Season Like a Chef

A little bit of salt changes a dish. It always surprises me. Even food that didn’t turn out great can sometimes be improved with a small adjustment—just a pinch of salt. It’s such a tiny thing, but it brings out flavors, balances bitterness, and makes everything work together just a little better.

I have to remind myself of that when I look at clutter on my desk and think, What’s the point? I start to believe that unless I do a full overhaul—organize everything, find a new system, get it all perfect—it’s not worth doing at all. And that kind of thinking leads straight to perfection paralysis. I convince myself that small changes don’t matter because they won’t create an instant, flawless result.

But they do matter. A pinch of effort, just like a pinch of salt, can shift everything.

If I walk down the block and back, it’s not a full workout, but I’ve still moved my body and gotten fresh air. If I take one minute to dance, stretch, or sit in stillness, it might be a small moment, but it sets the tone for what comes next by creating a shift. These small actions may not seem like much, but they interrupt negative spirals and create just enough momentum to push things in a better direction.

A little of a good thing can lead to more good things.

So let’s let a “pinch of salt” do its thing. Take a pinch of movement. A pinch of quiet. A pinch of connection. Small things have impact—even when they don’t feel like they would.

ACTION: Add a “pinch of salt” to your day. Take one small action—tidy one spot, step outside for a minute, send a quick message to someone you appreciate. Even the smallest shift can make a difference.