Do you ever find yourself avoiding tasks? Whether it is fear, anxiety, and/or dread keeping us from getting the job done, we are all guilty of procrastination.
I learned a long time ago that ACTION is far more beneficial and rewarding than AVOIDANCE.
My first ActiveRain post was on this subject. Michael Jacobs recently commented on that post and brought it to my attention when he commented on it. Thank you, Michael for that!
I think it is worth sharing again...
January 6, 2008
Is Anxiety Stealing Your Valuable Time?
This is my first attempt at blogging. I have no background in writing and the process is very intimidating to me. I have been procrastinating at getting started. As a professional stager and lifelong "do it when it needs to get done" person, it is unlike me to put off completion of a task. My attitude and advice to others has always been that the best way to relieve stress over doing something is just to go ahead and do it.
Performing the act we dread is no where near as painful as the anticipation of performing the act. So, it is with the realization that I should take my own advice that I take on this writing experience.
I had a client who needed assistance bringing her home in order. She didn't know where to begin. Since most of her day is spent working from a home office, I decided to start there. The room is small and was extremely cluttered. She hated the lack of organization, but she was overwhelmed at the idea of attempting to organize this room.
I suggested we take one step at a time and that we start with her filing cabinet. She was convinced that everything in the cabinet was important, but reluctantly agreed to see if she could purge anything. She was very surprised at just how much she was storing there that she no longer needed.
As the trash bags filled, she got more and more excited. After reclaiming seventy-five percent of the cabinet space, she became motivated and inspired to tackle the closet. Using the newly found storage space, we were able to organize and declutter the room.
Next, we removed all the pictures and miscellaneous items she had tacked and taped to the walls and replaced them with inspirational art work. We rearranged the furniture and replaced the dead plants with fresh flowers. The room was transformed from a crowded, cluttered and depressing space to one of organization and tranquility.
Days later she called to let me know how much her life had improved. The sense of accomplishment and pride she felt from improving that room motivated her to take on other rooms that she had neglected. She only wished she had acted sooner and hadn't allowed anxiety to steal so much of her valuable time.
We all have unpleasant or daunting things on our to-do list that we avoid. Unfortunately, avoidance gives them power over us. Every time we pass by the cluttered room, or the stack of paperwork or the incomplete home improvement project we feel anxious.
Next time you find yourself worrying or complaining over something you don't want to do or worse yet, fear to do....consider action as the solution.
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