Procrastination is one of the major obstacles to getting organized. Fight procrastination ON TIME:

Organize

Gather your thoughts: determine the steps needed to complete a given task. Taking small steps toward achieving a goal is much more palatable than looking at the whole project at one time. Breaking a project down into its component parts will make you say, “Wow! That’s so much easier than I thought it would be.”

Now

Resolve to do what you have to do NOW, or at least as soon as possible. Actively tell yourself, “If I do this small thing now, I’ll have time to do something I want to do later.” Conquering little things as they come up prevents them from becoming an overwhelming monster. Vow to be tired only the moment before you go to bed.

To do list

Keep a master To Do list in a place you see on a daily basis. Use a spreadsheet program and label the columns with major categories, such as one for each household member, house projects, travel projects, upcoming events, etc. Include short and long range plans, as well as stretch goals (dreams). At the end of today, make tomorrow’s list, including what HAS to be done (laundry, carpool, conference call) and one part of one item from a goal category. Keep a calendar and schedule EVERYTHING: downtime, personal time, grit-your-teeth-and-get-it-done time. Schedule tasks that require brain energy for your most productive time of the day.

Interruptions

Unless it’s an emergency, practice saying, “I’m doing ____ now, but I can talk to/help you when I’m done/at a certain time.” You are not being rude. You are placing value on your time and preventing your putting off the task at hand. Close your door. Let the phone go to voice mail. Turn off your email for a few minutes.

Make it fun

Love what you hate. Kids are smart – they refuse to do something unless it’s fun. Preparing information for your tax return is about as exciting as root canal, but looking through travel brochures, deciding where to spend the refund check, is positively thrilling. Self-talk is powerful. Tell yourself, “For this minute, I will __________ (fill in your aggravating chore).” One minute becomes ten, ten becomes an hour, and soon the project is done. People get excited by results and are motivated to keep going. Organizing projects take on a momentum of their own. Can’t do it alone? Get help from someone else – a non – judgmental family member, colleague, friend, or Professional Organizer.

Exhale

Congratulate yourself on a job well done! Rewards are a powerful motivator. Cleaned the garage? Park your car in it. Cleared all the papers off the dining room table? Set it with the good china and invite some friends over. Having something to look forward to keeps you on track and makes the time go much faster.