Holy cow – we all seem to subscribe to the something shiny theory. I posted this image (above) a few weeks back and I’m definitely not alone. I mean, I walk through my place and there are small unfinished things darn near every step I take – a half written grocery list, the dryer open with half the clothes still in there, the bathroom is partially cleaned (from last week), the dishwasher is open and cleaned out, but there are 4 dishes in the sink…I could go on and on, but this is my real life situation. Hey Google…Why Do I start things and never finish them?
Uhhh…all of the above. I definitely can relate to suffering from perfectionism, fear of failure or success and lack of planning. Although I’m pretty good at planning, sometimes I write the SAME thing on my list week after week. A BIG issue I often find in myself and others is we think a task is so daunting so we keep ignoring it, when, in fact, it actually takes us 15 minutes. How many times has this happened to you too? You work yourself up, thinking ‘this is going to take forever’…and it just doesn’t. The lists both personally and professionally will always be never-ending, but I will continue trying different tactics to actually finish what I start. This isn’t anything new, it is just unbreaking a lifelong pattern.
Here’s an idea…make a list of all the tasks you have to do and then make a separate list of all of your projects (these have multiple tasks associated with them). Whip out a pen and paper and start writing – please don’t do this on your phone. You need it IN YOUR FACE. Review this list EVERY night before you go to bed and decide what you want to accomplish the next day. Then DO IT! This is what I’ve been trying and it’s motivating. I’m also making a conscious effort to not get distracted by something shiny. It’s even the little tasks, like unloading the dishwasher and then start cleaning out the frig when I’m halfway done unloading the dishwasher. I stopped myself and completed the dishes and then moved to the frig. Multi-tasking isn’t always a super power.
So, as I’ve mentioned before, sometimes I write a blog post over a period of a few days. The above was written last week. It is very early Tuesday morning and I’m here to say – I took my own advice. You know those items you have on your list that have been there for what feels like an eternity. Or, you dive into a task and then just say – Oh, I will finish that later. Well, I made some MAJOR headway this weekend and I wanted to explain how this feels because I feel quite accomplished!
Here is a real life example of me taking the bull by the horns and focusing on finishing a pretty big task…my disastrous closet. My closet was (notice I said ‘was’) a complete disaster and it kept snowballing. I just continued to pile things up. Well, this weekend, I decided to tackle that lovely closet of mine. It was later in the evening on Saturday night (Yes, quite the wild Saturday night) and I took EVERYTHING out of my closet and piled it on my bed and around my room. This motivated me to have to finish. Finish what you start, Tiffany – don’t half ass it. I think I finally went to bed after 2 AM – but I got it done!
Talk about being vulnerable. Here take a look at my complete mess of a closet…but….THIS felt SO good. I ended up with 8 very large trash bags filled with clothes, shoes and purses to donate. Your external environment absolutely contributes to your internal. Organization and cleanliness just FEELS good. I’m not kidding when I say, I woke up and could breathe a little easier for sure AND I felt super accomplished.
Actual entry in my Notes on my phone:
4/3/24 – How many times do you start over? How many times do you have an epiphany? You think you got it and you change your ways for 3 days, maybe even a week and then poof…10 years passes you by
Wow, if that wasn’t the perfect time to find that Note. Working on not ignoring the signs that whack me right in the face. Let’s do this together FINISH WHAT YOU START…AND, if it isn’t on your list, don’t do it. If it is important enough, put it ON your list, so you have the satisfaction of marking it off. Work on ONE thing at a time, finish it…THEN start the next thing. Stop thinking things to death – JUST DO IT!
I’m in love with this quote below!
So, let’s do this. Live your life with purpose and finish what you start – the choice is yours. I’ve downsized my notebook to fit in my purse. Need one? I’ve got you covered…and it’s SO cute. You can shop HERE.
Write on that list of yours to go buy yourself some beautiful flowers that will brighten your day – you deserve it. As always, thank you for being on this journey with me – together we can make a difference in our own lives and in the lives of others. Cheers!
