Life admin can feel overwhelming and invisible, but small shifts in how we approach it can make a big difference. Learn gentle, practical ways to lighten the “homework of life.”
Small Shifts in the Homework of Life
When I read Life Admin by Elizabeth Emens, I finally had language for something I’ve felt for years: the hidden work of managing everyday tasks. She calls it the “homework of life,” and that phrase hit me hard.
The truth? I’m not a Super Doer. And I’m learning to be okay with that. I’ve had moments of getting things done with ease, but more often I find myself as a Reluctant Doer, sometimes an Avoider, and definitely an Overthinker. That’s my pattern. And maybe it’s yours too.
Naming It Helps
There’s a kind of relief in just naming life admin for what it is. Paying bills, scheduling appointments, sorting paperwork—none of it is glamorous, but it’s not nothing either. Naming it validates the effort. It says: “This is work. It takes time. It matters.”
Tiny Steps Matter
When I think about life admin, I can get overwhelmed—because it never ends. But I’m learning that small shifts make a big difference. Instead of trying to overhaul everything, I can choose one thing.
- Batch my emails instead of checking them constantly.
- Keep a small “to call” list and knock it out in one sitting.
- Set aside one hour a week for admin instead of letting it spread across every day. *This is my favorite*
These aren’t huge changes, but they free up energy and reduce that constant hum of undone tasks.
Reframing the Weight
At first glance, life admin feels like busywork—tedious, draining, invisible. But what if I reframed it? What if it’s not a burden, but a support?
Admin keeps life flowing. It reduces crises. It makes space for ease.
In my notes I once typed “sippy of life” instead of “support of life,” and now I kind of love it. Because really, admin is like that—it may not be the whole meal, but it’s the sip of water that keeps things going.
Permission to Be Imperfect
I’ve cycled through planners, notebooks, filing systems—buying, purging, repurchasing—hoping for the perfect fix. It hasn’t worked, of course. But I’m learning to meet myself with grace in the mess.
Overthinking? Human. Avoiding? Also human. Trying again, even when the last system didn’t stick? That’s resilience.
A Gentle Closing
Life admin isn’t going away. But it doesn’t have to weigh so heavily either. Naming it, shifting how I approach it, and giving myself permission to be imperfect have all lightened the load.
So I’ll leave you with this gentle question:
💭 What’s one small life admin task you could handle differently this week to give yourself a little more ease?
= Laura