Setting Time Goals for De-Cluttering

When you feel really inspired to "get it all done today," the motivation and enthusiasm is a good thing (and clearing a full day on your calendar is admirable, as well) but there's a hidden catch. Most of us severely underestimate the amount of time it's going to take us to get a particular task done. It's very possible (if not likely) that you could have the most productive and successful day imaginable yet still not accomplish everything that you thought you were going to get done. And then, regardless of how much you did accomplish, you'll feel like you've failed to reach your goal.

I recommend setting goals based on the amount of TIME you will put in, not on the amount of SPACE or number of TASKS that you are going to tackle in that time. For example, if you have a full day to tackle the office clutter, that's fantastic. Your goal now is to put in a solid clutter-clearing day on the office mess, and to end the day having made substantial, visible progress, and with a feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction -- even if the job is not entirely completed by the end of the day.

Tackle whatever aspect of that clutter is bugging you the most, first, so you are sure to make progress with that, and move on to other aspects of the job if time allows.

"I finally have a place to put the vacuum cleaner. Isn't it amazing how something so small can mean so much? For 2+ years, I've moved the vacuum from one place to another. And for the most part, it just sat out in the middle of a room. Now it has it's own little spot in an unused space between the drain pipe and shower stall. It's even behind a lovely white curtain."
~ Clutter-Free Forever! support group member