The Metaphorical Glass Coffee Table + How It Could Improve Our Lives

What if you didn't even need coasters??

I’m so glad you’re here! I’m Sarah Von Bargen, a long-time online writer, educator, and coach. Every week we’ll be exploring ideas around spending our time, money, and energy on purpose + how to build a life we love that doesn’t make us broke or exhausted.

Nine years ago, the summer before Kenny and I got married, I took a six-week, 9,000 mile road trip as a “honeymoon of myself.”

Kenny had just started a new job and didn’t have much time off accrued and I was going from a two-bedroom apartment of my own to a three-bedroom house to be shared with two tween boys, a husband, and a dog.

Taking some time on my own, to do something I loved, before embarking on this enormous life change seemed like a … good idea. (Understatement.)

On this road trip - Minneapolis to Portland to L.A. to D.C. to Ottawa and back - I stopped to see friends. I picked up a few buddies who joined me for a leg of the journey. All along my route, I ask people who were married or in long-term relationships for their best advice.

And here is the best piece of advice I received and, yes, it applies to pretty much everything:

Rather than arguing about using coasters on the wood coffee table, get a glass coffee table.

🤯🤯🤯 I interpreted this to mean two things:

1. Rather than trying to force someone else to change their behavior or habits, change the environment. And by “someone” I also mean “you” and “me.”
   

2. Wherever possible, remove opportunities for friction and disagreement.

   “Glass coffee table” solutions at home:
   

• Get a robot vacuum and schedule it to run at the same time every day. (Used Roombas are all over FB Marketplace for $40)
  

• Sign your kids up for hot lunch at school - you do not have to make their lunches every day!!!
  

• Sign up for a meal delivery service or just buy a bunch of Trader Joe / Aldi frozen entrees.
  

• Get an automatic feeder for your pets (These are also all over FB Marketplace for $25)
  

• Buy a sofa that has removable, machine washable cushion covers and use throw pillows with machine washable pillow shams. You will spend so much less time yelling at your kids / pet / partner about putting their feet on the sofa, eating on the sofa, etc. We have the Ikea Finnala sofa and I wash the cushion covers every three months!
  
  Or just get a machine washable slip cover for your sofa!
  

• If there’s a specific type of food or alcohol that someone in your household shouldn’t have - for whatever reason - just don’t buy that type of food. Don’t expect them to exert self-control and then get mad when they don’t.
  
  (This also includes getting mad at yourself.)

This is our (plexi)glass coffee table, our sofa and pillows with removable, machine-washable covers, and a side table that hides Loretta’s kennel so we don’t have to argue about who pulls it out of the closet or forgets to kennel her.

“Glass coffee table” solutions at work: