Motivation for Organization
Some times the hardest part of getting organized is getting started. Having a compelling motivation makes all the difference!
- Start with the end in mind. Start with a beautiful picture of what you want your space to look like. Have a visual in mind of what your end results to look like. Cut pictures out of magazines, search websites or blogs, or go to online organizing stores to see a picture perfect result.
- Ready, set, go! Set a kitchen timer for 15 minutes. We can all do something for just 15 minutes. Once you are started, you are likely to get in the groove and work longer on your organizing.
- Baby steps, please. Start with something small. Remember, how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time! Knowing that you can accomplish your organizing in baby steps makes a difference.
- Plan a party. Inviting company into your home to celebrate makes you want to get your homes organized. It is scary but you can do it!
- Partner up! Include a clutter buddy in your organizing plans. Having a trusted partner who works along side you or just sits while you work helps get you started on organizing.
- Walk the walk, talk the talk. Be a role model for your family. Our children look to us to show them how to organize and why it is important to be organized. It’s pressure, but it works.
- What’s holding you back? Acknowledge obstacles to organizing. Once we clear our minds of what might hold us back, you are ready to push forward on organizing.
- Acknowledge your successes in organizing. Often we look at what is not done. Rather, give yourself a pat on the back, and a reward, for what you have accomplished.
- Use your anxiety to push you forward. Chaos causes stress! Set a boundary on your disorganization and get started knowing you will have peace of mind once you are organized. It’s that old adage of what’s most frustrating is what’s most motivating.
- Know what’s good enough for now. Our colleague Donna Smallin says “done is perfect.” Put aside perfectionism which can paralyze you. Perfectionists are overwhelmed with how long the task will take and how much energy will be used. Create a simple plan to get your organizing started and completed.
What compelling reason have you used to get started on your organizing?
I know it’s time for me to get organized (again) when I get frustrated with tangled cords (in my desk drawer), frequently move things in order to access other things (in my kitchen cupboards), or waste time hunting for information (on my computer).
Thanks Janet! I have been organizing my kitchen for this reason too! Thanks for sharing!
I love start with the end in mind! I’ve been using beautiful art or pillows I love to inspire me to keep moving forward! I also love the idea of planning a party to celebrate. Not to mention that when you plan a party you clean and organize more than you usually would! Great post Ellen!
Great post, Ellen! I love idea of starting with a vision. I’m in the middle of planning a great trip to visit my son in Crete. I posted a picture of Crete on my bulletin board with the date of my trip as a reminder of all the fun we’re going to have!
I love the idea of clearly identifying the hurdles. Sometimes, when you write them down, they aren’t as scary, and you can see ways to get around the problems.
Fabulous … especially the first one “start with the end in mind.” It helps you begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel and the tunnel can seem long. Also, I like “use your anxiety to push you forward.” So many times we let the stresses of life paralyze us and we can’t even move … not even baby steps. But to use the strength or power behind our anxiety is very empowering. Love it.
You are so right! We get anxious when the decluttering starts. Our space looks so much worse right away and we want to make it better. Pushing through the anxiety is a great motivator!