How do you overcome procrastination?
My main organisational issue is to get started / not procrastinate. I always have better things to do.
Oh, and I hate to have to make choices and take decisions because that means not choosing something and I’m afraid it’ll be the wrong choice. So any advice about those two topics are warmly welcome!!
Chloé from France.
Chloe, sometimes we procrastinate because the thing really shouldn’t even be on our to-do list. If that’s the case, let it go and be free. Maybe that’s why you say you always have better things to do 
Otherwise, if it does support your lifestyle goals, then here’s how you can overcome procrastination:
- break up the project into small steps
- focus on just the very next action step, e.g. if you need to get a new job, don’t start thinking about what you’re going to wear to interviews….just yet. for now, decide what kind of job you want – that’s the first action step. Then update your CV (resume), etc, etc.
- what gets you motivated? If it’s accountability, then tell someone to hold you accountable.
- work with a timer and get it done
Bath, England, May 2008About making decisions, I wrote about 3 steps to confident decision-making.
Have a read
How do you overcome procrastination?
P.S. here are tons more tips on overcoming procrastination.
Tags: procrastination, time management
For some people, fear of making a wrong decision can be hugely paralyzing on their efforts to organize. Give yourself permissions to make mistakes–most of the the time the consequences are not devastating if you pick “wrong”, and often times there is no wrong answer, just two different choices that are both good. When its really hard to decide, or you can’t make progress on organizing because you’re struggling with a bunch of decisions, it may help to bring along a trusted friend as an organizing buddy who can help you articulate pros and cons of each difficult decision, and point out to you when you’re over-thinking an inconsequential decision, and help you weigh and choose between your different choices.
As far as motivation, I find it helps me to consider the benefits I will experience from having an organized home, how taking the time to organize will make cleanup quicker and easier so I have more time for the fun projects I enjoy. The stronger the desire for that outcome that organizing will bring, the easier it is to stay motivated to do it. Another good motivator can be having company over, because that helps you set a concrete deadline, as well as encourages you to do get the surface cleaning finished, so that you have a cleaner space to start with when you start doing deep cleaning and organizing.
Jessica, thanks for the great comment. You’re right – that kind of procrastination is actually paralysing.
Oh, thanks so much for responding me… I feel all special now!
Great tips as usual, I especialy love the first step for decisions making: any action is better than inaction! Also love Jessica’s comment about the fact that there is no wrong answer… so true! Thanks so much for the help, ladies!!