I have a lot of experience as a professional organizer working with people who struggle to get things done. I have heard every excuse known to mankind. And, yes, it’s difficult to stay motivated once the excitement of beginning a new project wears off.
While I can’t share the more colorful excuses because this is a family newspaper, I can reveal the more common excuses.
I don’t have time.
How much time is spent constantly searching for things? The honest answer is you’ve made other choices, probably very good ones, but other choices nonetheless.
I don’t know how to do the next step.
This is one of the most difficult roadblocks. It takes discipline and research to find the answers. Whether or not you take the time and effort to figure it out will influence your decision a great deal on whether you should continue with the project at all.
I feel guilty about quitting because the supplies cost so much or I’ve spent so much time already.
Guilt is a problem. The truth is the money is already gone and isn’t coming back no matter how long the project sits there.
My husband/wife/mother-in-law/friend/child/distant cousin will kill me if I throw it out.
Hundreds of clients who have said the same thing to me are still alive, so that should give you some comfort.
Ultimately, you have to be honest with yourself and be disciplined. Ask yourself what you will do, not what you want or hope or dream you will do. Hope is a wonderful thing, but an inch of dust on the pile of papers is evidence hope isn’t enough.
Be realistic. Perhaps your life has changed in some way that doesn’t leave energy to finish that project. Learn from your mistakes. Start what you will finish.
Nancy Nemitz’s website is createthespace.com. She’s not on social media, so to comment, email nancy@createthespace.com. Her just released children’s book, The Boy With A Golden Heart, is available on Amazon. Support independent and local authors.