aim for progress, not perfection

Believe it or not, perfectionism is a very common cause of disorganization. Seems counterintuitive that a perfectionist could be disorganized, doesn’t it? Well, the desire for perfection is often so strong that it creates immobility, both at the onset of your organizing projects, and anywhere in the process if you begin to realize things aren’t turning out perfectly.

If you feel that perfectionism is getting in the way of your desire for a more organized home and life, the first step is to recognize this fact. Then, look for ways to take small steps in the direction you want to go. Give yourself permission to organize imperfectly by focusing your attention on progress instead of perfection.

Several of my clients struggle with perfectionism and I've found that the best way to deal with it is to focus on one specific area (one drawer, one closet or the top of a desk) and complete that task before moving on to the next one. Even though the entire area is not "perfect" there is a part of it that is pretty close. These small areas of progress are just what perfectionist need to keep plugging along.

A word of caution: closely monitor your time so you don't spend hours and hours one a very small project, such as one drawer or cupboard, and loose track of the bigger goal (the entire desk).

The help and encouragement of a second party is very usefully to keep perfectionist on track towards their bigger goals. Try to enlist the help of a friend or family member...or you can always contact me and get a professional on board!