The Magic of Motivation

last family reunion

You’ve got guests coming for a special meal. Your dining table is a disaster. You have been putting off clearing that table for months. But now,” Boom!”, you are motivated and it will get done.

Now maybe because you have waited so long the clearing might involve sweeping a bunch of stuff into boxes and stashing the boxes in a closet. Not a great plan, but at least your table looks great.

But how can we use that same motivation to help with long term projects that will have a lasting result?

Knowing your “why” is what gets and keeps you motivated. Your cluttered living area may keep you from having guests over or keep you from feeling relaxed and comfortable in your own home. Your disorganized office may keep you from staying focused on your work. Your messy kitchen may keep you from preparing healthy meals. Visualize how you will feel when you have completed your project and now have a welcoming living room, or an organized office or kitchen.

Once you focus on why you want to do this project, it helps to write it out where you can see it daily or have it on your screensaver.

Take your overall vision and break it down into manageable parts. Write small goals for each part. The goal should have a time element so put that on your calendar.

Each time you reach that goal reward yourself. Small rewards for a job well done are very motivating. Just allowing yourself a coffee break and 15 minutes to read an article because you have completed clearing and wiping down a shelf or drawer is motivating. While you are working you know that the reward is there waiting for you. A quick burst of energy and you are done!

The accomplishment of completing each small goal will motivate you to continue on to the next one.

Make working toward each goal a daily habit, even if you only spend 10 minutes on it. Each day you will see some progress, and this is very motivating in itself.

Allow for imperfection. Life happens. You may get sick or you may need to tend to someone else who needs you. An opportunity may come up that you just don’t feel like you can miss. Give yourself those grace periods but have a plan to come right back into your routine of working toward that goal once the time is right. Rewrite your goals on your calendar and get started again. Remind yourself of your “why”. Understand that a pause for a good reason is acceptable and not a failure.

Take pictures before you start on your project. Pulling them out and seeing how far you have come is motivating. I have worked with clients who feel they are just not making enough progress. When we look back at where they began, they see how much they have accomplished and are remotivated to work again.

Once your project is complete and your living room is decluttered, clean, and inviting, you feel happy and relaxed in that space. You can exhale. You feel comfortable having friends drop by. Or your kitchen is in such great shape that you enjoy coming into it each morning to make your coffee and later to prepare your meals.  Your office is now inviting you to come and work on your projects.

At this point in time, it is important to hang on to that motivation to keep your space so that it serves your “why”. Have after pictures to hang onto along with the pictures of where you began. Schedule on your calendar maintenance practices to keep your space as you want it.

I love it when I go into a client's home and see that they are still loving and maintaining the spaces we have completed.

Right now, I have a huge personal project of preparing for a family reunion at my home in June. My big goal is to have my house and yard in the best shape possible. I want everything in place so that I can not only host the reunion but also enjoy it. I am highly motivated as I love my family and am so looking forward to this gathering. My timetable is in place, and my vision is clear.

And, yes, I am motivated!

If you are ready to work on completing or reworking a project and want some tips, encouragement, or accountability join Diane Quintana and me in our Clear Space For You virtual clutter support group. You could complete a small project or set up an organizing plan during the call. The group will offer ideas, support, and gentle accountability for working on developing plans or projects.

Jonda S. Beattie, Professional Organizer owner of Time Space Organization, and co-owner of Release, Repurpose, Reorganize. She is based in the Metro-Atlanta area. As presenter, award-winning author, as well as a retired special education teacher she uses her listening skills, problem solving skills, knowledge of different learning techniques, ADHD specialty, and paper management skills to help clients.