Stop Tolerating the Pile-Up

Small tasks don’t vanish when ignored; they multiply. Clear them now before they hijack your business flow.

Recently, I watched a video of a woman who sets aside one day a month just to tackle all those tiny, five-to-ten-minute home projects: replacing a lightbulb, fixing that wobbly knob, or clearing out the mystery corner of clutter. Nothing huge, nothing glamorous—just the little things that, if ignored, start to pile up until your “sell-ready” home looks like a fixer-upper.

Here’s the kicker: she wasn’t doing it because she was moving next week. She was doing it because one day she would move, and her future self deserved a break from scrambling.

Sound familiar? Because entrepreneurs do the same thing in business. We put off those little tasks, responding to that email, updating that bio, fixing that system—because, hey, there are “bigger” things to handle. Until the day we need it… and then we’re staring at a mountain.

So, how do you stop tolerating the pile-up and get ahead of it? Here are three ways to make the little things work for you, not against you:

1. Schedule a “Tidy Business” Day

Just like that woman’s monthly home reset, set aside time—weekly or monthly—for the small but mighty fixes. This isn’t busywork; it’s preventive maintenance.

Think:

• Updating your calendar system so you don’t double-book

• Refreshing your social media links so they’re not broken

• Filing receipts so tax time doesn’t feel like a horror movie

Block a “CEO tidy session” in your calendar. Put on good music, pour your coffee (or wine, I won’t judge), and knock them out. It’s amazing how light you feel afterward.

2. Apply the 5-Minute Rule

Borrow this one from productivity pros: if it takes five minutes or less, do it now. Stop tolerating the tiny annoyances. A five-minute delay often turns into a five-week pile-up.

• That client thank-you note? Send it.

• That password reset? Just get it done.

• That sticky note reminder glaring at you? Toss it after doing the thing.

Five minutes today is a whole lot cheaper than fifty headaches later.

3. Sort, Simplify, Standardize (Hello, 5S)

The 5S method for lean business is all about creating order. For us entrepreneurs, it means:

• Sort: Cut the junk. Delete old drafts, unsubscribe from email lists, and archive files you’ll never touch again.

• Simplify: Keep your tools clean. If you’ve got three apps for one task, pick one and stick with it.

• Standardize: Create simple processes for repeat tasks. If you’re rewriting the same email 10 times, save a template.

• Shine: Don’t just clean up once—make it a habit. Whether it’s your desk, your inbox, or your task list, a little daily shine keeps chaos from creeping back.

• Sustain: This is the hardest one—stick with it. Build routines, set reminders, and keep yourself accountable so order becomes your default, not your “someday.”

Here’s the sass: stop acting like you’ll remember “where you put that thing” when you know you won’t. Create systems your tired, end-of-day self will thank you for.

The bottom line? Future-you is counting on present-you to stop tolerating the small annoyances. Those five-minute wins build momentum, clear space for creativity, and make the big vision possible.

Let’s Grow.