As warmer temperatures arrive and spring cleaning occupies my mind, I am reminded of a worthwhile online course that I took eight years ago about cleaning up your environment and setting up systems for your business. Appropriately, the first thing she had us do was make a HUGE list of all those hundreds of little annoyances which are actually energy drains and time-sucks.
It’s amazing how much that one intensive exercise applies to happiness as it relates to your home.
That “Annoyances Project” was such an eye opener for me that I thought it was worth sharing a quick overview since spring has sprung. It’s more than just a to-do list; it’s truly an energy saver. And who doesn’t need that in this day and age? I pulled out my old list from years ago and there were hundreds of items on it that have actually been checked off (well, at least, 95%). I encourage everyone to do this exercise sooner rather than later because you’ll be shocked to discover how much those little annoyances are actually weighing you down.
So What Do You Do Exactly?
You start by making 2 columns on a sheet of paper. The left column is the itemized list of little annoyances and the column on the right is for “Next Steps.” Then sit in one room at a time with pen and pad in hand and look around the entire room. Sip on some coffee, take your time and just closely observe. Take note of every single little thing you see that bothers you (it’s important that you get into the details here) and then write it down in that left hand column.
Don’t do anything but sit there and just make your list.
That smudge on the light switch plate? Write it down. Dusty baseboards? Write it down. Broken glass on that tabletop? Write it down. Dog chewed on the corner of the couch? Write it down. Crooked curtain rod? Write it down. Light bulb needs to be replaced? Write it down. Dull and dated mat in that picture frame? … Chair needs to be recovered? … Door doesn’t shut right? … Stain on the carpet? … Sterling Silver is tarnished? … Lampshades are dated? … Air vents need cleaning? … Houseplant is dying?
Write it all down.
You get the drift. Look up, down and all around. Every single thing that needs to be done that your eyes can see in that one room gets written down. Then you move to the next room. You hit every single room (and closet) in your house. Remember, all you are doing at this stage is making that list. You’re not doing any of the tasks and you’re not making any judgments; you’re just writing it all down. Then move to your car. Then the garage. The porch. The shack out back. You could keep going with unseen annoyances outside your “home” category too (like finances, relationships, spirituality, social life, work), but for this “Rejuvenate your Decor” purpose, let’s stick with home.
Once that left-hand column is done, take a quick glimpse and see what you can immediately check off (tasks you can complete in under 15 minutes). It feels so good to check them off one at a time, so get some easy ones done like cleaning that smudge off that light switch. For most of your list, you’ll need to write next steps in the corresponding right column.
Examples of Next Steps: Make that call to get that estimate. Buy the paint. Get the tool you need for the job. Take the measurement. Pull out the leftover fabric. Hire the carpet cleaning service. Buy new light bulbs. Sew the torn item. Donate to Charity.
Then, start the ball rolling. Group the ones that are similar (e.g. ones that need cleaning) and start tackling that group on your list.
When you have an hour to spare, make some calls for estimates on some of those annoyances. Another day, find those paint swatches to match at the paint store. Organize the junk drawer. Order the new glass from the glass company. Order silver polish from Amazon. Add houseplant food to your Lowe’s list. It’s important to keep the list nearby and within view so you can work on it when you have time.
The best part is how you feel as you check stuff off the list. It probably took me two full years to get through my first list of annoyances, but I got most of it done.
Is It Time to Rejuvenate?
The thing that has become crystal clear since I relaunched Tookey Buxton at the start of the year is how tired my interior decor has become. Not too bad, not too ugly…just tired. It dawned on me that I have had the same treasured items on display for decades. Were they nice items? Some, yes. Some, not so much. But many were items that have kept moving forward with me from home to home through my life without much consideration. For example, I have a pair of black and white landscape photographic prints purchased at Pier 1 about 25 years ago that I’ve always just hung in my bathroom. The glass corner on one of the picture frames is cracked and the matting has gone from off white to antique yellow (if you know what I mean). They’re pretty pictures that are just plain tired. Ugh….every time I see them, they zap my energy instead of lift me up. They were just added to my 2023 Annoyances List with the next step as “Goodwill Box.”
There’s also that Restoration Hardware lamp that I paid a few hundred dollars for about 20 years ago. I loved it when I bought it. It was so en vogue I thought. Works just fine too. But the big, heavy dark brown metal jar lamp no longer inspires me. Should I get rid of it? Move it to a new location? Not sure. It may look great in a future workshop or hallway, but for now, I am adding it to the list.
Another thing I’ve noticed is how some gifts and/or inherited items have occupied my space for far too long without thought, yet some no longer serve my ever-evolving design aesthetic or limited, downsized space. And that’s okay to admit. Who says you have to display or even keep every single item inherited or received just because you don’t want to be inconsiderate? Actually, its good to remember that someone is out there just waiting to appreciate that item that no longer serves you.
Writing all these annoyances down makes you immediately realize how much they drain your energy. Every time you spy one of them broken, dirty, ripped or worn, you may berate your lazy self or roll your eyes or perhaps just forget what it’s like to live in a cleaned-up space altogether. The truth is, once you tackle one room, the other rooms get easier and so on.
My mantra at Tookey Buxton is to offer “carefully curated products for discerning individuals who celebrate unique design and enjoy timeless decor — pieces that exude a little bit of fun and flair while maintaining a sense of quality and sophistication.” As you tackle your annoyances list and freshen your space, my hope is that there soon will be a Tookey Buxton treasure somewhere in your home (or garden) that makes you smile every time you see it…and let’s you exhale in peace.
If you need more inspiration to rejuvenate your space, check out this “Accessories” Instagram Reel on how to revitalize your space by Interior Designer Cynthia Collins.
