To Get Started, Stop

You might have declared, “This year will be THE year I get organized!” Excellent! There is nothing like the rush of a new year to capitalize on excitement and propel ourselves forward with incredible momentum. We will succeed!
 
Try something that might sound odd at first blush. Stop before you start.
 
More explicitly, pause. Take some time to think about exactly why you want to get organized. Grab a pen and paper and write down the reason. Now, dig deeper. Then deeper again. Why? That more significant reasoning is often a more powerful motivation than our first reason. That more substantial reason is the gold that will keep you going.
 
Here is how it might play out:
John wants to organize his dining room table to serve meals there once again. He briefly examines this because he can think of ten other projects he would rather do than tame the mountainous topography on the tabletop.
 
Each time he asks why, he uncovers a more in-depth reason. Ultimately, he realizes that clearing the table means he has space to invite his nephews to his home. They share his love of cooking. Their mutual interest will help him get to know them better before they head off to school.
 
Clearing the dining room table becomes exponentially more meaningful to John because it will deepen his bonds with his nephews and create great memories. He discovers that starting and maintaining progress becomes painless because he is more emotionally invested than he was with his first reason.
 
What is your why? Give this exercise a go as John did. You might be surprised to find how much energy the pause generates!