|
Blog: Organizing [Busy] Women
 No New Year's Resolutions!
I'm not the type who makes New Year's Resolutions. Never have been, really. But the New Year always brings a sense of renewal and a fresh start. It's an opportunity to set out to do better and achieve results in one or more areas. As an organizer, simplification is always part of this renewal. An attempt to find more ways to make things easier so I can focus on what I really enjoy.
These days, it's rare that you hear someone say they like to spend hours cleaning their house or doing laundry. Or how about grocery shopping and mowing the lawn. Gardening, that's another story. Whatever it is that you want to focus on or enjoy doing, simplifying in the areas that are less enjoyable (or a chore) will get you more time doing what you love. For example, if cleaning the house isn't a joy, if surfaces are uncluttered, cleaning time can be reduced up to 40 percent.
The process of creating a clutter free environment starts with one's thinking and uncluttering one's mind. It's important to get clear on how the clutter accumulated in the first place (and this could be the clutter on the kitchen counter or the garage that's packed to the gills). Was it through over-buying, shopping as a hobby, taking on someone else's things, or circumstances out of your control?
Consciously assessing your situation is important. Oftentimes, we are so busy that we don't have time to stop and even consider a better way to do something, so we continue to operate in an inefficient environment where if we took some time and assessed the situation, we may find that there's putting a system in place could save us time and money.
Fred makes the best Italian subs at our local deli. Today, as he prepared a foot-long sub for me, I asked him to not put onions on half of the sandwich. We began chatting as he made the
sandwich, so it wasn't a surprise when he became distracted and began sprinkling onions on the sub. However, what happened next did surprise me. Fred began to talk about clutter and how people don't realize how cluttered their mind gets because of all the distractions. He had no idea I was a professional organizer; he had no idea that I had spent four hours the previous day writing about clutter.
Fred continued with an analogy that I had heard once before: How people's lives are sometimes like a Windows operating system. When you have too many windows open, the system suddenly freezes and crashes. We bantered back and forth with the Windows analogies, likening a scan disk to a visit with a therapist and how sometimes a system can get so overloaded that it loses everything and has to be entirely reformatted.
Although Fred knows he has clutter and knows it's a distraction, he's the perfect example of conscious awareness.He's still not reached a point of taking action, but he is very much aware of the effects. A little consciousness is better than none. Awareness also allows you to solve a problem. If you're unaware of something, then it's likely not a problem. However, when faced with the same set of circumstances over and over again (for example, disorganization), you become keenly aware of the problem and the pressure increases for you to solve it.
Slow down, get calm, and reasses. Attempt to incorporate some simplification strategies this year so you can enjoy the hobby that you currently don't have time for or spend a Saturday morning at the park instead of the bank and dry cleaners.
Make it a great year!
posted on: 1/7/2008 12:30:00 PM by Stacey Crew
category: Special Populations
Organizing [Busy] Women: < Previous Post - Next Post >
Blog Central: < Previous Post - Next Post >
 Discuss This Post
There are no comments.
|
|
Organizing [Busy] Women
by Stacey Crew
View This Blog
 Subscribe To This Blog
About Stacey:
I'm Stacey Crew, mom, author and professional organizer. With more than 12 years of experience in the corporate world, 10 years as a parent, and professional organizer and business owner for the past 4 years, I'm excited to share my experience with you. Since I started my business in 2003, I've published two books and serviced well over 100 organizing clients. Prior to that, I had the experience of moving five times in six years and having two children along the way. I guess you could say I've been busy. I'm passionate about my work to help ease women's stress through time and space organizing solutions. I look forward to sharing my expertise with you and answering any specific questions you may have as they relate to organizing.
Stacey's Other Blogs:
Stacey's Favorites:
|
www.OnlineOrganizing.com is a service mark of Bradford, LLC.
