What does it mean to putter around?
Not sure what it means then read on.
To putter around is the act of doing dozens of little chores that no one knows need to be done, that no one wants to do and no one notices have been done.
It refers to moving or acting aimlessly or idly. Working at random or tinkering. It involves doing things in a relaxed manner without rushing or trying too hard.
If you putter around the house it means you are engaging in small, inconsequential tasks or activities at home, such as wandering from room to room and doing trivial chores. The activity can be beneficial for mental well-being, allowing individuals to focus on things they want to do rather than things they have to do. It can also help update and refresh spaces that may have become dull or uninviting. Bring some colour into your life.
Why small tasks feel so therapeutic
We all lead such busy lives and find ourselves juggling things on a daily basis. Small or mundane chores are pushed to the back of the list as priorities take focus away from them.
They still need to be done though.
What better way of relieving some of your stress and getting tasks completed than by spending some time just puttering around the home.
You don’t need to think too much about them you just do it. They are simple and achievable.
Do a brain dump to clear the head of all that needs to be done.
You walk in the kitchen and look at the fridge. Take a quick look to figure out why the fridge door is not closing. Maybe you need to press the sealing rubber back into the grooves. Opening and closing the door are now easy and quick to do. The problem is fixed.
Tighten the screws on the pans so the handles don’t fall off.
These tasks are not planned but as you looked around you realised that it needed to be done.
It can also mean just staring at something in the distance. Daydreaming. That is not always a bad thing. Therapy at the same time as being productive.
Puttering around outside
Walking in the garden and looking around how things are. Repotting a plant that has outgrown its pot. Weeding that flower bed, or watering a plant that needs it. Simple tasks that calm your mind as you see that they are done. You may not have even realised that it needs to be done but you felt the moment was right to do it. Before you know it you have completed the task automatically. It is fun to potter around the garden.
The gutter is blocked. Why not get the ladder and clear it yourself. During the next rain shower you can smile knowing that the water will run off the roof and into the gutter. This is easier if your gutter is low enough to reach with a normal ladder. Some houses require a cherry picker to get there.
Do you have some tasks that you can do without even thinking about it? Ones that you can do in an automatic pilot fashion. This is perfect for a puttering session. Your mind can wander while a task is completed. A wonderful way of destressing. Knowing you are getting something done but it is not even taxing your brain. You could listen to your favourite songs while you do them or a podcast you have wanted to listen to. Watering the garden is a great one to do.
Puttering is a wonderful positive thing. You are feeling productive and the mind is busy doing things or just daydreaming.
You are achieving things. Feel the motivation. It is empowering.
Without realising you are organising areas in your life and getting things done that you may have put off.
How can a day of puttering look?
The act of doing dozens of little chores that no one knows needs to be done, that no one wants to do and no one notices have been done.
When you think about puttering the image comes to mind of a grandparent enjoying their retirement puttering around the home doing simple things yet completing tasks.
Maybe they finally have time in retirement to enjoy the things that they never had the time to do. They can relax and not worry about the work life that kept them occupied for so long. Now they have the time to just get things done and enjoy doing them.
They may find out that they enjoy them so much they have a new hobby. The time to tend to the garden or take the dog for a walk. Whatever it may be that inspires them.
Have you tried to putter around?
Or is it something that you already enjoy doing and never thought of it like this.
Maybe it is not something that one can just do if you overthink everything in life. It is not something that has to be thought about. What better way of destressing from everyday life than just puttering around the home and getting things done. It allows you the chance to stop overthinking about other things, calm the mind and feel productive with your day.
How many of you will think about the positive side to puttering?
If I need to do some big project and don’t have the time to do it right now I often find myself puttering around getting little things done which are simple and automatic which leaves me the time to think about how to tackle the big project. Feeling productive and preparing myself for the big task. Puttering is a good thing. Don’t wait for retirement to try it out.
