Home Organizing – Managing Unfinished Projects
Starting a new project should be a great feeling! Initially we tend to feel excited as we begin new projects, but too often other responsibilities and activities get in the way of completing said projects. This results in a constantly growing pile of incomplete projects sitting in the hallway, living room, kitchen, garage, etc. causing unnecessary physical and mental clutter. Don’t fret! This kind of clutter can be managed and even prevented. This post discusses the importance of prioritizing, planning realistically, and considering your current values as you decide which projects truly fit into your life.
Priorities
Which tasks are most important for your home to function safely and smoothly on a daily basis? Which tasks will improve your life if completed? Figure out which tasks need to be prioritized, and consider starting with tasks that have potential consequences if left unfinished for much longer. Start by writing down all your tasks/ projects, then you can organize them by category or rank them based on how important each project is.
Time
Realistically, which of the projects I started fit into my current schedule? Is there anything urgent that needs doing that means I need to change my schedule? Is this project worth my time or could someone else complete this project for me in less time? If necessary, hire someone else to complete an unfinished job or project in your home. Thus, your free time can then be spent on task or projects that align with your current priorities and interests.
Try scheduling in the time on your weekly planner to complete household projects. For example, on Monday I will work one hour prior to dinner to finish organizing my taxes for 2017. On Tuesday and Thursday evenings, I will work on my DIY kitchen shelving project for two hours each night. Wednesday and Friday evenings I have plans to attend fitness classes with a friend, therefore I will not have enough time to work on anything extra at home.
Planning realistically helps you to be more efficient with the use of your free time. It also helps prevent feelings of failure that can often result from trying to complete an unreasonable list of tasks in a short amount of time.
Commitment
Which projects have I truly committed to? Which ones have I spent a lot of time, resources, and/or labour on? Perhaps you spent five very dedicated hours on the project to begin with, but now you couldn’t imagine even spending one hour on it. You might conclude that this project is not one that you will continue. Instead, find a friend or charity that could make better use of the materials from this project. It's okay to let go of something that is not adding value to your life and is wasting your time, energy and/ or resources.
Passion/ Interest
What kind of project is this? Does this project align with my current values or interests? When I work on this project, do I look forward to spending time on it? Perhaps if you dread spending time on it and it does not fit in with your current values then it is not worth trying to complete it.
To conclude, do not allow yourself to be overwhelmed by feelings of failure and guilt for having too many unfinished projects. Instead, use the strategies discussed in this post to eliminate projects that are cluttering your space and your mind. Actively choose to pursue only projects that are of high priority, as well as those which align with your current lifestyle and values.
Need some help deciding which projects to keep and which ones to eliminate? Professional organizer to the rescue! This is definitely something we can assist you with. To get started on your home organizing journey right away, contact us via email at lettherebespace@gmail.com!