Complete Tasks Fully
“You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.”
― Abraham Lincoln
Much of getting organized is really about staying organized. And much of what may block you from that is recognizing the little things that make it hard to keep up. Those little things create friction which keep you from completing a project.
For example:
If you walk into the kitchen to a sink full of dishes, it’s unlikely that your enthusiasm for clearing out the pantry will last very long.
If your bedroom has become carpeted by clothes in various states of wear-ability, reviewing and donating the ones you don’t wear will turn into a laundry marathon. Maybe.
If your desktop is buried it may serve as a way to run or slink in another direction, anything but toward filing.
You get the picture. All these situations produce friction which has to be overcome if any real organizing is going to happen. A solution is possible!
A tidy morning sink, ready to handle the day.
When you’re feeling ready to leave an activity, push yourself to try to actually complete it. This returns the environment to a state of readiness for use. More importantly, you have reduced the friction involved in having to come back and finish a task later, when you have already moved on to something else. Do it once, do it right.
It looks like this:
Clean up COMPLETELY, in one chunk of time, after each meal – you will enjoy the next one so much more! Rather than loading the dishwasher, then coming back doing the hand washing, then later wiping the table. Don’t stop until all the tasks are complete.
When you take off your clothes either put them away or into a laundry bin. Even if you have some sort of in-between place for wearing them again…fine, that should be a hook or a designated place, not the floor.
When you stand up from your desk, return both the digital and physical desktops to a state of readiness. This doesn’t have to mean empty, just so you can see what should happen next.
Prior
Proper
Planning
Prevents
Piss
Poor
Performance
—"The 7 Ps” British Army adage
All these behaviors can become habits that save you from procrastination. They also create an environment that supports you to tackle the more challenging organizing tasks.
There are a few other, less tangible ways to reduce procrastination:
Resolve your issues with family, friends and co-workers before they become blocks.
Before going to bed, prepare what you need in order to walk out the door in the morning. This includes the physical environment as well as looking at your calendar and mentally preparing for the day ahead.
Get enough sleep so that waking up is not a struggle.
Trying one or two of these ideas for a month can substantially change your routines and create new habits. The Tidy Magpie can help you and your family create meaningful, lasting routines.
