Day 89 of 100 Days of Hope
How Letting Go of Open Loops Creates More Peace, Energy, and Joy
I recently got an idea from Instagram to clean my laundry room and time myself — just as an experiment. It had been lingering for a while, quietly taking up space in the back of my mind.
The result surprised me.
It took 20 minutes.
That’s all it took to turn something I’d been avoiding into a space that felt useful, calm, and complete. And even more noticeable than the clean room was how much lighter I felt afterward.
This is the sneaky truth about so many of the things we put off:
They drain more energy unfinished than they ever do once we actually begin.
The Hidden Cost of “Open Loops”
An open loop is anything unfinished that keeps pulling at your attention — a project you meant to start, papers you haven’t sorted, items you no longer love but haven’t let go of, or commitments you said yes to that no longer feel aligned.
Cheryl Richardson talks about how open loops quietly exhaust us. They sit in our visual field, in our mental space, and in our emotional energy. Even when we’re not actively thinking about them, they create background stress.
And the longer they stay open, the heavier they can feel.
Why We Avoid What Would Help Us Most
We often avoid these tasks because we believe they’ll take too long, be too overwhelming, or require more energy than we have. So instead, we live with low-grade guilt, pressure, or mental noise.
But when we finally do the thing — or consciously decide to let it go — the relief is immediate.
I’ve seen this in my own life many times. One example was letting go of old craft projects I knew I wasn’t going to finish. The excitement had passed, but every time I saw them, I felt that familiar “I should.”
When I gave them away, something shifted.
I stopped feeling bad.
I stopped being reminded of what I wasn’t doing.
I felt lighter.
I created space — physically and emotionally — for what I actually wanted. And I loved knowing someone else could enjoy them.
Letting Go Is a Form of Self-Care
We often think self-care has to be elaborate or indulgent. But sometimes the kindest thing we can do for ourselves is to create completion.
Letting go of what no longer fits is responsible.
It’s gentle.
And it feels really good.
Even small acts count.
Ten minutes sorting papers.
One bag donated.
One honest “no.”
One decision to stop carrying something that no longer belongs to you.
Gentle Questions to Help You Release
If you’re feeling a little heavy or overwhelmed, here are a few questions to explore:
What unfinished projects in your home could be donated or given away?
What papers could you spend just 10 minutes sorting to clear your counter?
What could you let go of — without guilt — that would feel like relief?
What could you say no to that would truly honor you?
How might you create more space in your home and your mind?
You don’t have to do everything.
You just have to choose one thing that’s ready to be released.
Completion Creates Peace
Taking care of yourself in this way is a gift.
Completion brings calm.
Letting go creates freedom.
And sometimes, all it takes is 20 minutes to change how you feel — not because your life is perfect, but because you chose peace over pressure.
Much love on your releasing journey. 💛