7 expert tips to tackle your domestic to-do list as households left ‘overwhelmed’ | UK | News

The most common household repair ‘blind spots’ are peeling paint, mouldy sealant and blocked gutters, according to research. More than two thirds (63%) of adults have up to 10 issues in their homes that they are currently putting off dealing with and fixing. Cracked grout, a dripping tap and a squeaky floorboard were also among the top 20 things many said they are turning a blind eye to.

In the poll of 2,000 adults, a third said problems are overlooked due to lack of motivation. Meanwhile a fifth have too many others things to think about, or feel stressed.

But, untackled tasks can make many people feel worse. More than half look at their list of problems aroudn the house at least once a week, and two thirds admit their to-list occupies their mind on a regular basis.

This can make nearly three quarters of people feel overwhelmed, and a quarter feel guilty. Many others worry that the issues will only get worse the longer they leave them.

Yet, more than half (54%) admit that the tasks are much simpler than anticipated when they finally get round to tackling them, and they experience a sense of relief after they’re completed.

The research was commissioned by Smart Energy GB, which is encouraging households to book their smart meter switch-out appointment as soon as they are contacted by their energy supplier.

TV property expert Scarlette Douglas, who has developed a set of practical tips to help tackle the domestic to-do list, said: “It’s completely natural to feel overwhelmed by the day-to-day demands of running a household.

“When our minds are full, it’s easy for less urgent tasks to slip down the list, adding to the invisible mental load we all carry.

“One way to manage this is to tackle small tasks as soon as you can – even simple actions, like booking an appointment, can give a sense of relief and make you feel lighter mentally once it’s done.

“That’s why, when your supplier contacts you about switching out your older smart meter hardware for new kit, it’s worth acting straight away.

“One quick engineer visit will ensure you keep your automated readings, accurate bills, and access to flexible schemes and tariffs.”

A Smart Energy GB spokesperson said: “It’s natural to have lots of things to touch up or repair in your home, but as the list gets longer it can become overwhelming.

“Once we begin chipping away at our tasks we often feel lighter, and as our research shows, it’s often easier than we expect.”

SCARLETTE DOUGLAS’ TOP 7 WAYS TO TACKLE YOUR DOMESTIC TO-DO LIST:

1. Write it down – getting tasks out of your head and onto paper instantly makes things feel more manageable.
2. Tackle the quick jobs – if it only takes a few minutes, do it straight away and enjoy the mental relief.
3. Face the jobs you keep delaying – the longer you put things off, the bigger they feel, so getting them done early can prevent stress building up.
4. Share the responsibility – running a home isn’t a one person job, so share the load
5. Let tech help you – tools like smart meters and mobile phone apps exist to make life easier.
6. Act when you’re contacted – booking appointments for household services as soon as you’re contacted helps keep your to do list under control.
7. Be gentle with yourself – you don’t need to do everything at once; small wins still count.