I’m a pretty organized, focused little gal. People who know me use less kind terminology, like “intense,” “bordering on obsessive,” and “freaky list-maker and notebook-keeper.” Whatever. They are just jealous of my awesome organizational skills and my ability to get things done.

Although I have a system, don’t lack focus, and I prefer my own way of doing things, I am still drawn to other people’s ideas for organizing and list-making and guides to getting things accomplished. Maybe I just need to be certain that my way still fits my needs. Or maybe it’s the vicarious thrill of reading about someone else getting their life organized, accomplishing tasks and projects, and crossing items off of their lists. Some people watch p*rn or the Food Network, I read about different organizing tactics.

Large projects tend to be the most frequent overwhelmers of humans. Overcoming clutter or the lack of a solid To Do list can be dealt with, but being faced with writing a paper, a thesis, a dissertation or a book can stop most humans in their tracks. There’s so much to do, no one ever knows where to start.

It seems ridiculous to start anywhere, because none of the places small enough to finish in a day seem consequential enough to make any sort of dent in the project. The little stuff seems as pointless as carrying the beach back to the ocean one spoonful at a time, and the big stuff seems impossible.

Humans think too much; ants just start building the anthill. Although, ants don’t have roller coasters or cotton candy. We have angst and teeth-gnashing, but we get the fun. My daughter has an ant farm, and I have seen no evidence of any fun being had on (in) the ant farm.

Pamela Slim wrote a post explaining how she dealt with “hitting a wall” while writing her book Escape From Cubicle Nation. She got to a point where she was inundated with accumulated information and work still to be done. In the article she outlines the plan she came up with that enabled her to keep going and finish the book. It’s simple and practical and would be of use to any poor bastard at the overwhelming beginning or the inundated middle of a huge project.

Posted by Alexa Harrington

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