Stop Procrastinating!

Confession, I’m a perfectionist. Which means I’m also a procrastinator. Let me explain.

I often don’t want to do a task, like going through storage containers, if I can’t do it perfectly, so I put off doing it. I am also afraid of getting rid of things for fear that I might need it later, or someone else might need it later.

I have these two storage containers. I purchased them maybe 20 years ago. The taller one I bought to store gift bags and tissue paper. I also used it to store birthday party items.

I haven’t thrown a birthday party for either of my children in probably 10-15 years. I still have that one drawer with the same things in it. Why am I holding on to those things? 

The shorter storage container I probably purchased at the same time as the other one but I gave it to my daughter to use. At some point, she decided she did want it anymore so it was moved into my office. 

I couldn’t get rid of it, because I’m a keeper. What if my daughter changed her mind and wanted it back? I’ve had it for, I’m guessing 10 years. 

For the most part, I have found a good use for it. I have scrapbooking/cardmaking supplies (I don’t do either so why do I have supplies?) in one drawer. In the other drawers of the shorter container there are décor items and stuff to be shredded. One drawer has stuff in it that I have no idea what to do with. 

Back in elementary school, I was given books of the four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. I don’t remember who gave them to me or why. I think they were given to me either at Sunday School or Camp for memorizing Bible verses. I’m not sure. But I do know, whenever I see these four little books they bring a warm feeling to my heart, a feeling of ‘I’m worth something’, ‘I can do something important’. Very strong feelings are evoked when I see those four little books. I can’t really explain it.

I have never used those books as I have a Bible with all the books. Yet, I have held onto those four little gospel books for possibly 45-50 years. 

Many times I have thought of donating them but couldn’t bring myself to do it. Today is the day. I am going to put them in the box labeled “Donate”. 

My goal for the storage units, is to go through the bottom drawer of the taller container and donate, garbage, recycle, find a new home for everything except one item in the drawer that I use every June.

My daughter’s birthday is in June. So, every June, I take out the sticky ‘Happy Birthday’ decoration and put it up. At the end of June, I take it down and put it away, back in the drawer. I never look to see what else is in that drawer.

Today is the day. I am going to go through everything in that drawer and find a new home for those items, except for the sticky “Happy Birthday” decoration. I’m keeping that.

Next, I’ll go through the other storage container and do the same thing as I am going to do with the one drawer of the tall container. 

The ultimate goal is to be able to get rid of most of the items from the short container and the bottom drawer of the tall container. Whatever is left needs to fit in the bottom drawer of the tall container.

The hardest part of this project is starting. I am going to give myself 30 minutes to complete this task. The items that I haven’t decided what to do with will go into a re-useable bag for a later time. I will add that to my calendar so I don’t forget about it. 

Here I go…

Mission accomplished in less than 30 minutes. The short container is empty. The bottom drawer of the tall container has a few items in it. I’ll go through it again in a year and maybe I can let go of more.

You know, it was actually kind of fun. I made and posted an Instagram story about it. Sorry if you missed it.

It feels so good to finally let go of those things that I have been holding on to for SO. MANY. YEARS! Maybe my next blog will be about some of the possible reasons why I held on to those items for SO long.

What am I going to do with the empty storage container, you ask? Good question. 

A few months ago, my husband brought home a boxes of stuff from work his office. He didn’t know where to store these things. So, the container has a new home in his home office. 

For months, I have been thinking of emptying that container and moving it out of my office. It was taking up space. I knew didn’t really need it. Knowing that my husband could use it gave me extra motivation to clean it out.

Do you have a container or drawer that you need to go through and declutter? Stop procrastinating and just start! It will probably take less time to go through it than you think. Please send me an email if you need help sorting and decluttering. The feeling of accomplishment you will have when it’s done…is a beautiful thing!