That one thing you didn’t put away. That one task you left half-done. That one bill you didn’t pay.

那件事你还没放弃，那个任务也只做了一半，账单还没付。

All of those are small problems at first. However, they can quickly become big ones if left unchecked.

这些一开始都只是小问题。然而如果不及时核对，就会变成大麻烦。

Big Problems Start Small

大麻烦都是由小问题堆积而成的

In fact, most problems start small. But, when you neglect them or let them sit, they become big ones.

实际上绝大多数的麻烦都来自小问题。一旦你忽视这些问题，或对小问题置之不理，它们就如滚雪球般越来越大了。

Here are several Small Problems That Can Quickly Become Big Ones:

下面是极容易变成大麻烦的小问题：

1. Cleaning Up

清理

That one thing that you sat on your desk. Add that to the afternoon you left without cleaning up. And the papers you didn’t put away. Soon, you are swimming in piles of stuff that needs to be cleaned up.

这是你坐在桌前需要处理的一件事情。如果下午你没有清理桌子，没有扔掉废纸，很快你就会置身于垃圾堆中，一切都亟待清理。

2. Paying Bills

付账单

You let that one bill sit. You forgot about it and now it is overdue¹. Maybe you now have to pay a late fee, too. Ultimately, it can affect your credit rating and cause even bigger problems down the road.

你有笔账单待付，结果你完全忘记了，导致过了还款期限，现在不得不付滞纳金了。最后，这还会影响你的信用度给你带来更大的麻烦。

3. Organization

整理

You didn’t file that important paper. Now you are trying to complete something urgent and you cannot find it. Now your problem is compounded. You madly tear through your stuff looking for that one missing item.

你没有把重要的文件整理妥当，到了要完成急事的关头却找不到文件了。看，问题更复杂了吧！你不得不翻箱倒柜的找那个失踪的文件。

4. Email

邮件

You let your email pile up. Or perhaps you are using your inbox as your todo list. Now, you suddenly find yourself with hundreds (or thousands) of emails in your inbox. Important items get missed or overlooked. Soon, your email is a mess of unanswered and un-replied to messages.

你的邮件堆积如山，或许你的收件箱就是你的待办清单，要做的事情都在里面。但现在，你发现其中堆积了成百上千（甚至是成千上万）的邮件。最重要的邮件要么找不到要么就被忽视掉了。很快你的邮件就成为了一堆无人回复的信息垃圾堆。

5. Relationships

关系

Small relationship problems become big ones when not addressed. Grudges² grow, misunderstandings become mis-truths. And soon, what could have been addressed with a friendly conversation has turned into an adversarial situation.

人际关系中的小问题一旦不被重视也会变成大麻烦。怨恨增长，误会就变成了伪真理。很快，有可能通过友好谈话解决问题的关系，会迅速变成了敌对的情况。

6. Deadlines

最后期限

Small projects are easy until you run them up against a deadline. Suddenly a small task has become a crisis at the eleventh hour. You may find yourself without the materials or information that you need to complete it.

只要不拖到最后期限，小项目都是很容易完成的。但一旦小任务到了最后时刻，也不禁会成为一次“危机”。你会发现自己突然找不到需要完成任务的材料或信息。

Don’t Let Small Problems Get Big

别让小问题变成大麻烦

What small problems are you facing? Get to them before they grow into larger ones.

你正遇到哪些小问题？在它们变成大麻烦之前赶紧去解决。

You can save yourself much time and stress by addressing them early. Most problems start small… let’s keep them that way.

早点解决能给自己减少更多的时间和压力。基本上大麻烦都是源自小问题，就把它们扼杀在摇篮之中吧。