You decide that it’s time to tidy up your home. You are full of enthusiasm and energy. But after a while you hardly see a dent in the batteries. You get discouraged and you give up.

If you’ve made any of the mistakes below, you could be sabotaging yourself. Learn what to do instead and you are on your way to success!

Mistake 1: Tackling big jobs without a plan.

First you jump off your feet and start ordering. You take everything out of the closet and throw it in a big pile.

You underestimate the amount of time and effort it takes. No wonder you get discouraged and quit smoking.

What to do instead: Make a plan. Divide a big job into smaller jobs.

  • Set a timer for 15 minutes and work in a small area at a time. Schedule those 15 minutes on your calendar to remind you to do this every day.
  • Plan to work in one part of the room, closet, etc. at once. Complete the order and cleaning of one section before moving on to another.

Mistake 2: Letting perfectionism make you procrastinate.

Do you keep putting off your tidying project because you don’t have a lot of time to work on it? Can’t get started because you haven’t found the right kind of storage boxes or shelves yet? If you’re procrastinating because it’s not the perfect time or the perfect storage containers, then you’re letting your perfectionism stop you before you even start.

What to do instead: The best way to overcome procrastination and perfectionism is to start small and with the easy stuff. Use a timer or even commercial breaks during your TV show.

1. Start by putting obvious trash in the trash can or recycling bin.

  • old newspapers
  • junk mail
  • all kinds of empty food wrappers
  • empty soda bottles
  • empty packages, bags, etc.

2. Clean items that belong to other rooms. Collect them in a laundry hamper and take them to the room where they belong.

Mistake 3: Doing it alone.

You know that you are smart enough to figure out how to clear the clutter once and for all. But every time you start a project you end up getting discouraged and quit.

It is embarrassing to ask for help. You don’t want anyone to think that you are a failure.

What to do instead: The formula for ordering and losing weight is the same. Calories in vs. calories out. Things come home vs. things that come out of the house. It is a simple concept but difficult for most people to do without help.

Help comes in many forms.

  • Self-education: books, blogs, articles, etc.
  • Personal help: friends, family
  • Virtual support and encouragement: Twitter groups, Facebook pages, blogs, forums
  • Professional virtual help: e-courses, individual emails
  • Professional Organizer Help: Phone Calls, Practice at Your Home
  • Occupational Therapist – Find someone who works with emotional issues that cause excess clutter and hoarding.

Remember that the turtle crossed the finish line constantly taking one small step at a time.