“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” ~ Lao Tzu
Procrastination begins where a sense of control ends. A task or challenge seems utterly
overwhelming, and we watch it grow bigger and more urgent like an impending tidal wave headed for the shoreline. Simultaneously, a cascade of negative emotions – shame, self-doubt, guilt, anxiety, frustration – paralyzes us, impeding our ability to take action.
However, if we step back, we can see objectively that the growing wave is fed largely by these negative emotions. We can dissipate the wave completely simply by taking one step forward, and then another, and another. The hardest part is beginning the process.
If you’ve been procrastinating on an organization project, this process is likely familiar to you. As you watch your clutter grow more and more out of control, you might be tempted to put it off even longer. However, there are a few simple strategies you can take to stop procrastinating now – And shrinking those piles around the house for good! Here they are:
Do the worst part first
If you hate organizing paperwork, but don’t mind folding laundry, start by tackling the paper pile. The faster you can get dreaded tasks out of the way, the more motivated you’ll be to keep going. Mentally, you’ll know that you’ve made it over the toughest part, and the rest is downhill from there. Before you know it, your clutter piles will be banished!
Break up the process
If you get overwhelmed thinking about everything you need to organize, break up projects into a list of micro-tasks. Then, manage your time accordingly. If you only have an hour to de-clutter every day, simply start your way at the top of the list and work your way down over the next few weeks until you’ve finished. This process will help recalibrate your perspective by turning an abstract, overwhelming problem into a concrete, manageable one. Also, try to turn your organization sessions into habits, so in the future you avoid feeling overwhelmed.
Stop worrying about perfection
If you’ve been letting clutter pile up for months or even years, your house won’t be spotless in a day, regardless of how much effort you exert. Moreover, aiming for unattainable perfection will only make you feel more overwhelmed. In the same way, comparing your home to a magazine cover, or your organization habits to those of your friends and relatives, will only create more negative emotions like shame, self-doubt, guilt, anxiety, and frustration, thereby fueling your procrastination further. Let perfection go, and begin taking action at your own pace.
Give yourself rewards
Psychologically, reward is a more effective motivator than punishment. So work with this impulse, not against it; give yourself a small treat each time you finish a task on your to-do list. It could be something as small as a cup of coffee, a half-hour of reading a book you enjoy, or a nice meal out.
Get help
Sometimes having a professional aid you in de-cluttering your home can expedite the process of getting organized. They can help you stay focused on the task at hand, hold you accountable to your goals, and implement strategies to help you stay organized. If you need a little extra help, we have a compassionate, non-judgmental staff who can help you meet your goals. Contact us for a free consultation!