Welcome to Monday Bliss. On Mondays I like to post an idea for something to do, with regards to your space, to launch your week feeling Bliss instead of Blahs. This week starts an all new series which will help you remove the obstacles to getting things done in your space – so you can relax and breathe easy, without them nagging at you.

Do you have a to-do list of home projects? Things archived in your brain that you know you need to get to? Maybe time passes so quickly in the midst of work and family life that you don’t ever seem to get to the “extras”. Your projects may entail organizing something, like photos, closets or cupboards. Or they might have to do with decorating – painting a room, re-staining the deck, shopping for a new sofa or ordering window coverings.

The fact is, there’s always going to be some project in your home that needs attention. Just why is it that some of them seem to linger on the to-do list? Procrastination might be the answer.

1 of the 6 Reasons for Procrastination is Overwhelm – seeing the project as so big, so time-consuming, so complex that you don’t know where to start. This reason, in particular, keeps a lot of people from starting organizing or decluttering projects.

How to Overcome It
To overcome the overwhelm obstacle, it helps to break things down step-by-step and create deadlines.

1. If you haven’t done so already, put a list of projects together on paper or electronically.
2. Chose a project either by priority (what needs attention first/the most) OR chose based on your own personal preferences: pick the easiest one first or the hardest, to get it out of the way.
3. Break down what it will take to do the project, start to finish, in steps.
4. Look at your calendar to see what’s manageable with your schedule. Set deadlines for each step, leading up to the final deadline (when you want the project to be completed).

Once you have the steps and deadlines laid out like this, it helps the feeling of overwhelm to fade away, as you regain the feeling of control.

If you aren’t sure HOW to tackle one or more steps to get the project completed, look to outside resources for help – ask a friend, a professional or consult with a book or online resource. It’s sure to speed up the process for you, and assist you in getting the project done right.

Overcome Procrastination tips assembled with insights from ICD teleclass instructor Tiffany deSilva.