If you’re a procrastinator, starting on a decluttering project can quickly get derailed by a number of obstacles, such as “new show just dropped on Netflix,” “but it’s so nice outside,” or “squirrel.”
If it’s a project you’re not excited about (or one that feels utterly overwhelming), there will be a million other “things” that will sway your attention. If you want to get really scientific about it, Piers Steel, a procrastination researcher, created an equation to understand procrastination:
Motivation = (Expectancy * Value)/(Impulsiveness * Delay)
That’s a lot to take in, so let’s break it down:
- Motivation is the willingness to do work.
- Expectancy refers to how much you expect to succeed at doing the task. If you expect to be successful, you’ll be excited to do it. If not, procrastination creeps in.
- Value refers to how much you enjoy doing a task, and how much you will enjoy the reward. If cleaning and organizing is your favorite task, you’re not likely to put off doing it. For the rest of us, though, the value might be harder to pin down.
- Impulsiveness refers to your tendency to get distracted by other things. (“Oh, look, literally anything else aside from this!”)
- Delay refers to the time lapse until receiving the anticipated reward. The longer the delay, the more likely you are to procrastinate, as you perceive that the payoff is farther in the distance.
The goal is to increase expectancy and value and diminish impulsiveness and delay. The end result is completing the project and feeling good about it.
How do you get excited and stay on task? And how can we apply that to a decluttering project? There are a few actions you can take to combat procrastination, including:
Break down the steps
Decluttering a bathroom, for example, might look something like this:
- Step 1: Take stock of everything in the bathroom
- Step 2: Organize by category (toiletries, makeup, cleaning supplies, etc)
- Step 3: Discard unwanted items or expired items (pro tip: check out these guidelines for disposing of expired medications)
- Step 4: Clean the bathroom- this will make your decluttering project shine
- Step 5: Put items back in groups that make sense (toiletries go in the medicine cabinet, cleaning supplies under the sink, etc).
- Step 6: Light a candle and let Calgon take you away (optional)
Keep the tasks small
Each of the steps listed above is broken down into manageable tasks. However, if Step 2 (organizing by category) starts to get overwhelming, break that down into smaller chunks. The new list might look something like this:
- Step 2: Organize by Category
- 2a. Determine categories
- 2b. Create spaces for each category to get sorted
- 2c. Sort items in bathroom into piles.
Set the bar low
This might seem counterintuitive, but remember, part of the Procrastination Equation is Expectancy. Creating goals that only take a few minutes to complete will help you feel a great sense of accomplishment, and checking off the items on your list makes the end goal becomes easier to see.
Make it fun
Play music. Make a series of TikToks charting your progress. Take 30-second dance breaks. By adding enjoyment to your project, you’ll actually enjoy doing it. Like Snow White taught us,
“Just whistle while you work
And cheerfully together we can tidy up the place
So hum a merry tune
It won’t take long when there’s a song to help you set the pace.”
Create Deadlines
Have you ever heard the saying, “work expands to fill available time”? This is called Parkinson’s Law, and it explains why we feel like we can never get anything done. By giving yourself all weekend to get that bathroom decluttered and put back together, it’s probably going to take you all weekend (or might not get done at all). However, creating manageable deadlines (“I’m going to take a half hour to go through my makeup, and 1 hour to clean the bathroom”) will put you in a much better position to finish your project.
Eliminate Distractions
You can create videos to post to TikTok to add enjoyment to the project, but don’t get derailed responding to replies. Eliminating the things you suspect are going to distract you from the tasks at hand will go a long way to helping you stay focused.
Reward Yourself
Create a prize for completing your project- maybe it’s a new set of towels for that beautiful bathroom or a pampering session. That pot of gold at the end will be a strong motivator for you to stay on task.
Consult with an Expert
If, after following these steps, you’re still struggling, don’t let that get you down. You are not alone! Professional organizers exist for a reason; they’re here to help guide you through tasks that seem overwhelming. Contact Tina Curtis to discuss your project. She will work with you to get your decluttering projects under control.
