Let’s Address your Chair (and other irritants)

So, what do you think about this chair? It might look like just a normal chair to you, right? My new Valentine’s Day pillow is putting (how I feel for it) very mildly. I don’t just love this chair, I seriously LURVE it.

Want to know why?

It’s because I’ve been using a ridiculously antique and uncomfortable chair (more like a bench) for the last year. And, the most embarrassing part of the whole situation is that I suffered because the chair was cute and matched my antique desk. I suffered day-over-day for over 365 days because of how it LOOKED. And, the worst part was that I didn’t really think twice about doing it until I saw this chair in Marshalls, sat in it and wondered where this chair has been my whole life.

Why do we do this to ourselves? We tolerate irritant over irritant every day. There are probably even irritants that have just become part of your normal daily life because you have simply become used to them. Can you think of one right now? I bet you can think of 5.

I remember being in a continuing education class a couple of years ago. The topic of the class had something to do with being a more productive leader and this part of the lesson is what stayed with me. She shared that one of the things that stands in the way of you being a more impactful and productive leader (or employee) is by never actually addressing the irritants or tasks that never get done because they aren’t big enough to address. We tend, naturally, to run to where the fire is- so the filing of emails, the organization of your desk, never being able to find a pen, addressing the draft in the window that keeps you hot/cold, or calling the help desk for something that doesn’t get in the way of your daily life- just either doesn’t ever happen – or takes weeks/days/months to address. The speaker shared that you might not think that these things get in the way of your success- but they do (and they can be significant). Her suggestion was to have a notepad on your desk and when irritants come up- to simply write them down. She said that by writing them down, the thought gets out of your brain to allow you to focus on more important things. And, week-over-week, start addressing them. By addressing these minor things- they act as small wins that boost your productivity.

This chair is a testament to that learning. Everyday when I start (oftentimes, very early and in the dark) I literally thank my chair for being in my life- and am happy to be able to cross that one thing off my list.

Try this and please share what has worked for you- would love to revisit this topic and help us continue to learn from each other.

Happy Valentine’s Day, with love, from my chair.