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Blog: Chronic Disorganization
 CHRONIC DISORGANIZATION AND INFOMANIA
My client is an airline pilot. I am very glad he is a perfectionist. Statistics show that just a 1% error rate for airline pilots can result in as many as 100 airline accidents a year! I am a definite fan of perfectionism (or as close as we can get to it) in all sorts of situations. Getting organized, however, is not one of them. When it comes to getting organized, "well-enough" is just fine. Problem is, chronically disorganized people can tend to be perfectionists. One of their favorite passions, information, sets it off. Allow me to explain. CD people care passionately about knowing things, being up on things, and not letting any information pass by. This kind of infomania is especially pernicious in a world of unlimited information brought to us by search engines, blogs, wikis, forums, social networks, RSS feeds, the traditional Internet and other media. There is virtually (no pun intended) no end to the amount of information one can find on any topic. 'Enough is enough' is nearly impossible for the CDer to observe when a craving for information, especially the unattainable 'perfect' information, is at play.
Here are my solutions for infomania:
* Specify the precise task at hand; what exactly are you looking for?
* Specify the desired outcomes so you know when you've reached your goals.
* Stay outcome-oriented rather than process-directed.
* The quality of the information should be paramount over the quantity of information
* Put yourself in the shoes of the recipient. What are their expectations?
Their expectations, not yours, rule the day.
* Do the best you can in the time that is available to you. Live with your best.
* Ascertain the deadlines or due dates for your work. If there are no deadlines, make them.
* Aim for perfect timing instead of perfect execution. Finish on time or early.
More solutions to perfectionism can be found at http://squallpress.net/store/index.php?target=products&product_id=29787
Here's a simple self–test about perfectionism. http://psychologytoday.psychtests.com/tests/perfectionism_access.html
If you find yourself incapable of feeling any satisfaction with your work, unable to finish any task without overwhelming stress of making it exactly right, or you are neglecting important tasks because of minor details, seek help.
posted on: 2/16/2008 11:00:00 AM by Judith Kolberg
category: Organizing Challenges
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Chronic Disorganization
by Judith Kolberg
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About Judith:
FileHeads Professional Organizers founded in 1989, is a business-to-business professional organizing firm providing time management , office organizing, and productivity consulting. Company-wide training, keynote speaking, and custom teleclasses are available as well as individual organizing sessions. Chief organizer, Judith Kolberg, is an award-winning professional organizer, international author and speaker. FileHeads is regarded as one of the nation's foremost authorities on the special organizing needs of chronically disorganized and AD/HD individuals.
Judith's Website:
www.fileheads.net
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