Do you find yourself constantly procrastinating and not getting around to cleaning and tidying up your home? You’re not alone! Procrastination is a problem that many of us face when it comes to our day-to-day tasks. In this article, we will discuss some effective strategies for dealing with procrastination in order to keep your home tidy and organized.
Here are 10 tips to get out of the habit;
1. GET PAST THE STARTING PHASE
JUST DO IT! It always gets a lot easier after you have started. It’s not easy to get past the starting phase, especially when it comes to tackling a big project or undertaking a new habit. But beating procrastination is possible with the right mindset and approach. It all starts with making a plan and setting realistic goals.
2. SET REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS
Setting realistic expectations for yourself ensures that you don’t become overwhelmed or discouraged by too lofty goals. To avoid becoming buried in a pile of to-dos, it is important to set realistic expectations for yourself.
By understanding your own needs and being honest with yourself about how much time you can realistically dedicate each day-You can easily overcome procrastination and tackle your tasks efficiently and effectively.
3. MAKE A PLAN OF ACTION
Make a list of all tasks that need to be done, prioritize them, and then work through them every day until they are finished.
While at it, try to break down tasks into smaller chunks that are manageable. This will make the task more achievable and less overwhelming, allowing you to focus on achieving the goal one step at a time instead of trying to tackle the entire job all at once.
Additionally, using tools such as checklists and scheduling reminders through phone apps or online calendars can also help keep you on track throughout the tidying process.
4. CHOOSE ONE TASK TO FINISH IN A PARTICULAR TIME GAP.
Just pick one task and work at it intensely with focus and intentionality. A common mistake people make when setting goals for themselves is to create big goals or multiple goals to achieve in a short amount of time. Like trying to declutter your home and deep clean ALL AT ONCE!
Start by taking stock of your current workload. Create a list of tasks that need to be done, then assign each one an appropriate deadline. Once you have everything laid out clearly, pick the one task that has the most immediate priority and set a timer for yourself.
Make sure the timeline is realistic and achievable – if it feels too tight or unmanageable, adjust accordingly. With this newfound focus and sense of urgency, you’ll be surprised at how much you can get done!
Be realistic and kind to yourself.
5. GET THOSE TASKS YOU FIND LEAST PLEASANT OUT OF THE WAY FIRST.
This simple trick can help you beat laziness and get more of your to-do list checked off each day.
When you start with the things that are less enjoyable, it gives you a sense of accomplishment right away-Even if the task is tedious or difficult, once it’s done, there’s a satisfaction in knowing that one unpleasant thing is out of the way and won’t need to be revisited.
Plus, this will give you the rest of the day to enjoy what you actually love doing.
6. USE THE EISENHOWER PRINCIPLE WHEN IT COMES TO PLANNING YOUR HOME TASKS.
Eisenhower realized that great time management means being effective as well as being efficient-This perspective is especially helpful when you do not have a lot of time on your hands.
The Principle refers to the idea that if you categorize tasks as either important or urgent, then you can identify what needs to be done first. Urgent tasks must be taken care of immediately. And important tasks are those that should be given priority over other things due to their lasting value or impact.
By implementing this strategy, you can tackle your home tasks more efficiently and effectively so that time isn’t wasted on activities with little lasting value.
To implement this strategy-Make two separate To-Do Lists; your important tasks and the urgent ones. The important tasks have the outcome of achieving a bigger goal while urgent tasks need immediate attention because they have immediate consequences.
Identify the important and urgent tasks, then focus your energy and attention on those first( these are the ones that are both urgent and important to attaining your bigger goals)
Learn more about the principle here.
7. TACKLE TASKS IN 15-MINUTE BURSTS OF ACTIVITY.
Tackling tasks in 15-minute bursts of activity is an effective approach for beating procrastination and getting things done quickly. By setting yourself a timer and devoting just 15 minutes at a time to the task at hand, you can make progress without feeling overwhelmed or exhausted.
For example, a 15-minute Kitchen clean-up routine before bed will set you up for a productive day. As well as keep your kitchen clutter-free and tidy- Without taking up most of your day.
8. TAKE NOTE OF YOUR DISTRACTIONS TO BEAT PROCRASTINATION
Make things easier for yourself and get rid of distractions.
Try to remove any unnecessary interruptions. For example, you can do this by turning off your television or phone until the task at hand is finished. This will help make it easier for you to focus and allow for more productive tidying-up sessions.
You can also try setting a timer before beginning each task so that you don’t get sidetracked.
Alternatively, if you have a hard time staying consistent OR committing to your organizing plan- Try writing down things that distract you causing you to put off a task.
By doing this you will get them out of your mind to a place that you trust and can revisit later-Allowing you to focus on the goal. Which in turn builds your focus muscle.
9. SET A TIMER
Setting smaller deadlines on a timer makes it easier for you to focus. Because there is a defined end in mind.
Determine how much time you want to spend on each cleaning task, set the timer for that amount of time, then dive in head first and don’t stop until the timer goes off. This technique has been known to help people stay focused on one task at a time making it easier for them not to become overwhelmed or feel like they need to do too much all at once.
10. TAKE 5-MINUTE BREAKS IN BETWEEN YOUR TASKS
Especially for bigger tasks like cleaning out your kitchen-Grab a glass of water or pour yourself some wine.
Even lighting your favorite candle will do the trick. Just remember to enjoy the process as much as the result. People always procrastinate on what they do not enjoy doing.
BONUS: TAKE A LONG BREAK
Reward Yourself! It feels great to be appreciated and validated. So make a promise of a reward for yourself once you have accomplished a task. Take a long break indulging in something you really like. It could be an activity from your distraction list, watching an episode of your favorite show. Or simply snacking on something you really enjoy.
This will help you stay motivated to accomplish things as opposed to putting them off.
Lastly, be patient with yourself. Some habits can take a long time to break. So do not lose heart if you have not overcome procrastination on day one.
But if you start working on it now, you will be shocked at how much you will be able to accomplish in just a short amount of time.
