I’m so frustrated that I’ve crossed off so few problems from my “What’s Broken” list. Primarily, that’s because the most important problems were also big projects. Progress has been sure and slow. But mostly, progress has been slow.
So I’ve decided to put my “What’s Broken” list on a diet. It needs to lose a few rows, and fast. So, like a typical New Year’s resolution, I’m going to jump-start that diet, and it begins February 1st.
There’s one caveat. While we hope we don’t need to repeatedly jump-start our own personal diets, I fully intend to make my “What’s Broken” diet an annual…
Tradition
Tradition!
TRA-DI-TION!!!
February will henceforth and forevermore be known as Fix-It February at my house. My goal will be to fix at least one thing a day. So, by March of every year, my list will be lighter and my frustration level will have decreased proportionally.

This is exactly what I need. In fact, I’m so excited about this diet, I may even cheat and start early!
Fix-It February “Rules”
My “rules” are simple.
- The issue/item can’t take more than an hour to resolve (excluding gathering supplies).
- My intent is to fix an average of one broken thing a day, or a minimum of 28-29 problems each Fix-It February.
- The task doesn’t even need to be on my “What’s Broken” list. Regrettably, things often need attention at my house faster than I can even add them to the list. Take last night for example. I turned on the overhead heater in my bathroom for the first time in 20 years, and proceeded to get showered with dust while a sound similar to that of a 747 rattled my windows.
It was in that instant that Fix-It February was born. And it was in that same instant that cleaning and oiling the bathroom heater and fan, respectively, made #1 and #2 on the Fix-It February list.
Is it Fix-It February yet?
I know. You probably think I’m crazy for thinking this sounds like fun. But admit it — you’re secretly making your own “Fix-It February” list, too, aren’t you?