We’ve all been there—scrolling through Instagram, admiring people’s perfect kitchens, and pinning storage ideas on Pinterest for that elusive hall closet transformation. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, thinking we can’t make our homes look anything like those picture-perfect posts.
Social media often leaves us feeling defeated before we even start. If we can’t go out and buy six matching baskets right now, the idea of getting organized seems impossible. The pursuit of perfection becomes a roadblock to decluttering and cleaning because we believe we need the perfect items to make it happen. Hello, procrastination!
Perfectionism is a risk factor for performance anxiety and procrastination. You expect a great performance. You have doubts whether you can achieve perfection. You have an urge to diverge and do something less threatening. You wait until you can be perfect. This is an example of a perfectionism-driven procrastination.
Bill Knaus Ed.D.
Science and Sensibility https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/science-and-sensibility/201003/break-perfectionism-procrastination-connection
But here’s a secret I need to share with you—most of what we see on social media isn’t reality. Sure, it might be someone’s goals and dreams, but rarely is it an accurate representation of real life. Don’t let the illusion of perfection prevent you from creating routines and making your spaces work for you within your budget.
Step one—declutter. You can’t organize clutter, and having an excess of stuff makes organization nearly impossible. Once you’ve narrowed it down to what fits in your space (if it doesn’t fit, you probably have too much), decide how to organize it. Whether it’s baskets, boxes, or Rubbermaid containers, you don’t need to break the bank. I spent most of my life using cardboard boxes—they were free! Don’t let money stop you from being organized; work with what you have.
Keep it simple, especially for kids. Too many specific categories can be frustrating for everyone. The goal is to make things run more smoothly.
If you know you’ll get frustrated and overwhelmed, avoid taking everything out of a room at once. Work on one drawer or closet for 15 minutes, then stop. Don’t pull out more than you can put back in that amount of time. Consistency is key—keep at it, and you’ll see results.
Lastly, stick to your daily routines. Organizing isn’t a one-and-done thing. Consistent routines will help you stay organized and on top of things. Check out the ‘routines’ page here to see those!
Remember, you don’t have to wait until you have all the baskets and all the time in the world to organize. It doesn’t need to be perfect; it just needs to be functional. Don’t let perfection lead to procrastination.
Happy decluttering and organizing with what you have today!
Love you! Elizabeth XOXO
The Self Cleaning House 