I plan to reorganize my upstairs to create a functional guest room and make the second floor work better overall. I’m easily sidetracked, though — a habit you’ve probably noticed if you’ve followed this blog for a while. I have plenty of ideas and can accomplish many things, but I don’t always follow through on every single one. I often have more ambition than time.
I also suspect I have a bit of organizational and decorating ADD.
Do you remember Sidetracked Home Executives from years ago? If not, the FlyLady community highlights the same playful, relatable approach to staying organized. That book and the Sidetracked Sisters made me laugh because they describe me perfectly. I can set out to complete a project and suddenly get swept away by some enticing new idea that wasn’t part of the plan. That’s classic S.H.E. behavior.
Sometimes I’m distracted by silly, unnecessary but fun rabbit trails. Other times, true interruptions — urgent obligations or family needs — pull me away from finishing a project on schedule.
So if you are like me, how can we stay on track when we start an organizing or decorating project?
Here are two simple, proven strategies to help you finish projects when you tend to get sidetracked.
1. Set realistic goals and deadlines.
Give your project a realistic completion date and a few clear goals. Deadlines tied to an event — like guests coming over — are especially motivating. A real deadline, not just a vague idea of finishing, helps me push through and complete a project.
When necessary I’ve even invented an event (inviting friends for Friday night) so I’d finish by Thursday. As a recovering perfectionist-procrastinator, a near and looming deadline is often the most effective motivator.
2. Keep your focus on what matters most.
Allow interruptions that truly matter — feeding your children, attending to urgent household problems, or other unexpected life events — but avoid starting new projects in the middle of your current one. If you find yourself tempted to begin a fresh task while the main project is incomplete, gently steer yourself back to your priorities.
Real life happens: the dog might make a mess, a relative could arrive unexpectedly, or friends might drop by. These are valid reasons to pause and are part of normal life. Allow time for such interruptions and remain flexible in your timeline.
However, don’t derail your main goal by chasing a shiny new task — like organizing 22 years of photos — when your priority is setting up a guest room and repurposing closets. That kind of rabbit trail will prevent you from completing the project you actually set out to do.
My solution for rabbit trails is simple: keep a notebook of ideas and tasks to tackle after your current project is finished. Jot down the tempting detours so you can revisit them later without losing momentum on the main job.
Are you easily sidetracked?
Share your sidetracked stories — I’d love to hear them so I know I’m not alone. In my case, this week I’ve had just about everything interrupt my progress: unexpected visitors, household mishaps, and other demands all landed in the middle of my project.
