Getting Across the Finish Line

 I have had this experience with two people close to me (not organizing clients) in the last week that led me to write this blog. I think that most of use from time to time have not finished something. It could be as big as a degree from College to the laundry. Whatever it is, we didn’t finish it. But what about the person who on a daily basis fifty percent of the time or more does not finish what they start? Is that you or someone you know? In this blog, I will cover the reasons and give some actionable steps to get across the finish line.

Why is finishing tasks a struggle?

1. It becomes boring. Dopamine, the chemical in the brain known to be important for motivation drops off at some point during the task.
   • EX: You have started to fold the laundry and end up on the phone watching videos on social media of people, places and things way more fun that what you are having.
   • (Put on music or a podcast when you are doing a mundane task, it helps to move it along.)
2. It’s not that important to the person trying to complete the task. What is important to me may not be important to you. This creates a lack of connection. The brain is not cued in yet.
   • EX: Telling your child to clean their room can be a struggle because it is important to you and not the child.
   • (Depending on the age of the child, this could be a basic chore and reward for completion could be helpful. Doesn’t have to be monetary, it could be video game time or other other social activity.)

3.  Overwhelmed. What seemed like a good idea quickly turned into a feeling of “what did I just get myself into?” This changes the entire way the brain looks at this task. For many, it shifts into 10,000 reasons I can’t do this.
   • (Start small to acquire measurable progress)
   • EX: I will go through one area of my closet to see if there is anything I can donate. This is much easier to manage than going through the whole closet. It also has a start and end point that helps to track progress.

4. Perfectionism. This is the inability to complete the task because it will be less than perfect.
   • (Let go of the “perfect” anything. Focus on making the task a percentage better or good enough for the time being. Perfection will never come.)
   • “We don’t need perfection, we need completion.” That is my quote!

5.  Issues with time. The struggle is in the relationship of how long it takes to do something and how much time is available to to actually do it.
   • EX: Trying to empty the dishwasher before you leave the house in the morning before work can only be successful if you know how long it actually takes.
   • (Time yourself putting away a full load of dishes from the dishwasher in order to have a reference when you need a reminder.) 

ACTION ACTION, LET’S TAKE ACTION!

1. Create check lists for your most commonly done tasks. Go step by step- check off each step as it is completed. This will be basic training for the brain and very helpful in the completion of bigger tasks or projects as well.
2. Practice mindfulness. When in a task, keep your head in it, eve if you have to talk yourself through it. When I catch myself moving from an uncompleted task to start a new one, I tell myself “stay”. It is short and to the point. Create a word or phrase that brings you back to focusing on the task at hand.
3. Keep the end in mind. This can sometimes take many reminders. Why do I need to put the dishes away? By answering this, meaning behind the task has been created and you have built a connection.
4. Set a timer. Timers work for so many things. I use them when writing blogs! When using a timer you are increasing Dopamine levels in the brain. They work well ages 6-90. One additional tip is to make a game of it, how fast can you complete the task?
5. Reward for completion and only completion. This does not have to cost a dime. Be creative!

We have all experienced a little need for motivation from time and time and I think the information here is beneficial to everyone. However, it definitely can help those  who can’t seem to to finish what they start. This applies to everything in our lives. At least having the awareness you have now can be the beginning to your success.