How to Stop Flitting from Place to Place and Task to Task

Stay in one Place.

While decluttering, stay in one place. If you come across something that belongs in another room, put it in a "Put-Aways" box or bin just outside the door of the room in which you're working, and put it away later.

Finish what you start

Multi-tasking is not healthy! When we try to do more than one thing at once, our attention is divided, and nothing gets done quickly or well. Do one thing at a time. Finish what you start. Envision having blinders on, keeping you focused where you are. Unfinished things tell you nasty lies like, you’re not good enough, or you’re not capable of keeping up with things. Finished things make us feel great, telling us “You’re in control”.

Your timer is your friend

To combat flitting, set a timer for 15 minutes and carry it with you if you’re moving around the house or office. When the timer rings, check in with yourself. Are you doing what you’re supposed to be doing? Are you making good progress? Are you even where you’re supposed to be? (Don’t laugh, this happens all the time!) Or have you gotten off track? Do you need a break? Take one if you need it. Then simply refocus, reset the timer, and do it again. The timer is not a harsh, critical voice. Instead, it’s your friend, gently reminding you to stay on track.

Talk to yourself out loud

As you’re working on a task, tell yourself, “My job is to ______. I’m finishing _______.” Keep repeating these phrases until the task is done. When you complete a task (yay!), ask yourself, “What’s next? What’s the best way to spend my time now?” Make a conscious decision about what to move on to. This will take some practice, so don’t be hard on yourself.

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