Following Through After the Activity or Event

The last component of any activity—the wrapping up, cleaning up, putting things away, enjoying the accomplishment part—is the one most overlooked and neglected by people who tend to be disorganized. These people's creative tendencies find the last step boring or superfluous. They want to get on to exciting new projects.

But this last step is critical to a smooth-running schedule and a less frazzled life. Suitcases need to be unpacked; paint brushes must be cleaned; library books (and especially rented videos) must be returned. And nothing will destroy the benefit of a restful vacation quicker than having to head back to work the next day and face a full schedule of meetings and report deadlines along with the post-vacation pile-up of mail, phone messages, and email.