How to Stop Procrastination — My Decluttering Journey!
By: Kelly Myerson
Tags: Change Your Life, Decluttering, Mindset, Mindset Shift, Procrastination

Photo by Jazmin Quaynor on Unsplash

In my life, one of my greatest struggles has been removing (and avoiding the collection of) clutter. I don’t care how many memes or statements have been made, a person with lots of clutter is not operating at his or her personal best.

Clutter creates chaos.

If you’d like to take it to the woo woo — it disrupts the flow of energy. You don’t need a Feng Shui coffee table book to tell you that. (Hands up if you at one time owned a Feng Shui coffee table book — oh the irony!!!)

Along the way on my personal growth journey I picked up the idea of “progress not perfection”. Let those words sit with you for a moment. Progress not perfection — if you accept and uptake one concept, let it be this one. Here you will find the antithesis to;” I’m not good enough”, “I disappoint people”, “I’ll never get it right” and all the other “I don’t measure up” messaging. The real problem?

Perfection is not attainable and seeking perfection ensures stagnation.

Let’s break this down.

Have you ever watched a toddler learning to walk? They take steps and fall and then try again. It’s amazing to watch them fiercely push themselves and deny everything about their bodies and life experiences indicating they are not meant for walking.

But their cushy little bottoms accept each fall and they get up. What a delightful metaphor for any of us who have ever faced something that didn’t come easy or didn’t resonate with the negative messaging in our heads.

So, where can you start?

· Try clearing one area, even for 10 minutes.

· Choose a space as small as your entry way or the table where mail piles up.

· Once it’s clear, how does it feel? Are you now drawn to that space?

On the other hand, do you have an excessively cluttered space? Do you like to be there?

To me a cluttered space feels like the scene in Pee Wee Herman’s Great Adventure when he is saving all the animals in the burning pet shop. He keeps looking at the snakes with disgust and passing them up for other animals. In the end, he grabs the snakes in two large fistfuls and runs out of the burning building screaming and passes out.

That’s where my mind goes when I hit procrastination. A tank full of snakes to save and I hate snakes. For the record, it would be spiders for me. Snakes are okay, but spiders…ugh.

Over the past few years, I have taken a deep dive in addressing clutter and the messaging in my head that made it acceptable to stay cluttered. For me, it was a message of “you can’t create and keep the perfect house”. I sought perfection and when I hit resistance, I would become resigned and plop down on a bench at Procrastination Station.

Today, I am plowing through areas I once procrastinated. Lest you feel like giving up I have a secret.

Once you decide to shift to a progress mindset, you will begin a literal baby step towards change and improvement.

Accept that you will fall, it is inevitable. What’s most important is that when you fall on your cushy butt, despite what your environment and messaging in your head tells you, get up and keep going. Depart from Procrastination Station.

Where are you procrastinating in your life? Let me know in the comments!

Kelly is an author and wellness coach for caregivers and purpose-driven humans who are seeking to live their best lives, so they may give to others from a deep well of abundance. As a pediatric occupational therapist, she has over 20 years of experience specializing in sensory integration techniques. Kelly’s background in occupational therapy provides a unique perspective on development and the human condition. Connectedness and positivity are key components of Kelly’s coaching and therapy. With two books in the works, Kelly is emerging on the wellness scene with refreshing perspective and a sense of humor. Kelly believes the journey toward healing and wellness begins with one small step. Each step builds on the next until you are embodying wellness. Come connect with her at www.beingwellwithkelly.com.