Worse before It Gets Better

I absolutely love the end result of a deep house cleaning project. I don't mind the work. Sorting possessions - keep, toss donate. Sucking up all the dust and pet fur out of the carpet with the vacuum. Scrubbing and cleaning everything in sight. The crisp cleanness, the lack of clutter, I absolutely love it!

But in the middle, of the cleaning, just when it feels like I should be almost done, everything looks worse than when I started. The piles and clutter have multiplied exponentially. It is one of the most frustrating feelings. At that moment, I feel so overwhelmed.

When going through life transitions - whether it is a change of my own choosing or not - too often part way through we begin to feel just like that. We've been focusing on what we can control. We are keeping ourselves focused and positive. Yet it feels like everything has become even worse than we started.

Here are some tips I've found useful in getting through the frustration.

1. Stop for A Moment and Breath. When we begin to feel overwhelmed, taking a moment to focus on our breathing can help us to clear our mind. This short break can allow us to regain our drive and motivation. It will also help reduce any sense of stress we may be experiencing.
2. Divide the Task into Smaller Chunks. We  most like mapped out a plan in our minds or on paper that we are following. When things begin to feel overwhelming, further driving the plan into even smaller pieces allows us to see progress quickly. This helps to shift us emotionally back to seeing the positive.
3. Celebrate the Victories No Matter How Small. By celebrating our victories - even the smallest ones - help build emotional momentum. This is essential in carrying us through to see the change to the end. 
4. Finally, Don't Give Up. It is possible to triumph if only we don't give up. 

So, we buckle down; keep breathing; make the process manageable and never give up. And in the end, we end up with a crisp clean space, so to speak.