I was asked a question last week in my home organizing class about motivation. The student said they knew this was something they needed to do, but they just never felt like doing it. I think we can all relate to this! Organizing your home is probably not an emergency situation. You’ve lived with some level of clutter for a long time, so why address it now? Here are some tips if you’re struggling to find the motivation to get organized.
1. Create a deadline - You may not be at the point where you have to downsize and that’s a good thing! But the downside is that you are not feeling any urgency to do a task that you don’t really want to do. In order to get moving you may need to create an artificial deadline. Scheduling a party at your home, overnight guests, or a home improvement project that will require you to clean up are all ways to force a timeline on your decluttering projects.
2. Be accountable to other people - Relying only on ourselves for motivation often isn’t enough when it comes to tasks we don’t want to do. Enlist the help of a friend or family member who enjoys getting rid of stuff, or hire a professional organizer. Just the presence of another person will help you stay focused when you want to give up and they also provide a detached perspective on your stuff, which can really help when dealing with sentimental items.
3. Use a timer - I’ve mentioned this tip before but it is worth repeating: set a timer for your sessions and try to keep working until it goes off. Progress can be made in just 20-30 minutes so start out with short sessions if that’s how long you can stay focused. I recommend a using timer that ticks because the sound helps to remind you to stay on task (I use the BeFocused app on my phone).
4. Take a cue from other unpleasant tasks - Think about other things you do not because you want to, but because you need to. Housework, exercise, and paying bills are probably not at the top of your list of fun ways to spend your time. How do you pump yourself up to get these things done? Do you put on music you love? Give yourself a reward after? Looking to the habits you are able to keep will give you some ideas to successfully make organizing your home a habit, too.
If you found these tips helpful be sure to subscribe to the Pretty Neat weekly email! You'll get a short and sweet message each week with my best advice for a more beautiful and functional home. Click here to sign up, and you'll also receive my FREE guide: How to Get Rid of Stuff!
Make it fab!
Carrie