I literally have started putting Life Admin on my calendar and devoting a few hours a week to this stuff -- seeing it calendered helps it for piling up too terribly for me. - J
I loathe many of the same the same things you have listed, especially scheduling appointments. Gretchen Rubin from the Happiness Project has a concept called “power hour” where she recommends tackles things on a to-do list you have been procrastinating to do. I find this really helpful. For some reason grouping them and tackling them at once makes it easier to do and I feel great when it’s done.
I remember to change the filters (and not mind it! kind of look forward to it?) by turning it into a little seasonal ritual by changing on each solstice / equinox. I get to feel a little witchy / the air stays clean, yay we all win.
Oh hot tip on the furnace filter thing for all of you who hate/forget to change it 🙋♀️ - always buy the cheapest filter. Several hvac people now have told me NEVER to buy the fancy high-filtration ones - they clog faster, MUST be changed more often, and put added stress on your furnace. If you want better filtration of your air, buy stand-alone air purifiers - much cheaper than replacing your furnace years before you should!
Grace, I hope this makes you feel better: a year (or two) after I bought my house and had central air installed, the A/C stopped working (in LA in August mind you). Called the company, blah blah blah, and it was… the air filter. I had NO idea I was supposed to change it.
Fast forward to a few years ago when I moved to a rented apartment. Couldn’t get the heat to work. Called the landlord to complain. Turns out it was… the pilot light.
When are we supposed to learn these things??!? I clearly missed that day in Adulting Class.
I hate the duvet cover so much that I now exclusively use a quilt and a extra blanket. Also walking my dog (who I love more than almost anything) when I am tired or the weather is less than ideal. To the extent that this was one factor that lead me to adopting a second dog so if I need to skip a walk they can run around outside with each other and I feel less guilty :-)
Oh boy the phone call phobia is absolutely me. I put off getting a haircut for months because I forgot my salon has online scheduling now. Why??? It's not like it's hard, but it interrupts the flow of my workday (and most of these places are closed evenings and weekends) for some reason and I just can't muster up the energy to do it sometimes!
I'm not sure which I loathe more- dealing with mail or dealing with the bills that come after doctor appointments! I detest duvets so much that I switched to a comforter and have never regretted the choice.
What is incredibly frustrating is that as soon as I feel like I get on top of one area of life admin, another three seem to appear. Is this adulting? I would love to figure out how to reduce the amount of life admin required to be a functional human being in today's society. All suggestions are welcome :)
I feel this so deeply. It is neverending. I don't know how I can live in my house, just me 70% of the time and have SO MUCH ADMIN and cleaning up to do!
This is one (of many) reasons I haven't bought property! I see what it takes to maintain a home and that extra responsibility is not at the top of my current priorities.
I'm curious what the people who really have a handle on this do- is it they have less to manage or a better system or more support? How do you make it so your life admin doesn't take over your life or prevent you from living it?
I have 100% done the air filter thing- it wasn’t my heat it was my AC not working. I ordered a 12 pack from Grainger (where I work- even more embarrassing we sell filters!) and added a reminder to my calendar each month!
I HATE UNLOADING THE DISHWASHER SO MUCH!!!! why?? I set a timer once to see how long it really took me (less than five minutes) but that…. Still didn’t motivate me 🫠
-Taking the trash cans to the curb (who remembers to do this on the right day every week?! Ugh!)
-Hand washing dishes
-Cleaning the baseboards (luckily now we pay a cleaner)
-Taking the car for an oil change
I usually stay pretty on top of life admin but I feel like I’m constantly doing it and would like to be off the conveyor belt… I dream of hiring a “house manager” who could be like a chief of staff of my house and either do important things for me (like change HVAC filters and cut up pineapples before they go bad on the counter!) or bring them to my attention when it’s only something I can do. A girl can dream!
My least favorite task is cleaning the stove (I am a VERY messy cook.) Such a pain to pull off all those grills. I also hate vacuuming, mainly because I can never figure out my Dyson. Luckily, hubby that task. P.S. my HVAC once gave up the ghost because the filter was clogged with dog hair. It happens!! How are we supposed to remember when it is literally stuck in a closet under the stairs??
I hate cleaning the stove too! And I know. It's one of those tasks I forget unless something bad happens. I just put a calendar alert to change every 2 months!
I loathe cleaning my countertop ice machine. If I don't do it every 4-5 weeks, it gets moldy inside and the ice starts tasting like a respiratory disease-in-the-making. But it doesn't come apart and the moving pieces hide the moldiest parts. I'm delaying it one extra week so I'll have the cleanest ice for Christmas Eve dinner.
I literally have started putting Life Admin on my calendar and devoting a few hours a week to this stuff -- seeing it calendered helps it for piling up too terribly for me. - J
SMART!!
I loathe many of the same the same things you have listed, especially scheduling appointments. Gretchen Rubin from the Happiness Project has a concept called “power hour” where she recommends tackles things on a to-do list you have been procrastinating to do. I find this really helpful. For some reason grouping them and tackling them at once makes it easier to do and I feel great when it’s done.
Love that idea!
I will also put off having to make phone calls.
the worst!
So impressed!! 100 books with everything you do.
It's how I relax!
I remember to change the filters (and not mind it! kind of look forward to it?) by turning it into a little seasonal ritual by changing on each solstice / equinox. I get to feel a little witchy / the air stays clean, yay we all win.
love that!
Oh hot tip on the furnace filter thing for all of you who hate/forget to change it 🙋♀️ - always buy the cheapest filter. Several hvac people now have told me NEVER to buy the fancy high-filtration ones - they clog faster, MUST be changed more often, and put added stress on your furnace. If you want better filtration of your air, buy stand-alone air purifiers - much cheaper than replacing your furnace years before you should!
smart! Thanks for the tip.
And put a "change AC filters" reminder on your calendar!
Grace, I hope this makes you feel better: a year (or two) after I bought my house and had central air installed, the A/C stopped working (in LA in August mind you). Called the company, blah blah blah, and it was… the air filter. I had NO idea I was supposed to change it.
Fast forward to a few years ago when I moved to a rented apartment. Couldn’t get the heat to work. Called the landlord to complain. Turns out it was… the pilot light.
When are we supposed to learn these things??!? I clearly missed that day in Adulting Class.
They really should teach a life admin class in school!
I hate the duvet cover so much that I now exclusively use a quilt and a extra blanket. Also walking my dog (who I love more than almost anything) when I am tired or the weather is less than ideal. To the extent that this was one factor that lead me to adopting a second dog so if I need to skip a walk they can run around outside with each other and I feel less guilty :-)
hahahaa i get this.
Oh boy the phone call phobia is absolutely me. I put off getting a haircut for months because I forgot my salon has online scheduling now. Why??? It's not like it's hard, but it interrupts the flow of my workday (and most of these places are closed evenings and weekends) for some reason and I just can't muster up the energy to do it sometimes!
I do the same exact thing.
I'm not sure which I loathe more- dealing with mail or dealing with the bills that come after doctor appointments! I detest duvets so much that I switched to a comforter and have never regretted the choice.
What is incredibly frustrating is that as soon as I feel like I get on top of one area of life admin, another three seem to appear. Is this adulting? I would love to figure out how to reduce the amount of life admin required to be a functional human being in today's society. All suggestions are welcome :)
I feel this so deeply. It is neverending. I don't know how I can live in my house, just me 70% of the time and have SO MUCH ADMIN and cleaning up to do!
This is one (of many) reasons I haven't bought property! I see what it takes to maintain a home and that extra responsibility is not at the top of my current priorities.
I'm curious what the people who really have a handle on this do- is it they have less to manage or a better system or more support? How do you make it so your life admin doesn't take over your life or prevent you from living it?
I have 100% done the air filter thing- it wasn’t my heat it was my AC not working. I ordered a 12 pack from Grainger (where I work- even more embarrassing we sell filters!) and added a reminder to my calendar each month!
i have a calendar alert too now!
I HATE UNLOADING THE DISHWASHER SO MUCH!!!! why?? I set a timer once to see how long it really took me (less than five minutes) but that…. Still didn’t motivate me 🫠
it's really just the worst (and I have no idea why I hate it so much either!!)
Here are mine:
-Taking the trash cans to the curb (who remembers to do this on the right day every week?! Ugh!)
-Hand washing dishes
-Cleaning the baseboards (luckily now we pay a cleaner)
-Taking the car for an oil change
I usually stay pretty on top of life admin but I feel like I’m constantly doing it and would like to be off the conveyor belt… I dream of hiring a “house manager” who could be like a chief of staff of my house and either do important things for me (like change HVAC filters and cut up pineapples before they go bad on the counter!) or bring them to my attention when it’s only something I can do. A girl can dream!
I too dream of a house manager but man that would be pathetic . . . a manager for . . . me???
the trash cans are the WORST!
My least favorite task is cleaning the stove (I am a VERY messy cook.) Such a pain to pull off all those grills. I also hate vacuuming, mainly because I can never figure out my Dyson. Luckily, hubby that task. P.S. my HVAC once gave up the ghost because the filter was clogged with dog hair. It happens!! How are we supposed to remember when it is literally stuck in a closet under the stairs??
I hate cleaning the stove too! And I know. It's one of those tasks I forget unless something bad happens. I just put a calendar alert to change every 2 months!
So so so relatable—thank you for posting about this!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it :)
I loathe cleaning my countertop ice machine. If I don't do it every 4-5 weeks, it gets moldy inside and the ice starts tasting like a respiratory disease-in-the-making. But it doesn't come apart and the moving pieces hide the moldiest parts. I'm delaying it one extra week so I'll have the cleanest ice for Christmas Eve dinner.
ugh i used to have one of those and was the exact same way!!!!!