Betsy
Staying organized is a constant battle, even for those of us who teach it! There are so many factors that can get a person out of balance that even the most efficient systems fall apart. But there is hope! Figuring out the root of why you are having trouble staying organized is sometimes the deeper question. For some of us it could be over-committing ourselves, for others it could be emotional, and for some it just may be a matter of not finding the right system to work for them. Over-commitment can be the biggest problem with staying organized, and is probably my largest challenge on a daily basis. Whether you are an overachiever by nature or a person who just has too much on their plate because of family and work obligations, you are probably going to have a hard time staying consistent with any organizational system. This is when a time inventory will be your most effective tool. List all of the commitments you have on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. How many organizations do you volunteer for? How many activities do you drive your kids to each week? Document the projects you are juggling at work. If you start to see a pattern of too much to do and not enough time, it might be time to break down the essential versus non-essential activities that you participate in. Rank them in order of importance to you and how much you like them. If you realize you are holding a titled position in every group you volunteer or network in, consider stepping back and focusing on one. Learning to let go and identify which activities support and nurture your goals will help you feel more in balance. Not to mention lighten some of the workload you juggle each day! Identifying an emotional root to organizing is often harder and may require outside help. For some, depression may be holding them back and sapping their energy to keep up. For others, suffering from ADHD and not understanding how to adapt their organizational systems may hold them back from keeping everything in order. How you view organization in general may differ from your family or significant other, which can cause emotional strain and frustration in the home. There may be a “no throwing out” culture within your family stemming from the Depression era or a trauma that prevents you from letting go of items. In even more severe cases hoarding, which stems from a spectrum of Obsessive Compulsive Order (OCD, may be occurring in the home and may need to be addressed by a medical professional. To get to the root of an emotional issue preventing you from staying organized, evaluate why you have trouble making decisions. Talk about your struggles within your family to stay organized and look at family history for signs of habits or illnesses that may have been passed down. I strongly advocate seeing a mental health professional if you feel that depression, ADHD, OCD or any other health related illness is holding you back. Finally, your feelings of disorganization may be stemming from your inability to find a system for you that works. I often try new systems to see if I can find a better or more efficient way to do something. That is the fun of getting organized. With a little creativity and basic tools you can create many custom options that fit your working style, habits and needs. For some, just punching holes to place a paper in a binder would cause the paper to pile up indefinitely. I challenge you to look at the items that aren’t being put away and think about what barrier is preventing you from doing it. Just changing the container or placement of an item can make a world of difference in you being able to put it away consistently. If it is still hard to see what your barriers are, a Professional Organizer can evaluate your systems and quickly provide solutions for you. So don’t be dismayed. Organizing is a daily chore, not a seasonal purge. Accepting your strengths and weaknesses will help you adapt your systems and spend less time stressing about keeping it together. Kristin Mastromarino is a professional organizer and owner of Livable Solutions Professional Organizing and The Organized Lifestyle retail store in Guilford, CT. (http://www.theorganizedlifestylestore.com/). You can e-mail her your questions at Kristin@livablesolutions.com.
