In these a political period that dividesit’s easy to get caught up in the chaos – scrolling through negative social media posts, confronting bickering loved ones, and following 24-hour news alerts. When feelings of chaos take over, our instinct is often to try to regain control through radical personal change.

We’ll take on big projects to overhaul our routines, transform our homes, or tackle any tasks we’ve been neglecting. But inevitably, when enthusiasm fades, anxiety builds, or real life gets in the way, our plans fall apart.

This cycle of starting big and stagnating leaves people feeling more discouraged than before. Goodbye, hope; hello, shame spiral.

When we are overwhelmedour mental bandwidth is limited and ambitious projects become just one more thing to manage. This is where the magic of micro-earnings comes into play. Small, manageable actions that can be completed in just a few minutes. These quick wins may not seem impressive or overtly ambitious, but they provide a sense of accomplishment, momentum (even pride?) and gradually change our environment and mindset, especially in crazy times collective.

Here are 5 micro-wins designed to be immediately actionable, satisfying and empowering:

Eliminate a disgusting race

Every to-do list contains at least one dreaded item. It could be a phone call you’ve been avoiding, a task that’s been postponed, or a simply boring errand. Block out 15 minutes, dive in and do it. Taking care of that thing you’ve been avoiding creates a powerful sense of mastery and momentum.

Even better? Do it early in the morning and you’ll be amazed at how much freer you’ll feel the rest of the day.

Learn more: How to sleep when you’re plagued by election anxiety

Declutter your home screens

Don’t underestimate the price to pay digital disorganization can have on your life. Clutter bombards our minds with excessive stimuli, forcing our senses to work overtime on what is not necessary or important.

The clutter on our devices can weigh us down just as much as the piles of paper on our desks. Take a few minutes to clean your home screen on your phone, tablet, and computer. Start by deleting apps that you don’t use or that stress you out, organize your files into folders, and update your wallpaper with something you enjoy looking at. Whether it’s an adorable pet photo, a quote that keeps you in suspense, or a painting you love, you’ll open that device with less reluctance if you know the pleasure is in you. attracted.

Clean your daily use bag

Has your everyday bag become a catch-all for crumpled receipts, gum wrappers, and misplaced household items? We’ve all been there.

Take five minutes to clear it out, do a good edit, and only send back what you need. While you’re at it, organize your wallet. Get rid of everything you don’t do it need. (I’m looking at your Blockbuster membership card from 2013!) Although we believe that more is better, the opposite is actually true. The power of subtraction will make you feel lighter and more determined.

Send a short check-in message to a friend or colleague

Sometimes we lose touch with people simply because we don’t know how to re-engage. Take two minutes to send a quick message saying, “Hey! It really made me think of you.” And explain why.

Send a text or leave a voicemail, whichever you prefer. It’s more personal than “I hope everything’s okay” and less taxing than the inevitable volleys of texts to find a time to talk. (Does anyone else feel like you could have had the conversation by then?!) In this outreach, you’re not asking for anything in return. You simply take a moment out of your busy day to bring happiness to a loved one. These micro-connections are a simple way to invest in and redefine the relationships you care about.

Learn more: How to Survive Election Season Without Losing Your Mind

Dedicate yourself a “power hour”

Set aside an hour, perhaps every day or week, to dedicate to any stubborn household or daily tasks: paying bills, organizing a drawer, or dealing with a backlog of emails. Use this hour to accomplish as much as you can, one task at a time. Power hour can become a weekly reset ritual, giving you a lasting boost of motivation and productivity. I love the “power hour” framing because it turns daily tasks into a game! When we’re all overwhelmed, overworked, and exhausted, we need to remember that play keeps us going.

Life will always have its storms, big and small. By focusing on these micro-wins, you give yourself a series of anchors: a chance to feel stable, productive, and in control, if only for a few minutes at a time. These small actions remind us that we must not wait for everything to stabilize to progress; we can still create order and calm, one manageable victory at a time.

Micro-victories are proof that you are capable, that change is always possible, and that no matter how big the challenges, you are never without the power to act.

So, the next time life seems too intense, don’t neglect the small steps: accept them. Every small victory makes a difference, and over time, they add up to a calmer, clearer, more resilient life.