Facing Ambivalence or Ambiguity

Do you ever feel stuck when attempting to tackle an organizing project? We find that it is often either resistance or vagueness, or both. Let’s dig into what’s behind both of these common emotions.

Ambivalence

Ambivalence is that feeling of resistance one gets thinking about getting started. You’re stuck between “I should do it” and “I don’t want to do it.” Don’t worry, most organizing tasks come with some amount of this feeling. Organizing requires some effort and discomfort, but the progress you see will propel you. Why bother? Ask yourself:

• Why are you doing it? 

• What are the benefits? 

• How would accomplishing this task affect your future self? Will it save you time or frustration?

If you’re not doing this for yourself, then the benefits to someone else may be reason enough. 

Remember, it doesn’t have to be fun to be worthwhile. Staying in touch with your “why” can give you the motivation to get through your resistance.

Ambiguity

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Ambiguity is the feeling of vagueness around wanting change but not being sure what to do and how to go about it. Start with clarifying the job at hand (or even one small part of the job at hand):

• What does done look like? What is the end goal?

• What tiny task can get the project started?

• What help do you need? 

• What questions do you have? 

Knowing that lack of clarity and information can drive procrastination, start by getting answers to all your questions – can I donate this? Is it recyclable? How long do I need to keep these papers? Google is your friend, and so are your trusted advisors, like a professional organizer, accountant and your local recycle center. 

Allow yourself to work in increments as small as needed to get through both your ambivalence and your ambiguity. Understand that a problem well defined is a problem half solved. Once you’ve clarified your motivation and specific tasks, you’re on your way to getting the job done.