I’ve been working for months on re-designing and setting up my new home office- a space where I can work but also where I can retreat to in order to get away from the madness of everyday life. My objective was to create a practical work space while retaining a sense of tranquility and calm. In addition, the space had to double as a guest room for the occasional out-of-towner.

The work tables and cabinets have been purchased and assembled. The painters are long gone. There’s even a new sofa bed and recliner as well. I’ve spent days unpacking boxes and putting things away. Even the supply closet is looking pretty fine. But I’m stuck!

Getting stuck is nothing new, but I do find that analyzing WHY I’m stuck, often unlocks the key, allowing me to move forward. Often times, it’s simply the ADD “overwhelm”- a feeling you all are more than familiar with.

But in this case, the hardest work is now complete. So why is it nearly impossible to unpack those last few boxes?

I think I’ve figured it out. Because it’s happened to me many times before:

I’m afraid of finishing a project because then I’m faced with that sense of emptiness and the gnawing, anxiety-laden question of: WHAT DO I DO NEXT?

It’s facing that dark abyss– the not knowing what to tackle next. Not knowing which project at hand to work on next. Or worse, having TOO many projects and not knowing which one to choose.

Could procrastinating, then, serve a different function sometimes? Could it be a way to avoid making the NEXT decision? Not just the “where does it go?” decision, but, “now that I’m done, what do I do? Is it, in part, anxiety in disguise?

Does this ring true for you at times? Share your thoughts in the Comment section below.