I’ve had a pile of papers in a box on my dining room table (or in the spare room when I have company over for dinner) for months. It’s daunting. I am overwhelmed. Basic tasks are fraught with intense emotion. Part of me wishes I could temporarily shut off those emotions like a light switch just so I can get things done, but I’m not made that way.
Instead, I hack my own brain. I bought the prettiest file folders I could find here in town. I told myself, just sort things into piles and deal with the very easiest thing first–the water bill, paid up, and in a pretty blue and white folder with the word “WATER” written in a blue sharpie. So rather than thinking of paperwork as just another heinous chore, it’s now an art project too. Excellent! I literally whooped and hollered (best possible description) all over my house after this first step. Go Becci, go!
Because of that one little step, I could take more steps and organize a few more things. I even tackled two really big projects this weekend, one with my sister and one by myself. We finished one yesterday and I finished the other this morning. I write this not to pat myself on the back (well, yes, there’s a little of that), but I also want to acknowledge how human it is to feel this way. While my fraught tasks may not be yours, I affirm how hard it is to do some seemingly simple things. And I also want to shout from the rooftops, take a tiny thing and celebrate like a loon when you conquer it.
Feryl Files 
Go you! You know, I might have to go the pretty folder route. We used to be organized, but then Mr. Chaos took over the finances (which he handles very well – he just doesn’t handle paper well. Or at all.). Thanks for the idea!
LikeLiked by 1 person