Tiny troubles got you tearing your hair out? Follow this valuable advice for a sleep-easy week ahead:

“MY HOUSE IS A MESS”
Fleur Barrington, author of 1001 Little Housekeeping Miracles (Carlton) says, “Let little and often be your maxim. Efficient housekeeping leaves you more time to enjoy life.” Your house doesn’t need to look like the pages of a Biggie Best catalogue — just a space you can retreat to which makes you feel calm and safe. If an accumulation of excess has begun to overwhelm, adopt a scorched-earth policy: dedicate a Saturday to sorting it out with no distractions. Pack the kids off to your sister’s, switch off your phone, roll up your sleeves, whip out the rubber gloves and don’t be afraid to get dirty. Scrub crevices you never see, vacuum under the furniture, be brutal about giving away things you no longer use and that are taking up space, and once you’ve finished you’ll feel like you live in a brand-new house. Flop on the couch with a cup of tea and cross that one off the worry list.

“HAVE I UPSET MY BEST FRIEND “
This is a big one, as different friendships demand different levels of attentiveness and nurturing. But if you haven’t spoken to your best friend for three weeks and are feeling guilty for not having called her, remember: she hasn’t called you either! She’s probably just as busy as you are. Send her a text to tell her you’re thinking of her — it takes more than sporadic lapses in communication to ruin a friendship.

“I WANT TO ENTERTAIN BUT I’M A TERRIBLE COOK!”
Think back to the last truly fabulous dinner party you went to. Was it great because the hostess produced plates of Gordon Ramsey-style gourmet cuisine, or because she was relaxed and bubbly, the wine flowed and the company was goode More than likely, it was the latter. In How to Feed your Friends with Relish (Bloomsbury) Joanna Weinberg says, “Do what you do, however you like to do it; have confidence in it, and there’s nothing that can be ‘wrong’.” She also has a full chapter on setting the scene, so pick up some tips about making your table look gorgeous and welcoming. Oh, and if your cooking really is rubbish, there are delis that cater for dinner parties in your own dishes, which you can stick in the oven just before your guests’ arrival and produce with a flourish as they sit down — no-one need ever know!

“I’VE MADE A MISTAKE AT WORK”
Everybody makes mistakes — in the high-pressure environment in which many of us work it’s easy to do – and realising it can leave your stomach knotted with anxiety. But trying to cover it up will only make it worse. Find a manager, a mentor, a senior member of staff and say, “I’ve made a mistake and I need help.” In the face of a bald admission people are often more understanding than you would have thought possible, because they know only too well that the same could happen to them.

“I HAVE NOTHING TO WEAR”
Often this scenario is more that we’ve got into a rut with our wardrobes than that we genuinely have nothing to wear. Delve deep and pull out pieces of clothing you’d forgotten you had. Twist a brightly-coloured scarf though the belt loops of a pair of white linen trousers to give them a new lease on life, transform a casual vest with a gorgeous pair of dangly earrings, wear a floaty summer skirt with a chunky jersey and a pair of boots for a different look — you’ll be amazed at what you already have when a bit of imagination comes into play.

“WILL I FORGET SOMETHING IMPORTANT “
Being organised isn’t something “other people” do. You, too, can buy a diary, spend a couple of hours gathering and recording important birthdays, anniversaries or shoe sales. Then check it every day and — hey presto! — you won’t have to worry about missing anything.