Reply To: afraid to start afraid of being interrupted

[blackdog]

Hi @malaika

I know what you mean. When I get interrupted I either never get back to what I was doing or forget that I was doing it. And it feel like I am constantly interrupted, even though I actually have lots of time to do things.

 

The 15 minute trick can work for larger jobs too. I have found it very helpful. What I do is break the job down into smaller steps, as small as possible, things that can be done in ten minutes, and I write it down. So instead of “Clean Living Room”, which seems like a daunting task that I just don’t know how to even start, I have something like this:

1) Declutter: Pick up all papers and put in recycling, remove anything that doesn’t belong in the living room. (10 mins)

2) Vacuum (5 mins)

3) Dust: TV, chairs, walls, ceiling fan, china cabinet (10 mins)

And so on. And I only spend 10 minutes on each job and then move on, whether I am finished or not. I can come back later and finish if necessary. But I have discovered that I almost always can finish each job within the set time.

Now, that won’t work for something like painting the walls. But what I would suggest there is decide on a day that it is going to be done and then make sure there is nothing else to be done that day. Let the phone go to voicemail, don’t turn on the TV or the computer or anything else that might distract you.  Then make sure you are prepared before you start so that everything will go smoothly. Have all your supplies laid out ready to go, the furniture covered/moved etc. Then get started on it first thing, as soon as you are awake and feeling energetic enough. Don’t do anything else.

I also sort of get myself psyched up when I have something big to do. For example, thinking about how the walls are going to look so nice with a beautiful fresh coat of paint on them, how it’s going to look so much better with the new colour, how good I’m going to feel when the job is done, etc.

As for art, I’m open to suggestions. I rarely manage to get started on a project and never finish when I do.

Also, take it easy on yourself. Do what you can and don’t worry about the rest. The more you worry the harder it will be to get started. If you are dreading it then you will automatically start to distract yourself and keep putting it off. You have to jump in and get started. There will be plenty of time to worry later. 🙂

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