Getting used to it...

You know what`s one of the worst thing about putting off unfinished jobs?

You`ll get used to it.

I have noticed this phaenomenon a few times.

When I moved in with my now-husband I took an instant dislike to the old-fashioned furniture (and several other things). I however felt that I could not immediately start criticising the home he was about to share with me and decided to accept its state for the time being. And very quickly, it stopped bothering me. This was it, and I truely accepted it. Only once in a wee while (usually when we were about to have visitors!) I was able to see our home, furniture etc with new eyes and noticed its flaws again. It took a long time to get round to fix some of them, and some are still not done. (I am living here for 9 years this summer.)

Another example: 2 years ago, the fence which separates our garden from our  neighbours` got damaged in a storm. It fell towards his garden and hubby husband managed to temporarily fix the problem by attaching it to our cherry tree with a piece of string. After a few weeks I got exasperated and asked him to do the job properly, adding that he would be joking about this string if it was on the other side. He promised time and time again and never fixed it yet. He asked his friend to help who cancelled twice (for good reasons). The fence remains attached to the tree. It`s a horrible sight, but generally, I don`t notice it any more. I still have to dodge it every time I walk to our compost bin but still, I no longer see the string.

The longer you leave a job (whatever that is - clutter, stained carpets, stained wallpaper, fixing something broken, cleaning your windows or car) the more likely you are to continue to put it off. If you fix it as soon as it happens (but certainly while it is still annoying you), you get the job out of the road and avoid this trap.

Now, take a pen and paper and note down what has been annoying you, for whatever long a time, room by room. Add to it as you see things. Walk around your home and try to see it as if you have never been here before. And then start to get things done! There are small things which can be done immediately (such as fixing or throwing out something broken) and there are some things which require more planning and time, like redecorating and anything else which involved parting with money. But try to get things done as of now! The job won`t go away!