You know that feeling when something is hanging over your head, but instead of dealing with it, you push it aside—again?

Same.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about all the things I’ve delayed—not because I don’t have time, but because I just don’t want to deal with them. Conversations I’ve avoided, decisions I’ve put off, little (and big) things left unfinished.

And here’s the thing: unfinished business doesn’t go away just because we ignore it. It just sits there, taking up space in the back of our minds, adding weight we don’t even realize we’re carrying.

Why Do We Keep Pushing It Off?

Some things we avoid because they’re boring (hello, paperwork). Others we avoid because facing them means facing something uncomfortable:

• A tough conversation

• A decision we don’t want to make

• The reality of a situation we’ve been avoiding

• Something emotional—like handling a loved one’s belongings or finalizing estate documents

Avoidance doesn’t erase the task. It just drags out the stress.

The Mental Load of Unfinished Business

Have you ever noticed how a task you’ve been avoiding feels huge, but the second you finally deal with it, it wasn’t nearly as bad as you thought?

That’s because avoidance makes things feel bigger than they actually are. And the longer we wait, the more our brains build it up.

Closing the Loops—In Life and Work

I see this all the time in my notary work. People put off signing wills, handling estate documents, or finalizing agreements because they don’t want to face what they represent. But when they finally take care of it? They almost always say the same thing:

"I feel so much better now that it’s done."

The same goes for personal matters. That phone call, that decision, that one thing you’ve been dragging your feet on—it’s probably draining more energy than you realize.

What’s One Thing You Can Close Today?

Maybe it’s something small, like scheduling an appointment. Maybe it’s something bigger, like having a conversation you’ve been avoiding.

Either way, unfinished business takes up space. And the sooner we close the loops, the lighter we feel.