Flickering light bulbs. Spotty internet connection. A boundary crossed by a friend.

Irritants—like these—are inevitable. And it can be easy to find ourselves overwhelmed by the multitude of frustrations that come our way.

But what if you had a trusted system for skillfully handling these annoyances?

Enter The Frustration List—where you can experience less chaos, more control, and, dare I say… happiness.

SUPERHUMAN SCORING

In every edition of System Sunday, I assess the featured system across three superhuman dimensions: impact, setup, and maintenance.

Unlike your typical review, I focus on factors that influence personal growth. Get to know the evaluation system.

Impact (9.5/10)

I first learned of the Frustration List on Twitter from my friend Dickie Bush.

It makes me think of the classic productivity book Getting Things Done (GTD) by David Allen.

The central premise of GTD is to write down all your tasks. Here’s why that’s smart:

• Capture ideas that might otherwise be lost
• Discover peace of mind by having a trusted system

In the words of Allen: “You want to be adding value as you think about projects and people, not simply reminding yourself they exist.”

Another benefit of The Frustration List? Confidence from competence.

By identifying irritants and taking action, you’ll not only eliminate stressors but also cultivate a sense of accomplishment (by getting your ducks in a row).

Let’s get started.

Setup (8.5/10)

Two steps for the setup:

1. Create a weekly calendar invite (60 minutes) to tackle your Frustration List. I recommend setting a time when you’ll be home, such as a weekend morning.

2. Decide where you’ll maintain your list. Consider a digital document to capture notes on the go. I keep a shortcut note in Evernote (syncs across mobile and desktop).

Maintenance (8.0/10)

Four steps to maintain the system:

1. Whenever a frustration arises, take a moment to jot it down.

2. If a particular frustration can be resolved within 2 minutes, address it immediately. You’ll free up mental space (and prevent these minor issues from accumulating and causing unnecessary stress).

3. If the annoyance takes longer to fix than 2 minutes, don’t address it then. Instead, resolve the annoyance during your time-blocked calendar session.

That way, you can respond and not react—allowing you to focus on the task at hand (multitasking is a myth) and deal with the irritation on your terms. 

4. As you resolve irritations, cross ‘em off your list. It’s wildly satisfying and builds momentum.

BRINGING IT HOME

Try this powerful method. You’ll take a crucial step towards getting your proverbial and literal house in order.

Let me know how it goes!

All systems go,

P.S. Welcome to the 8,418 subscribers who joined us since last week! 🎉

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