The paradox of petty problems: Why small annoyances can snowball
Sat Feb 07 2026
Slow walkers. Unmelted cheese in a toastie. Bad formatting in documents.
If these small annoyances make you weirdly mad, you're not alone (in fact, you're human). But when little pet peeves add up, they can contribute much bigger problems like chronic stress. So what can you do about it?
Today: why small annoyances have such an outsized impact; why judging yourself doesn't help; and how elements of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) can help you better navigate these moments (as well as the bigger challenges in life).
And if you're not a fan of radical acceptance, which was covered in a recent episode, we go deeper on what it really means.
You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.
Guest:
Dr Patricia Zurita-OnaClinical psychologistAuthor
Credits:
Presenter/producer: Sana QadarSenior producer: James BullenProducer: Rose KerrSound engineer: Roi HubermanMore information:
Relationship of daily hassles, uplifts, and major life events to health status
The peculiar longevity of things not so bad
Patricia's website and resources
Other recommended listening:
Chronically stressed? These small changes can help
Difficult people and radical acceptance: answering your questions about tricky relationships
More
Slow walkers. Unmelted cheese in a toastie. Bad formatting in documents. If these small annoyances make you weirdly mad, you're not alone (in fact, you're human). But when little pet peeves add up, they can contribute much bigger problems like chronic stress. So what can you do about it? Today: why small annoyances have such an outsized impact; why judging yourself doesn't help; and how elements of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) can help you better navigate these moments (as well as the bigger challenges in life). And if you're not a fan of radical acceptance, which was covered in a recent episode, we go deeper on what it really means. You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts. Guest: Dr Patricia Zurita-OnaClinical psychologistAuthor Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana QadarSenior producer: James BullenProducer: Rose KerrSound engineer: Roi HubermanMore information: Relationship of daily hassles, uplifts, and major life events to health status The peculiar longevity of things not so bad Patricia's website and resources Other recommended listening: Chronically stressed? These small changes can help Difficult people and radical acceptance: answering your questions about tricky relationships