff away."

"The Christmas Tree Effect" emerges when we consistently pile on new tasks or features in our lives, akin to decorating a Christmas tree, ultimately compromising the entire system despite each addition seeming inherently beneficial.
This is a quick read, but it inspired this edition of Fortitude Fridays.

 

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Tactic to Try: The Frustration List

I was introduced to the Frustration List by Ben Meer of System Sundays, and I found it to be an interesting concept. In our busy daily lives, it's easy to become overwhelmed by the constant stream of small issues that demand our attention, diverting us from our primary goals.

Cue The Frustration List.

The concept itself is quite simple and highly attainable. It involves maintaining an ongoing list of bothersome tasks and dedicating a specific time each week to address some of these items. This method reminded me of the "Issues List" discussed in Gino Wickman's book, "Traction." The primary purpose of an issues list is to ensure that no challenges or opportunities within an organization go unnoticed and that they are systematically addressed.

By creating a Frustration List, you not only prevent these nagging issues from getting lost in the chaos of daily life, but you also experience a sense of relief and accomplishment as you gradually tackle and resolve them. Frustration List items typically consist of minor yet irritating tasks, such as repairing visible wall damage, fixing wobbly toilet paper holders, hanging that picture that's been leaning against the wall for weeks, renewing your passport, sending a long-delayed card, writing that pending email, acquiring a new laptop charger because the old one is finicky, or decluttering your pantry – the list goes on. Essentially, anything that saps your energy and takes up valuable mental space can find a place on this list.

Here's How it Works:

There are only 2 steps:

1. Schedule a 60-minute weekly calendar event for tackling your Frustration List. I suggest choosing a time when you'll be at home and focused, like a weekend morning.
2. Decide where you will maintain your list. Digital can allow for on the go additions. I have used both the Notes app on my phone and have recently transferred it to Obsidian across all of my devices.

Four steps to maintain the system (in Ben's words):

That's it. A simple yet trusted system to masterfully handle chaos and bring order to your life and home.

Bringing it Home:

Give this tactic a try and see how it goes. Taking this crucial step can help you become more skilled at handling chaos, which is a superpower in itself.

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Thanks for reading and I hope you have a great weekend! Until next week...

You got this,