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Everyone procrastinates sometimes.  It only becomes problematic when procrastination is the norm.  Reasons for procrastination include perfectionism, overwhelm, over-analysis, and lack of planning.  What can you do when you have a project that needs to get done?

Clear the Decks:

• Plan ahead and get your routine and critical tasks taken care of.
• Schedule time to work on your project.  Be sure you plan enough time to get a fair amount of the project work done. Starting and stopping is hard; it takes a lot of discipline and wastes a lot of time and energy.

Make a Plan:

• Write down the steps of the project on Post-its – one step per Post-it.
• Put the post-it’s in a logical order.
• You now have a plan.

Make it Fun:

• It’s ok to alternate fun parts with more tedious ones.
• You don’t have to start at the beginning either – if the first step is too hard or too boring, start on another part of the project.

Get Ready:

• Pull all related material together (start this a week or two early), when you sit down to work, you’ll have your materials at hand.

Get Set:

• When it’s time to get down to work, do what you can to minimize interruptions:
  • close out your email and Facebook
  • Forward your phone to voicemail
  • Clear the clutter off your desk
  • Close your office door.

Go:

• Jump in and do it:
  • Know that as hard as it is to start it’s worse if you don’t get the project done or miss your deadline.
  • Don’t worry about perfection, if you never get started, you’ll never get finished.

“Sometimes it’s the smallest decisions that can change your life forever” – Keri Russell

With every step, change happens. Every step counts, even baby steps. People struggle with disorganization, sometimes silently until those nagging thoughts get you in action. Nagging thoughts like – I can’t live this way anymore, I used to be organized, I don’t know what’s happened?, what happened to my home?,  I need some help!, or I can’t do this alone.  These thoughts  generate actions which result in one of the first steps in change.

Just acknowledging the thoughts can be a breakthrough for some, which indicates awareness!  Then the inquiry of finding the “right ” person to help. Right meaning the person who will support you in taking these steps. It might be sharing these thoughts with others or asking other people, which entails revealing what you may be embarrassed to talk about.  Or, taking the time to search the web. Getting up the guts to email or call a professional organizer. Then comes spilling your guts to them, even though you feel ashamed, or embarrassed yet relieved afterward. Then clearing time in your busy schedule to make an appointment. Next, working hand in hand on a scheduled day with this person. Listening and being open to their suggestions. Purging items you never thought you would or could! Allowing these once called treasures to leave your premises, even that same day! Feeling pleased with the results of your hard work. Maybe even planning another work session to do more.

So you see, many steps have been taken. They add up quickly and often are not even acknowledged. Usually these distressful feelings color your view enough that self acknowledgment isn’t there. Now is the time to recognize what steps you have taken.  To pat yourself on the back for your hard work, commitment and taking action. Even in the face of fear or humiliation. You have now transformed your home , your space and ultimately yourself.

Who likes change? Most people don’t. The process of organization is ultimately all about change.  Ironically, if you have taken all these steps you’ve already embarked into the unknown.  New possibilities are awaiting you!

“CHANGE ALWAYS COMES BEARING GIFTS” –  Price Pritchett