Starting a new year is like starting a book. The air is full of possibility, and often a desire to make a change. At the same time, we can feel intimidated by a change we want to make. It can feel too big, too heavy, and like there is simply too much that has built up to make success possible. However, if you want to start fresh, it is important that you don’t let the weight of the backlog slow you down.
What do I mean by backlog? A backlog is really the accumulation of anything (physical, emotional, mental) that has previously gone unaddressed. Backlogs typically represent aspects of our lives that:
- We have avoided dealing with
- We have allowed to pile up over time
- Initially were manageable, but now feel overwhelming
- We feel pressured to deal with before something bad happens.
Backlogs can interfere with our progress because we feel like we need to deal with them before moving forward with a new habit, behavior, or approach. The good news is, this isn’t always the case.
Let’s look at a few examples.
- Let’s say you have been taking digital photos for years and they are all piled up on your devices and in the cloud. Managing them feels like more than you can handle. You’d like to start doing a better job of deleting unwanted photos as you take them, tagging photos so they are searchable, and enjoying the photos that you have. At the same time, the idea of going back through thousands of images is exhausting. As a result, you do nothing.
- Or perhaps you want to get your digital files more organized. You’ve heard about naming conventions and want to be more ordered in the way you name your documents. However, the thought of going through all of your files and renaming them is nauseating.
- Maybe you want to reorganize a room that has become a dumping ground into a functional workspace. Among other items, this room holds boxes of items that belonged to a relative who has recently died. You want to organize the room, but you can’t face sorting through the emotionally laden keepsakes.
- Another example might be a desire to begin cooking healthier meals. The idea of eating well appeals to you, but you have a giant folder of recipes you’ve been “saving” for when you change your diet. At the moment, you just don’t feel like sorting through all of the accumulated recipes.
- Still another situation might involve wanting to clear a space of accumulated books you’ve been “meaning to read.” You know it will take years to read all of these books, so how can you move forward with clearing space?
These are just a few examples. I could go on and on. Often, I find that people want to take a step in a new direction but are hampered by their perceived need to deal with a backlog that stands in their way. As we look into a new year and want to ride the wave of motivation that might be with us, I have a couple of suggestions for what to do with the backlog that might be blocking your progress.
#1 Ignore it
This may sound crazy coming from me, as I always suggest we sort through what has piled up, but there may be instances where you don’t actually need to address the backlog at all. For instance, in the example with the naming convention, you don’t need to go back and rename all the old documents. Instead, just begin with your new approach. Over time, the old documents will likely become less relevant and eventually easy to delete. In fact, once you’ve formed a new habit, the “old fashioned” names you used to use will make it easy to identify what may no longer be needed
#2 Set it Aside
Especially for backlogs that pack an emotional punch, the best answer may simply be to put time to work for you. Fresh wounds are sensitive, so don’t force yourself to mess with them. Consolidate and clearly label anything you can’t deal with right now and then schedule a future date to revisit it. Move the items out of the easy-access, active space so you can move forward with maximizing the productivity and enjoyment of the space you need to use now.
#3 Release It
Sometimes our backlog is stuff that we held onto but honestly don’t need. The very fact that we’ve held onto it for a long time can make it harder to release. After all, we’ve invested in holding on, so wouldn’t it be wrong to get rid of it? Frequently, the answer is no. Just because we’ve held onto something in the past (like recipes, magazines, books, clothes, etc.), with the hopes of using them, doesn’t mean we have to keep them. Recipes are easy to find, so you can pitch the yellowed ones you never tried. The same holds true for books… most can be easily purchased, downloaded, or borrowed from a library. You don’t have to feel guilty that you never read them. If you haven’t worn the clothes in 20 years, there is probably a reason, and the odds of you wearing them may only be getting lower. It’s ok to say goodbye.
#4 Hire Someone to Address It For You
In many cases, a backlog had accumulated because we have lacked the knowledge and/or skills to deal with it. For instance, did you know you can hire a photo organizer to help you deal with the thousands of photos you took? Similarly, there may be a handyman or friend who actually knows how to fix the stuff in the piles in your basement. Paying for a couple of hours from a person who can do some hauling and lifting may be just what you need in order to review what has accumulated in your backlog. Can’t seem to get past an emotional wound that haunts you, interrupts your sleep, or has you stuck? You might need a therapist to help you work through it.
Muscles, wisdom, support, and experience can make quick work out of tasks we’ve avoided for a long time.
#5 Tackle It
Lastly, consider whether now is the right time to set your eyes resolutely on a change and go after whatever has been holding you back. I call this being “in the mood.” Every now and then, we wake up and think, “I’m ready to finally deal with this.” When such a surge of inspiration strikes, you are wise to take advantage of it and follow through. If the backlog is large, you may need to schedule small times each day or week to work on it, but this can be incredibly productive. Don’t let the fact that it may take time deter you! Remember, good habits are formed by consistent repetition, so this approach may not only reduce your backlog but also enhance your efficiency in other realms of your life.
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Backlogs are heavy, but they don’t have to rule our lives. Change happens when we take action, not when we bemoan what we haven’t done.
When have you had a backlog that has stymied forward progress?
I love the name of this “backlog” which is what haunts us! Sometimes I add “pause it” to your list above because when the backlog is put in perspective, it is less important as time passes. Giving yourself permission to prioritize in the new year helps clear out backlog as needed.
Yes, “pause it” is another great option! Here’s to a wonderful new year, moving forward, shaking off those past weights!
Seana, I love how you have pinpointed this mental clutter of “backlog” that gets in our way so we don’t make any progress. Sometimes it even affects other areas not directly related to the backlog (kind of like missing out on a good book because you are currently slogging through one you don’t enjoy). I think people like me who are prone to overthinking are especially susceptible to backlog. You provide some excellent strategies here. Two additional ideas: I find that a large part of the problem is lack of awareness. Once I recognize the backlog, I can apply your strategies but the trick is to notice. The second idea is an additional strategy that is common in therapy called the “Wise Mind Meditation” where you put your hand on your gut and then think about both the emotional and rational components related to your backlog. It is a fairly new concept for me but I have had some success with it. Thanks for sharing this insightful blog post!
I haven’t heard of “Wise Mind Meditation.” Sounds promising! I’m open to all ideas to help people move forward.
And yes, 100%, you need to first notice the backlog to deal with it in any way.
We are on similar pages today, Seana. All your ideas are fantastic. The thought about renaming files is terrific. Starting from where you are is a great place because, as you say, the backlog may take care of itself. Also, investing in help now and then is so freeing. Someone who specializes in a particular task can turn a mountain into a molehill and often will leave directions so you can handle the task on your own in the future.
Its the whole “going back and taking care of everything that has accumulated” that can make you reluctant to start. Just start, right? Sometimes, starting also helps you see what you need to do and who might help.
You have touched on a really important concept here. I like the idea of setting it aside to deal with another time after new habits are formed. Overwhelm can stop our clients cold. New progress is a great motivator.
Progress is super motivating! I’m a pretty disciplined person, but I get overwhelmed by the “big” projects, especially with a backlog. Better to just start where I am. If we had to “clean up our act” before ever starting anything, I don’t think anyone would make progress. We need to accept where we are, and then figure out a next step. Period.
Oh, yes! Those things that weigh us down can prevent us from making the changes we want. I love how you describe how that backlog can appear and how to address it with various strategies.
Sometimes, something unexpected happens that ‘handles’ the backlog for us. These aren’t necessarily desired (fires, floods, accidental computer deletions, or mishaps.) But in those instances, the editing happens for you.
I like how you pointed out that putting things aside and letting ‘time take care of’ can be a powerful letting go strategy. Often, time helps us see what is or isn’t useful. So, the decision-making becomes clearer.
Time can certainly be our friend when it comes to decluttering – if you have the bandwidth and space to let it work for you.
I totally relate to that point you made about something unexpected happening. I had a friend who suffered a fire. It was very scary and sad at the time, but it was interesting to hear her say that in a way, it was very freeing. It made a lot of decisions for her, and helped her start fresh after a divorce. Mysterious ways!!
Yess!! I did this recently with all my kids monies that had piled up around different places of the house. I got it all down to one tote for each. It felt so good! Thanks for all the great tips!
Wow – that is a big accomplishment! All contained and ready for them. If your kids are anything like mine, the next is waiting for them to get into living accommodations that are big enough to receive their stuff LOL.
Great post. I think it is so true that we avoid those tasks that we don’t enjoy doing. I love that we can think about whether we can let them go or look at them in a different way. Those tasks can really keep us stuck and not able to move forward. It can be amazing when we actually get them off of our plate.
And if a big backlog is overwhelming you, just maybe ignore it so you can move forward. It’s the big “pile” that intimidates us – even me!
I love that you mentioned ignoring it. I have been doing this with my digital photos on my devices. IOS keeps your deleted photos for 30 days, so if you need to find something, you can easily find and restore it. =)
Same here! I haven’t tackled that project yet. I wonder if I even need to. I can envision a day when I’ll delete all my client before and after photos with ease. That’s most of my photo stream!
I love the way you spell out the different approaches to the backlog. Each can be the right move, depending on the situation. I have clients for whom paralysis has taken over due to the overwhelm, and when I walk in, they’re torn between hoping for a miracle and wishing it would all go up in smoke.
I rarely opt for “ignore it” when “set it aside” (but labeled and coalesced) has so much more power. I’m there, so they’re getting help, but they’ve hired someone to do it “with” them and not “for” them. But it’s the tackling that gets me jazzed because I know how excited they will be once they can visualize some aspect of the progress.
A backlog can haunt a person, but it’s amazing how just taking one step forward can shift the energy (and the piles)! Great points!
I connect with that thought about getting jazzed because I feel excited too. I know they will feel lighter and better, more in control and empowered. When I have a backlog, getting someone in to help is my go-to. There is a reason I’ve avoided it, so bring in the reinforcements to help me face the mountain!