Some people are chronically disorganized. For them, life pretty much resembles the college dorm of years gone, except now, instead of laundry littering the floor, dirty plates and study books, it’s their kids’ “stuff”, work papers and, oh wait…the laundry is still there. Please know that “neat” does NOT equal “organized.” But there is definitely some cross-over.
There comes a time when disorganization will catch up with you. In business, that late payment because you lost the payment slip could have disastrous effects. That missed meeting could have been a great new contract, and in your personal life you might never get another chance to make those particular memories.
But, while a certain amount of disorganization can be kind of “cute”, if you live your entire life in this manner, you could be stifling any kind of growth, whether business or personal.
But, fear not! Here are my 3 top tips to reining the chaos in and being the paragon of serenity (at least some of the time, at least)
1. Get to the root of the problem.
Before you stock pile sticky notes and download a multitude of apps, you need to ask yourself, “Why?” Why are you disorganized? What has triggered this situation? It could be something from your childhood – perhaps your parents lived life in this manner, or it could be the influence of a partner, or ex-partner, years ago. Examinining the root cause of habitual behaviour that does not serve you is invaluable. For some, it may be that you procrastinate as a result of feeling overwhelmed. In some cases, when we feel like there are just too many options open, or too many tasks requiring our attention, it is easier to do nothing than it is to tackle them head on. Once you have understood your particular trigger, you can look at ways of “re-booting” that belief or behavior.
2. Surround yourself with organized people.
It’s so much harder to go against the grain when you surround yourself with super-organized types. Believe me, their habits will start to rub off on you! As you see them easily locate their credit card statement and you know you’d still be shuffling papers frantically searching for yours, so you begin to see how much easier life could be. These “neat ninjas” can also be a really great resource for you, too. Ask that co-worker for her tips on managing your emails or call in a favor and get help with sorting your closet.
3. Declutter to De-Stress.
Have you ever had to use brute force to close that closet drawer or to fit another coat hanger in? Do you really need to keep every single work of art Junior did in first grade? Be accountable for all your clutter and make a commitment to de-clutter every three months. Donate, destroy and recycle your way to a clutter-free environment. “I might need that one day” is not a good enough reason to keep something. Be ruthless – if it’s not there, it can’t clutter. Allow yourself one box of sentimental stuff – you’ll have fun deciding which items get to go in the box and you’ll know exactly where those precious memories are when you want to revisit them. Once you have cleared the decks, make sure everything left has a place and is kept in that place.
Finally, while it’s great to be organized, remember to be kind to yourself. This kind of change can be intimidating and just a little bit overwhelming. Don’t beat yourself up because you’re not perfect; cut yourself a break! Even a small change can be a positive move in the right direction and if you follow these tips, the new, organized version of yourself could be closer than you think.
In my next blog, we will be looking at further practical steps to get you that de-cluttered mindset. So, stay tuned!
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