Three Dangerous Little Words: "Just for Now"

Have you ever had something in your hand and didn't know what to do with it? Did you find yourself saying, "I'll just put this here for now," as you dropped it on the kitchen counter?

We've all done it. It's easy to do.

What I've realized, from my own experience as well as from working with various clients, is that "now" turns into days...weeks...months...even years.

And there are three reasons why:

1. "Now" doesn't specify a time when you will actually deal with whatever you've just deposited on the counter.
2. Putting it somewhere "just for now" doesn't actually identify what your next step is. Do you need to find a permanent home for it? Do you need to do a follow-up action? Do you just need to trash it?
3. Clutter breeds. That thing on the counter will attract other things from the land of "Just For Now" and pretty quickly you'll have a whole community of miscellaneous and homeless things on your counter for days...weeks...months...even years.

So when you are tempted to put that paper on the kitchen table (or dining room table or stairs or bedroom dresser) "just for now," reconsider and ask yourself where it really needs to go. You will thank yourself later.

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