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What is your biggest

distraction when trying to

get organized?

by Maria Gracia Published on December 1, 2024 Join our newsletter to be notified when new content is added to our website. In a GON Reader Poll, we asked, “What is your biggest distraction when trying to get organized?” Here’s how our readers responded: 23% The Overwhelm Avalanche 18% Other 17% The Wandering Mind (Can’t Stay Focused) 17% The Never Ending TO DO List (Work and Other Commitments) 12% The Where to Begin Mystery 7% The Family Circus (Kids, Pets, or Partners in Need) 6% The Screen Siren’s Call (Social Media and TV) Here are a whole bunch of personal reader comments in response to this poll… • I pick up something, go to put it in the proper place and then get distracted with something that is there. I call it my squirrel brain! I’ve started using a basket and putting anything that doesn’t belong in the place that I am organizing in it. Then when I’m done with that area, I carry it around and either put the item in its place or the room it belongs in. If that room/area needs tidying, I will tackle it next or schedule a time to do it. This helps control the squirrel! • Can't choose between the family circus, never-ending to-do list, nightly cleaning routines, and the wandering mind which has been happening more and more lately...sighhhh! • Sadly, all of the above. • There are several! The Overwhelm Avalanche, which leads to the Where to Begin Mystery, which then leads to the Wandering Mind and ends up with just sitting down with a cup of coffee and contemplating!! • My health. I have to pace myself and I do get things done, just not as fast as I used to be able to. • A mix between Never-ending-to-do list and Overwhelm Avalanche! • The Never-Ending-to-Do list, the Overwhelm Avalanche and the Wandering Mind. • A good book! • Both "Where to Begin?" and finding time with the "Never-ending To Do List." • Lazy! • All of the above!! "If it's not one thing, it's another!" • Too much appreciation for inherited items and photos in a small house. • Combination of the where to begin, overwhelm avalanche, and the wandering mind! All 3! • Anything else that catches my eye! • Underestimating the time it complete a task. • I try to do too many things. I make a list, but still get bogged down. • Where to begin, Overwhelm, and the Wandering Mind…all together as one big issue!! • All of the above! I'm overwhelmed and don't know where to begin. So, I procrastinate with family, to-do's and with social media! • I stop and read everything. • I usually see an interesting site. Then I start reading it. Then that progresses to more interesting data. Then 2 hours have lapsed. I can be a time waster. • The outdoors. I'd much rather be outdoors or out with friends then indoors organizing. • I don't know what to keep and what to get rid of. • Procrastination. • You should have included an “all of the above” option. As I was reading the choices, my mind was going yes, yes and yes for that reason too. • Too many squirrels run through my house. • Like one of your readers who commented in the last poll, I get started on a project and make some serious headway, then something comes up that derails me, and I may not get back to that project – for a month or a year, if ever. • Nothing - I’m very focused when I get started, often to the detriment of my health, whoops! • Where to begin AND feeling overwhelmed Back to Web Poll Results Index