This Wednesday: Nine extremely simple and easy tips to take stress out of your day.
Every Wednesday is Tip Day.
This Wednesday: Nine extremely simple and easy tips to take a lot of stress out of your day.
When I was little, I was always puzzled by the maxim, "A stitch in time saves nine." I couldn't figure out what that meant. Finally, light dawned: a single stitch, made in good time, saves the trouble of making nine stitches later. In other words, a little effort now saves a lot of effort later.
That notion underlies several of the tips below. The other notion: when you have a reasonable amount of energy, life feels a lot less stressful.
1. Keep some cash in the house.
2. Never let your car’s gas level fall into the “empty” zone.
3. Have Advil (or whatever) at hand at all times.
4. Put your keys away in the same place every day.
5. Turn out the light as soon as you’re sleepy.
6. Walk around the block.
7. Take ten minutes before bed to tidy up.
8. If you have to pack a lunch for anyone, get it ready the night before.
9. Have at least one good friend who lives in the neighborhood.
Samuel Johnson pointed out that "To live in perpetual want of little things is a state, not indeed of torture, but of constant vexation." By making the effort to stay on top of the little things, you can keep the vexation to a minimum.
*
Check out LifeRemix!
New to the Happiness Project? Consider subscribing to my RSS feed: Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or sign up to get email updates in the box at the top righthand corner.
Awesome post, Gretchen! My favorite part:
"...a single stitch, made in good time, saves the trouble of making nine stitches later. In other words, a little effort now saves a lot of effort later."
Posted by: Bryan Villarin | August 01, 2007 at 03:26 PM
Hi, I just found your blog through beliefnet and I'm "happy" I did. I'm trying to find more happiness myself and I've recently started a blog: Acquiring Abundance where I'm sort of tracking my progress. Would you like to exchange links? Thank you for your helpful tips.
Posted by: Kelly | August 01, 2007 at 04:10 PM
Simple but working tips for stress less life. thanks Gretchen.
Posted by: Rocky | August 01, 2007 at 11:31 PM
Great list! I would add -- know what's for dinner by for the next evening before bed or before you leave the house in the morning. My freezer is our famiy hero!
Blessings,
Cathy
Posted by: Heart of my home | August 02, 2007 at 08:21 AM
Another possible list addition is: If possible have an idea of what to wear the next day before going to bed.
I give the list 2 thumbs up, Gretchen! Keep the brain food coming!
Posted by: David | August 02, 2007 at 09:28 AM
I can add one, which should be obvious from the maxim that inspired this post: take a moment to mend clothes before the problem gets too big. I'm forever saying, "I'll fix that hem later," and then the whole thing falls apart.
Posted by: Michelle Potter | August 02, 2007 at 10:17 AM
David -- I swear, that tip saves me a half an hour in the morning. If I skip laying out my clothes the night before, I am in trou-ble.
Posted by: phquaryn | August 02, 2007 at 11:56 AM
It's true that the simple things make the bigger picture easier. Having said that, it seems that keeping things simple is a larger task than one can initially imagine... until it gets simpler.
Posted by: Leila | August 02, 2007 at 12:05 PM
Hey Gretchen,
Great Post! Thanks for reminding us how keeping on top of things can help reduce stress! I love it.
I did a blog intro of your blog and featured your article (with a link) over at our blog. Check it out too :)
Cheers
James
Posted by: James - Visualized.Feel.Abundance | August 14, 2007 at 02:40 AM
fypgnqk wxcqhrn utns zhxlg xnzktyh qdtjapx acdm
Posted by: ehzmo onlz | September 10, 2007 at 05:53 AM
isztylxf vzacm gxaomq duimwzc umcyaex zutidp ikneha http://www.jowaz.fhuc.com
Posted by: gwxo elazuv | September 10, 2007 at 05:53 AM
isztylxf vzacm gxaomq duimwzc umcyaex zutidp ikneha http://www.jowaz.fhuc.com
Posted by: gwxo elazuv | September 10, 2007 at 05:54 AM
Nice site. Thank you!!!
http://receiver.estzy.biz receiver
http://www.audiopro.ru www
http://guitar.usaspace.biz guitar
http://camera.usspace.biz camera
http://www.audiopro.ru www
Posted by: guitar | September 10, 2007 at 06:37 AM
Nice site. Thanks:-)
http://antiaging.hostsy.us antiaging
Posted by: antiaging | September 14, 2007 at 05:12 PM
Nice site. Thanks:-)
http://antiaging.hostsy.us antiaging
Posted by: antiaging | September 14, 2007 at 05:13 PM
Nice site. Thanks!!!
http://complementary-medicine.hostsy.us complementary medicine
Posted by: complementary medicine | September 14, 2007 at 06:42 PM
Nice site. Thanks.
http://lifting.hostsy.us lifting
Posted by: lifting | September 15, 2007 at 08:36 AM
Good site. Thank you!
http://ticket.hostsy.us ticket
Posted by: ticket | September 15, 2007 at 11:15 AM
Good site. Thank you!
http://ticket.hostsy.us ticket
Posted by: ticket | September 15, 2007 at 11:15 AM
Cool site. Thank you.
http://water.estzy.biz water
Posted by: water | September 15, 2007 at 07:22 PM
Good site. Thanks!
http://receiver.estzy.biz receiver
Posted by: receiver | September 15, 2007 at 09:58 PM
Nice site. Thank you:-)
http://guitar.usaspace.biz guitar
Posted by: guitar | September 16, 2007 at 12:02 AM
Nice site. Thank you:-)
http://guitar.usaspace.biz guitar
Posted by: guitar | September 16, 2007 at 12:02 AM
Very good site. Thank you.
http://camera.usspace.biz camera
Posted by: camera | September 16, 2007 at 12:41 AM
http://receiver.estzy.biz receiver
Posted by: receiver | September 20, 2007 at 01:55 AM
http://keyboard.serdy.info/ keyboard
http://drums.serdy.info/ drums
http://mixer.serdy.info/ mixer
http://multitrack.serdy.info/ multitrack
http://microphone.serdy.info/ microphone
http://glass.serdy.info/ glass
http://door.serdy.info/ door
http://stair.serdy.info/ stair
http://book.serdy.info/ book
http://plate.serdy.info/ plate
Posted by: door | September 20, 2007 at 04:27 AM
http://keyboard.serdy.info keyboard
http://drums.serdy.info drums
http://mixer.serdy.info mixer
http://multitrack.serdy.info multitrack
http://microphone.serdy.info microphone
Posted by: drums | September 22, 2007 at 03:46 AM
http://keyboard.serdy.info keyboard
http://drums.serdy.info drums
http://mixer.serdy.info mixer
http://multitrack.serdy.info multitrack
http://microphone.serdy.info microphone
Posted by: drums | September 22, 2007 at 03:46 AM
http://keyboard.serdy.info keyboard
http://drums.serdy.info drums
http://mixer.serdy.info mixer
http://multitrack.serdy.info multitrack
http://microphone.serdy.info microphone
http://glass.serdy.info glass
http://door.serdy.info door
http://stair.serdy.info stair
http://book.serdy.info book
http://plate.serdy.info plate
Posted by: plate | September 23, 2007 at 05:51 PM
http://monitor.nfus.biz monitor
http://lamp.nfus.biz lamp
http://ikea.nfus.biz ikea
http://mouse.nfus.biz mouse
http://clock.nfus.biz clock
http://fountain.nfus.biz fountain
http://cd-drowning-pool.usfr.biz cd drowning pool
http://lounge.nfus.biz lounge
http://screw.usfr.biz screw
http://hummer.usfr.biz hummer
Posted by: screw | September 23, 2007 at 06:34 PM
I know I own too much. You know what really makes it a cinch to let go of it? Finding someone who needs it more than I do. I am simply not the person who collected all that stuff any more. Look how happy I feel when I "place" my things back out into the community. Some people are so fortunate - they can blanket-sweep their stuff clear in a day or two, but I am far more deliberate. Yes, it is slower cleaning it out this way, but what a joy, knowing someone is using it and it is no longer just sitting and sitting doing no one any good. I cleared out ten computer systems by contacting a woman in a social service organization locally who sent out e-mails to all the other organizations that that organization serves. My computer lighted up like a Christmas tree, and I felt like Santa, getting all that equipment ready to go. The women appeared in a station wagon and twenty minutes later, all of it had gone to new homes. Talk about forward momentum! My point in sharing this is: someone can often help you "place" your things back out into the community for you. Let people help you clear your clutter. There is an ethical imperative, or moral rightness in passing what you are through with to others. Thank you for reading my suggestions. - Chris! (Age 64)
Posted by: Chris in Maine | November 16, 2007 at 12:08 PM
Instead of "mend clothes right away"- I really don't sew, I wrote down, "Fix things right away." This could be a chip on a vase or a fight you've had with a friend.
Posted by: Amanda | April 30, 2009 at 12:27 PM
Very nice list! These are definitely basic rules to live by. :)
Posted by: deepikaur | May 10, 2009 at 10:29 PM
always trying to apply this principle!
today the hubby and i meal planned, got groceries, and made four recipes that we'll be able to eat for days this week. i packed my lunch with it for tomorrow. we have the time and energy to do all the planning, shopping, and cooking today (sunday), and if we neglect it we always end up eating out too much because during the week we're tired and pressed for time.
we also prep all the greens (wash, de-stem, etc.) and the celery and all that so it's ready to go when we need it. helps make sure it doesn't go bad.
tonight i also washed my hair so i won't have to in the morning before work, packed my bag/purse so i won't have to hunt for keys/phone/wallet/security pass when i'm trying to rush out the door.
i'm trying to make these things a habit because they make life SO much easier!
Posted by: katie | May 10, 2009 at 10:36 PM
It's always great to be reminded of the simple things that can make a day flow easier! Getting clothes ready beforehand is a major time saver and stress- prevention strategy for me. Thank you.
Posted by: Joan Young | May 10, 2009 at 10:44 PM