If I’m being honest, the first thing that comes to mind is the maintenance I’ve been putting off on one of my beehives. It’s not that I don’t want to do it—it’s just that I know it’s going to be a bit of an undertaking, and those kinds of projects always take a little mental preparation.

Recently, I noticed that one of the baseboards on my hive has started to warp and separate slightly. It’s not a major issue—yet—but it’s something that absolutely needs to be taken care of before the weather turns colder. That small gap at the base creates an easy entry point for anything other than my honeybees, and that’s the last thing I want heading into winter.

I already have a backup baseboard ready to go. The tricky part is that replacing it means I’ll need to remove both hive boxes, slide out the damaged baseboard, set the new one in place, and then carefully reassemble everything. It’s one of those tasks that sounds simple in theory but requires patience, precision, and a bit of courage—especially when you’re dealing with thousands of bees and a queen you really don’t want to harm.

The truth is, I’ve been procrastinating because I always get a little anxious about doing anything that could upset the hive. The queen’s safety is always top of mind, and while the bees are generally forgiving, every beekeeper knows that working around them in cooler months can be a little more challenging. But this week, it has to get done. I’ve decided to pair it with my regular feeding time—two birds with one stone (or two bees with one baseboard, if you will).

Homesteading always has a few of these “I’ll get to it soon” tasks. Sometimes it’s cleaning the chicken coop, organizing the seed packets, or repairing a garden bed. But these small acts of maintenance are what keep everything running smoothly, and there’s a quiet satisfaction that comes from finally checking them off the list.

So that’s my confession for the week—and my commitment to myself. What about you? What have you been putting off doing on your homestead or around your home, and what’s holding you back from tackling it?