What Exactly Is Procrasticlutter?
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- Опубліковано 9 лют 2025
- I talk about procrasticlutter a lot, so I thought it deserved its own video with an explanation/definition of what it is. If you deal with your procrasticlutter, the space looks better. If you don't, the space won't look good no matter how much other work you do.
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I have a pile of bills and stuff on my kitchen counter that drives me crazy! Tonight I plan to deal with it! You’re right, it makes the rest of the kitchen look messy.
Update: it took 20 minutes! Now the goal is to keep it this way!!!
Update #2: walking into my kitchen this morning, the first thing I noticed was the pile is gone and that it looks so good! 🙂
Update #3 - I’ve keep my counter cleared off for 2 months! It really makes a difference with my anxiety level!
Dana, I want to express to you how much you have helped me. We had family visiting this past weekend. To get the house cleaned properly (expectations were HIGH), it usually takes me DAYS. I was able to get everything cleaned on Friday and take care of last-minute cleaning on Saturday morning (like dusting the living room & cleaning bathrooms). I was so happy. I was actually able to enjoy the visit since I wasn't completely wiped out! Guys, her tips really work!! Also, incorporating daily habits that control the mess has been a lifesaver. Once it becomes a habit, they are really no big deal. Just keep at it!!
Yes. Dana’s method is GENIUS!❤
Agreed!
I’m getting closer to this all the time. 😉
I love listening to Dana!!!
I will finally be doing the ’all day clean’ this Saturday.
I’ve been trying to be a part of that for a year and this time I am trying to catch up on all the past ‘all day clean’ recordings!
It’s already making such a difference!!!
That's awesome!
Yesss! I had this experience too and was able to sit in the intense gratitude of having my home finally under control!
SInce we moved in (in 1992) we had problems with the light fixtures in the hall. Last year (2022) I screamed "Guts!" and installed plain LED ones instead, and it took just a day for all (including drilling holes in concrete). 30 years of procrastination and 1 day of actual work.
If you haven't read Dana's books, don't short yourself any longer. They are fascinating, informative, and funny, and I never thought I'd say that about a book on cleaning/organizing/decluttering! Thank you, Dana!
The audiobooks are wonderful too - she reads them herself!
I agree. I listen to them while I work on my house. 😊
Yes!!! Literally changes our lives ❤
I do better listening to the books after I get in bed. Loke ti be still and really listen! The videos I listen too while I get things done. Love love Dana
Oh look! Something I need to watch as I avoid what I need to be doing… 😂
Paper is my nemesis. Also; poverty mindset.
What I'm loving most about this process is, even though I'm only doing little bits, I'm seeing my home again. I'm more tempted to grab a trash bag and sift through a bin for five minutes - it's less overwhelming to look at with just that! My procrasticlutter is clothes, paper, and dust. I'm working on it!
I literally have your voice telling me "Take It There Now" whenever I don't feel like doing something. 😊
These tips are very really - especially good to hear that things don't usually take as long!
Me too! Take it there now is on repeat in my head!
Me too. Dana's voice in my head, saying, "No, do it now" is very annoying, but I go do it! Thanks, Mom (Dana)! 😊❤
Same! And there are way fewer piles of things everywhere as a result!
The other day I day I didn’t want to sweep my kitchen floor because it’s a chore I despise. So, I timed myself. It took me 4 minutes and 26 seconds to sweep it really thoroughly!!! I’m so glad I remembered Dana’s tip to time myself!!! 😊😊😊
One of my procrasticlutters was me and my husband's cloths with holes that needed mending or missing buttons. Now every time I put away laundry go ahead and sew stuff right away! Always takes about two minutes 😂😂😂😂 sooo worth it 😅😅 lots of love from Brazil ❤🇧🇷
Setting a timer and a time limit has been a big help for me. Recently I had to help a family member with government paperwork. I was dreading it because it looked confusing and intimidating, but there was an important deadline involved. So confusing that I needed to make a phone call to the agency...so dreaded that too. I decided to chip away at this 50 minutes a day until I got it done. Made the phone call ... Took less than 10 minutes including waiting in queue. Filled out the forms and put in the envelope (no postage required!), And took it to the mailbox. Done in less than 50 minutes, including putting extra papers in shred box.
You have helped me to start catching myself. Whenever I have the thought of "I'll deal with that later" I stop and say, "Nope! NOW." It's with everything, not even just decluttering; stuff on my computer, creative projects, etc. THANKS, Dana!
I’ve done that a few times just this evening! I put the the stuff away right then!
"I'm going to smile because I feel like I'm getting really intense."
*SMILES INTENSELY*
😂😂😂 Love it!!!
I would have hired someone as well. I've learned that many times, i spend more money trying to do it myself. Whereas a professional, who knows what they are doing, have the correct tools, knowledge, & skill & are able to do what is needed quickly, efficiently, & save alot of headache. 😊
Yes. As an added bonus, whoever you hire will more than likely be a local business 😁
My procrasticlutter is always paper. I know I'm procrastinating when my desk gets piled up with undealt with mail.
Then I had a big discussion with myself about my fantasy self. If I haven't finished a half-done hobby project in a couple years, I have to decide not only if I'm going to put the time and energy into finishing it, but if I even WANT to finish it. Often the answer is NO. There's a reason I haven't finished it. It's usually not a free time issue. Going on a 'No Buy' for hobby supplies has been the best decision ever.
YES!!!! SAME!!!! Ermagersh! This is my struggle too!!!!
I am working through that fantasy self open/possible projects like painting something I thrifted to be able to actually use it. My best habit for paper clutter related to mai si to deal with most of it before I even bring it into my house. The few items that make their way in get dealt with within 24 hours if not immediately then get shredded or filed. Items for other family members go in their bedside tables. Happy decluttering- it's definitely a daily effort that pays off big. ☮️🌞
So we had an unexpected Saturday off (our 6 year old is at the grandparents’, lol), and I’m sitting here watching this video, folding our mountain of laundry *in the living room*, feeling bad I’m not taking care of more “important” or “pressing” chores- boy did this video make me feel better! Thanks Dana!
I always thought Procrasticlutter was the clutter you procrastinate on because you Don't know exactly what to do with it. Homeless clutter.
I do understand procrastinating on things because of TPAD, so very real, but the homeless stuff is another story.
So appreciate you and all of your wisdom.
Blessings to you❣
TPAD?
TPAD stands for Time Passage Awareness Disorder- a term Dana made up that she has meaning not being aware of how much time it takes to do things.
Procrasticlutter sufferer here too...dealing with it NOW has a huge impact!! Thank you Dana for the reminder!! ❤️🤗
8:40 Love this video as I think about the 4 Amazon packages, (ie procrasticlutter) by the front door. 🙄🤦🏻♀️ REGARDING DOG FOOD CONTAINERS. I learned this years ago and it really helped. Don't pour the food directly into the bin. Get a bin large enough to put the entire bag in the bin and open the bag. UNLESS YOU CLEAN THE BIN regularly between each bag. If not, it's just like storing sandwiches in the same plastic bag on the kitchen counter over and over without changing out the bag or cleaning it. I'm so glad I found your channel!!
Yep! Eleven loads of clean laundry are decorating my living room floor at the moment. So hard to dive in and put it away when I know there's another load or two that will be added to it shortly. Hate how it looks, but I am an all or nothing kind of girl. Processing one or two loads a day would drive me nuts. Tackling it all at once is so much easier. The downside is that "laundry day" can easily morph into "laundry week" if things get busy.
I'm so grateful you make videos and write books for those of us that need your thoughts and words!!
Whew! For a second there I thought you were going to say the old stairs were procrasticlutter.
At this point, having listened to you for over a year, I even prioritizing "preventing clutter" (like, doing laundry and dishes and dealing with the mail immediately) over actually decluttering.
Me too! 😅
💜Dana, as I move through my house, just getting rid of trash and putting things in their natural home (where I would look for it first) has made SO much difference! It not only declutter, it gives me all those little things to feel good about! What a difference from leaving them be and letting them pile up, giving me all those things to feel bad about. Thank you so much.💜
Timing myself loading or unloading our dishwasher fixed my issue with dreading these tasks. Usually < 5 minutes. Years of my life spent working around a sink full of dishes because I was procrastinating.
Love this. This is ke to a T! I have so much paper that is put in boxes and set a side for "someday I will get to it " now I am dealing with going through my parents stuff that has been sitting in my garage for almost a year and a half since my mom passed last year. I know I need to buy keep putting it off.
Sry for the loss of your parents. It took me over a year, but I'm just about done going thru my mom's things, so I know what you mean.
Thank you. It definitely is a difficult process.@@juliec3437
Pats on the back for you, Dana! 🎉🎉🎉
This!!! This is why I have three boxes 📦 of paper. I logically know and understand what to do with it. (See Dawn and Cass) That stuff can wait… FOR HOW MUCH LONGER!!!! I’m stuff shuffling these boxes of paper- passports, birth certificates, old bills, new bills, tax returns, coupons… it’s a clutter clusterbeep…) I have clothes in my room-clean 🧺 laundry, socks uggggh!!!
LATER NEVER COMES!!!! Thank you! I’m going to replay this and not resist it anymore!!!
I’m going to get my 5 minutes matters on and DEAL WITH THE PROCRASTICLUTTER!!!!!!🎉🎉🎉
UPDATE: Went to put clean laundry away- 20 items into donate bin, 5 are not donations and went straight to the garbage-holes,stains, and rips=NOPE.
Socks were the same. Put the duvet cover on the duvet and guess what- no longer staring at a massive mountain on my bed- 2 items took 10 minutes total- v. 2 days of procrasticlutter! Ahhhh, sweet relief for when I get into my nice freshly made bed and duvet isn’t being flung onto a chair rather all snugglebuggled up under it! Got half way through one box of papers, 1 hour better!!!!
Thanks Dana, just put away the toilet roll that was in a box in the bathroom. I've been moving it around for the last 3 days to get into the cupboard with towels and cleaning supplies, it took me 3 minutes to unpack it, break up the box and go and put it in recycling!
The stairs look nice. Procrastaclutter is exactly what some of our clutter is. Little stuff that has built up over time. Time to get to it.😊
You are so spot on! I’m literally staring at my clean clothes all over the living room furniture …🙃
Dana - so many of your words have become part of my vocabulary 😂😂😂
Your “procrasta clutter” explanation helped me overcome my “clutter response analysis paralysis” or “CRAP” 😂 I have been living a high level CRAP state of mind!!
10:57 I JUST SAW YOUR FLOOF!!! Adorable!!!❤
Thanks Dana!
I’ve put away some clean laundry, moved a pot plant that looked sad to see if it’s happier in a different room, and put some things in a bag to donate tomorrow 😀
The struggle is real, even after 5+ years of decluttering!
Thank You Dana!
This is a really good reminder!
I really benefited from understanding procrasticlutter and my fantasy self. I realized I needed to make room for what I truly want. I’m not finished but I’ve made huge progress. 😊😊😊
Yep. That’s my problem. Among others. Tore up living room carpet to debate “refinish floors or re-carpet” two years ago. (Sigh)
Amen! Thanks again Dana! I've been putting off getting rid of clothes that are too small for my kids from their closet (which were a constant frustration!), but it only took about 15 min to go through their entire closet. Now I have a functional closet and a box of donations in my car that can go out today!
Your stairs are gorgeous. I love them.
Thanks for the reminders on procrasticlutter and it's impact on my home. And let your son know that i love his input on the credits!You're passing on your sense of humor, Dana!
Mine is wall art. I have sooooooo much that is in closets and bins, plus some peel and stick wallpaper I want to use. And I've been saying for over a year that I am going to hang them. I don't like my blank walls, and it's driving me nuts!! I freeze when I try to decide where to hang things.
Your stairs look lovely.❤️
I’ve been watching you for years and still feel like I’m always learning something new! Very helpful, thank you! 👏🏻
Me too!❤😊
Saw the title groaned & picked up my painting supplies i'd just used & thought, 'yeah, thats gonna stay there a few weeks'. And a couple of other tasks, stopping mid task when dana said bye tho lol.
I thought this was donations you put off taking to Goodwill. I have a pile on my bedroom couch that's 4 years old! I started sorting it while watching this video. I'm not finished yet, but the pile is smaller and I have items sorted for donation. About a month ago, I had friends come to visit. He is into mixing drinks, so I asked them to sort it out. Most of it was trash, which took 2 garbage days to remove because it was so heavy. The rest was split between them and my son-in-law. Now the good stuff is with people who will enjoy it.
This speaks to me so much.
So funny when you were talking about the eclipse glasses…. I was shocked that you’d bought them because I was picturing drinking glasses decorated with an eclipse image! I wondered what other glasses you’d get rid of from your cupboards to make room for themed glasses…. And then you showed them and I had to laugh at myself! Hahahaha
So glad you are back… I’ll go fold the clean sheets on my couch now…. Lol. ❤
So good. Root cause and mental tools. ❤
After I learned the term procrasticlutter (probably over a year ago), I now look at things in my house and immediately think “procrasticlutter”! Brilliant new word!! It really helps me tackle things without stress.
Beautiful stairs ❤
Thanks for the definition. Now off to do laundry, so I can feel some progress in the midst of a larger project.
Got rid of all the take out containers because of the flow through clutter. Also got rid of a bunch of buckets from pool bleach. Nice buckets. We haven’t used them for looks like 8 years. Thank you Dana! We redid the stairs 2 years ago. That’s where the mess became front and center. I’m working on it now thanks to you! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Great video! Sometimes, I will guess how long I think a task will take and then make a competition with the clock to get it done.
So true! Great reminder that procrasticlutter happens and is more important to deal with than decluttering.
She says an example of "clean laundry on the furniture," as turn my head and look at the laundry from yesterday on the loveseat.... Lol Personally, I pro-craft-inate. Anything crafty until the last minutes and then it's a mad rush to get the house picked up. Once people leave, the project sits. Lol
Now to throw another load in and get the laundry folded and put away.
My proclasticlutter is packaging or boxes. I always keep them for a while in case items don’t work and need to be returned. I keep them in the den until I can’t stand it any longer!
Love this❤ - Solar glasses example makes so much sense. Thank you for all the hard work and effort you put into these videos and lessons.
I’ve been using this method for a while now and it’s worked great! Clean one wall each day (4 days total) and then repeat in two weeks!
My procrasticlutter is my clothes closet. I have a grocery sack overflowing with items to take to donate or consignment AND I have more costume jewelry than any girl should own. I just can’t get motivated to make decisions to move this stuff along. My life has changed so much and my clothing/jewelry has to. 🤔 I’m at least thinking very seriously about it. ❤
Wow! I live in Procrasticlutter Palace! Thanks for this video. If I would deal with all my Procrasticlutter, it would make such a positive difference in my house! BTW I don't live in a palace😂
This is such a big deal…. I’ve recently realised I’m constantly not doing easy tasks as I’m so busy I have to priorities other things… it’s the only thing making my house untidy
This was the pep talk I needed, thank you!!!!!! 💛
This is such an important point! I finally forced myself to unload the car and unpack everything after a trip. Put the suitcases away, deal with laundry, etc. Same with air travel. Immediately upon returning home, I unpack everything and put it away or wash it. In the past, I'd have open bags or suitcases or other detritus hanging around for weeks. It's satisfying to take care of it right away, and your future self will be SO happy you did!
Oh my God you're so right about the *clean* laundry. I don't have a problem with dirty laundry!! But clean laundry and putting it away is such a dumb mental block for me.
Thanks, Dana! You got me to overcome my depression with the phrase.".you can stop anytime "
I’m an interior designer and changing stairs to hard surface from carpet is MAJOR!!! It involves demo, a drywaller to repair and texture, a carpenter and a painter. When people ask about how involved a project is, I always say to count the sub contractors involved. I’d be happy to respond to your viewers who DM me their ideas and let them know who’s involved. I’m anti DIY beyond demo and painting… I can usually spot a DIY job, and that’s not the look I’m going for. So happy you have such a beautiful staircase and thanks for raising project PITA ❤ awareness.
Wow. Finally found you... a person who thinks like me, and has finally someone who is able to describe how to declutter in a way I understand! Someone who understands laundry on the furniture and how it is overwhelming 😂
Yay!! Welcome back!! You (understandably) take the summer off, and i cannot seem to keep my house together when you're gone, lol. All routines go out the window in sheer survival mode. At least the last couple summers the dishes are always done and the laundry is at least washed and folded.
Anyhow, procrasticlutter is my biggest problem. Paper, putting away the laundry, and neglecting to 'take it there now' are the biggest culprits. My stairs always fill up with piles of things to go upstairs, and they never seem to make it there. Sigh.
Welcome back. My house needs you!!
Gorgeous stairs! I agree on the procrasticlutter --- it causes added stress even though the big things"-- like your stairs are calling our names. We don't need to live with the stress when it only takes 8 minutes to wash our dishes. (etc.) Love you!
Guilty. Clean bedsheets in my chair, dishes in the drain rack. I figured it stems from not having the hidden storage pared down enough or figured out just right just yet and being a butterfly organizer. Hate using high closet shelves so here we are lol.
OMG, I so identify with this 😂 particularly the stairs. I need a new stairs case for safety. Existing ones are too steep for everyone.
I'm fine with them, though.
You inspired me to get some cleanup done today.
Thank you 😊!!!
What I find hilarious is how you say that the clutter is undaunting compared to your stairs when my situation is the exact opposite. Very basic cleaning is daunting to me while large-scale woodworking projects are my jam!
Yep, that button sitting on the bar (as a reminder to sew it on a pair of pants) will probably take me less than 5 minutes to sew on. Then I can tackle that little pile of mail that is growing....😉
❤ this! So true!
So thankful for your honest, heartfelt encouragement to keep working on our houses. My daughter and I have enjoyed watching the videos together. I'm transitioning from working on various crafts to counseling women in hard circumstances. It's made decluttering my craft supplies so much easier while using the container concept. I have several areas that have procrasticlutter that I commit to working through. ❤
Oh and my clutter . . . Stuff I need for work . . . Taking it there now means driving there and taking it to my classroom. Doing that this afternoon. Thank you Dana!❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
"Procrasticlutter" describes my entire house.
I am a fan of your system Dana! ... which lead to a new idea that I helps me greatly: Every time I remove some donations or clutter from my property, I imagine it in the form of how many "cubic feet" I have removed. EXAMPLE: We bought a new "pencil" style Christmas tree to save space, and so I took our great big old Christmas Tree out in a bag and it measured at least 4 cubic feet in the back of the car. I had some other donations too, so that day I removed 7 cubic feet out of my house.
I like your new word-of-day procrasticlutter its exactly what i have going on in my house from unshredded papers to boxes that need to go to goodwill, today is the day to tackle these areas.
I had a basket full of papers that drove me crazy. I tried your 5 step rule & it took a few days of 5 minutes here & there. Finally that basket is under control.
Ermagersh. Lol. Thank you for this video, Dana. I've been decluttering with your videos for 2 years, but things never look "nice" the way I think they should. Then I watched this and discovered I am the queen of procrasticlutter. Lol. I am now working on the procrasticlutter staring at from every corner of every room. 😂
You are such a ROCK STAR! Your going through the thought processes of us "procrasti-clutterers" -- PRICELESS!! Thank you for your explanations and VERBIAGE!
Your new stairs are beautiful.
Your old ice maker was screaming to you, "Kill me now," until you finally granted it its last wish. 😊 Then its last words were, "What took you so long to listen to me?" 😊
On a more serious note: procrasticlutter is still a huge problem in this house. We are making very slow progress.
I haven’t even watched the video yet but the headline got me. I read it out loud to my husband who’s sitting next to me and laughed … and then was MORTIFIED. Mortified because I have a pile of “procrasticlutter” in our garage right now! 😂☠️ I just *know* I’ll get around to listing those items on marketplace one day! 🤦🏼♀️
I just came across your channel but you’ve already made an impact in our home! Subscriber for life. ❤
Hi Dana, first I just want to say your stairs are beautiful! Now I just want to add that you are so right and that some things don't take as long as they might seem in our brain. I always overthink, which is something I'm working on thanks to you. You have helped me so very much, and I just want to say thank you❤
Thank you Dana! In the length of time it took me to watch this video, I conditioned my leather jacket. That’s not quite procrasticlutter…but it is a task that has weighed on my mind that I’ve procrastinated on for over a year.
Okay, okay, I will carry the Amazon delivered box of kitty litter to its home, at least I opened the Amazon box and got rid of it! But the box of kitty litter is still in the entry way. Okay, I’ll do it now. Thanks for explaining procraclutter. I’m good with “tidy” but blind to procrataclutter. But not any more. Good video.
Just so you know, I cleared the procrastaclutter from my entry and kitchen, sat there for days unnoticed, now in its home. You cured blindness….. well in a way. Took about 1 minute!
Thanks, Dana for all you do.
I call this the debris of good intentions.
Awe, seeing your German shepherd made me miss my girl soooooooo much! She passed away two years ago. She was the best, smartest, sweetest dog on planet earth! 😢 And I know all about heavy dog food! 🤣😂🤣
OMG! I was staring at folded clean laundry on the couch exactly when you said it!! Talk about Screaming and LOL!!😂😂😂
My wife just asked me what to do with a list of books she needed to order and I said “Can you order the books?” and she checked her bank balance and placed the order. I dealt with a bag of thrifted clothes I bought by cutting the tags off and washing them, then procrastinating for 5 hours, then putting them away.
So true!!
I am so understanding of the procrasticlutter!! I live with this alot of the time. I'm gonna get through some in my livingroom when I get home tonight!!!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
DEAR LADY, YOU'RE AMAZING!!!!! THIS IS SOOOO HELPFUL!!!! ❤❤❤
You're amazing! So grateful to have you as a mentor!
Your decluttering books are the BEST BEST BEST ones I have ever read... your advice is simple and effective! Thank you!
Have always loved that creative word! Love your stairs, Dana. Also, gorgeous shade of blue on you. Love your videos. G Ire
Where would one look for solar eclipse glasses first?