The Morning: In praise of tiny triumphs

Don't rush into spring cleaning; instead, start with the little things.

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story March 30, 2024 By Melissa Kirsch Good morning. If full-on spring cleaning feels intimidating, why not focus instead on tasks that are far less ambitious but no less satisfying? María Jesús Contreras Starting small Spring arrives, and with it, a semi-annoying, semi-invigorating mandate to spring clean — to clear out spaces both physical and psychological. Because I am constantly looking for reasons to get rid of old things, old ways of thinking and being that have outstayed their usefulness, I'm drawn to spring cleaning as an annual rite. But because I am also constantly reckoning with a pesky sense of dread regarding obligations of any size, I also find the concept of spring cleaning over-ambitious and intimidating. On days when routine chores like going to the post office or separating the laundry feel like punishments, the project of vacuum-sealing sweaters in mothproof storage bags seems unfeasible. A friend was telling me about readying for a twice-a-year neighborhood yard sale, how she had begun decluttering in anticipation of the event. I felt a mix of excitement (it's that time of year again!) and panic (it's that time of year and, once again, I have waited too long to call the accountant!). Then she mentioned how accomplished she felt after sewing a button on a shirt to ready it for the sale. I started thinking about those tiny things we put off, the little tasks that aren't necessarily arduous, but for whatever reason — they're not part of our regular routines, we don't have to do them to function — we procrastinate getting done. When we actually do them, the sense of relief we experience is almost transcendent. Take sewing a button on a shirt. Yes, the shirt has been out of commission for four years, but it's OK, you rationalized, you have other shirts and always more pressing things to do. But when you actually sit down and sew the stupid button, you feel an outsize sense of achievement that's totally disproportionate to the effort and time expended. Look at your handiwork! And now you have another shirt! I started making a list of these tasks, the endlessly put-off, tiny things that occupy space at the bottom of the mind's running to-do list. Shining shoes. Repotting plants. Sharpening knives. Getting the car washed. I made chicken stock recently from scraps that had been sitting in the freezer for months. I felt a sense of accomplishment that I can only compare to what someone might experience after lifting a car off a trapped child. It can be a sort of game, thinking of these little annoying tasks and then addressing them, seeing how much asymmetrical relief you can rack up from relatively minor exertion. You might find yourself so energized that you're up to contemplate some version of spring cleaning. Maybe not a total closet overhaul, but, say, one quick "does this spark joy" pass over your winter wardrobe. Who knows what you'll be capable of with the confidence accrued from checking off these items. You might even make an appointment with the tax accountant. (Or just gather your paperwork and throw it in a folder — take it slow, no need to do anything crazy.) For more The best way to approach spring cleaning? Slowly. Wirecutter's guide to tackling intimidating cleaning projects. How to save yourself from task paralysis. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT THE WEEK IN CULTURE Music Rhiannon Giddens plays banjo and viola on Beyoncé's new album. Her own work sheds light on the Black roots of folk music. Serena Brown for The New York Times Beyoncé released "Cowboy Carter." The 27-track album features a cover of the Beatles' "Blackbird" and contributions from Miley Cyrus. Read about the guests and the behind-the-scenes figures on the album. 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A subscription to match the variety of your interests. News. Games. Recipes. Product reviews. Sports reporting. A New York Times All Access subscription covers all of it and more. Subscribe today. CULTURE CALENDAR By Desiree Ibekwe 🎥 Monkey Man (Friday): For many, Dev Patel's breakout role was as Jamal Malik in Danny Boyle's Oscar-winning movie "Slumdog Millionaire." I was first introduced to him — as many other British kids were — in "Skins," a teen drama that was big on sex and drugs. (It was kind of a progenitor of HBO's "Euphoria.") Now, Patel has turned action star in "Monkey Man," which he also wrote and directed. He plays Kid, a boxer who competes in an underworld street fighting club set in a fictional Indian city. 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Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. Continue reading the main story Editor: David Leonhardt Deputy Editor: Adam B. Kushner News Editor: Tom Wright-Piersanti Associate Editor: Lauren Jackson News Staff: Desiree Ibekwe, Sean Kawasaki-Culligan, Brent Lewis, German Lopez, Ian Prasad Philbrick, Ashley Wu News Assistant: Lyna Bentahar Saturday Writer: Melissa Kirsch Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for the Morning newsletter from The New York Times, or as part of your New York Times account. To stop receiving The Morning, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. 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