Perfectionism and Organizing Don't Mix

I want it to be perfect. I can’t….won’t get started until I have enough time to make it perfect! I have to wait for XY and Z to happen before I can get started on organizing my home. I hear these excuses regularly. I know people that never get started on a project (organizing an area or room(s) in their home) because they don’t feel that they have enough time to complete it perfectly. I can assure you that perfectionism has no place in organizing, especially if it is holding you captive from progress.

Perfectionism is a very different excuse than procrastination and both are stifling. The definition of perfectionism according to Dictionary.com is: A tendency to set rigid high standards of personal performance and the demand for the highest standard of excellence. Procrastination is the act of delaying. Both of these excuses keep people in a state of stagnation.

My advice is to just get started. Nothing is perfect!  If you think you only have 15 minutes to devote to the project…just get started. How do you get started? Great question. It depends on what you want to accomplish. Set a Goal and don’t make it too ambitious.  A good goal: I will organize my living room in 1 to 2 days and donate items I never or rarely use. I want to do this so I can invite friends and family over and not feel ashamed. An over ambitious goal:  I will organize my entire house in a weekend. When you set a goal for yourself you can continue to go back to it to keep yourself accountable. Halfway into your project your negative thoughts may creep in and try to sabotage your efforts.

How to get started. This applies to any room in your home.

• Set a Goal
• Decide if you are donating or selling items you don’t want anymore
• Decide on a Charity, look up their hours and address, schedule drop off into your calendar
• Start in a corner, floor, or surfaces
• Sort like items into piles (T-shirts, shorts, mail, ETC.)
• Determine where you will keep each item sorted
• Put those items away
• Start the process over again

When you are organizing an area you need to touch everything so you can determine if it is worth keeping. Make decisions quickly and don’t second guess yourself. Good questions to ask yourself:

• Do I like this vase (insert all clothing and items here)?
• Do I use it?
• Does it give me joy?
• Does it give me power or strip my power?

Most of my clients hire me because they are overwhelmed and can’t imagine an organized space. I can assure you that I have transformed spaces that would completely overwhelm most people. I’m not trying to brag I just want you to know that even though you may think your organizing project is impossible it is not. Any progress will help you be more productive and hopefully motivate you to continue. It won’t be perfect….there is no perfect. Making any progress is perfection!!

Happy Organizing.
Adele