I have never been a procrastinator. Typically, I rush in and fix it, do it or at least sit and draft a plan from A to B then start executing it as quickly as possible. I don’t like the feeling of things on my todo list.

The Basement from Hell

However, before I decided I sell my house, I had this problem. My basement was full of junk that we had accumulated over the past fourteen years. I mean it was jam-packed full of stuff including furniture, books, toys, and equipment. Every time I went down there to do laundry, I felt suffocated by the enormous weight of the task. I had a plan to fill up one garbage bag a week and slowly clean it out. The thing is, I made that plan three years ago, and I couldn’t even start with one bag.

Now that the pressure was on to start showing my house, I panicked. I had no idea how that basement would get cleaned out in time. My friend started calling around to see if we could find a couple of guys to take care of it. We even rented a Uhaul. I started feeling stressed about the project, and so did my good friend, and I decided this was not the best solution.

Spiritual Guidance Points the Way

So, I prayed about it and asked for spiritual guidance for a better way. It’s funny sometimes how the help arrives. I started off exploring the possibility of renting an air purifier. So while I was trolling Craigslist for rental equipment, the answer dawned on me. Perhaps there was a cheaper solution than calling that 1800Junk company who charges a fortune. I searched online and found a dozen different guys who do what they do for a fraction of the cost. I set it up, and in one day my basement was emptied of fourteen years of stuff. They even threw in the piles of brush out front too!

Big Hassle, Checked off the List in One Day

Another thing I have had on my list for ages was touch-up painting around the house. It was not a high priority until now. Through my friend, I found a cheap, quick painter. He came in yesterday and by the time he left my house, it looked shiny and brand new.

These two items I put off for years! I couldn’t take that first step, and as soon as I did, within a week these two big projects were done. It’s hard not to get down on myself about waiting, but it was a good lesson. If you want to get from here to there, you have to take that first step to start.

Start Somewhere, Anywhere

If you have been thinking about switching jobs, don’t dwell on all the details. Just do one thing to start, maybe check out ads online or send out one resume to see what happens. Or if you haven’t even typed up your resume, start there.

Maybe you have been pondering the idea of improving some aspect of your personality. Well, you aren’t going to get there by doing nothing. Buy that self-help book, listen to those YouTubes and start somewhere.

If you have been dreaming about moving to a different area or that picturesque house on a lake, take one step towards that dream. Call a realtor or meet with your banker to see how much you can afford or how much your house is worth. You might be shocked once you start that things start to go in the positive direction you want them to. Keep your eye on the prize while taking each small step towards the goal.

Like Nike Says, Just Do It!

It is hard, stressful and sometimes scary to tackle those big projects or goals but if you cannot even start, you will never get them completed. Take it from me, one small step in the right direction can quickly gain momentum until you are not only on the path but done and moved on to better things.