I had breakfast with a friend recently who said when she hears the words “I can’t” it makes her want to gnash her teeth! We both agreed that many times it is not a matter of inability to do something, as the word “can’t” implies. Rather, that person chooses not to, is not willing to, doesn’t want to take the time to, is afraid to, doesn’t know where to start to… do whatever.
How does this apply to prospective clients I talk to in my organizing business? Whether you need to get rid of piles of paper, de-clutter your living space, or use storage more wisely you CAN get it done! That is really not the question, is it? It’s the other “I ___________to’s” we spoke of that are the culprit. Let’s examine each one.
1. I choose not to get organized. If you are honest and instead of saying, “I can’t” you admit, “I choose not to”, that’s perfectly fine. Each person gets to choose how to live as long as another person’s life is not negatively impacted. My next statement may make some people angry. My opinion is that parents don’t have this luxury for that very reason. We want the best for our children. Chaos is not the best environment.
2. I am not willing to be organized. Many artists and innovative people feel that being regimented by an organizing system will stifle their creative juices. Talented writer, Virginia Woolf, said, “To enjoy freedom we have to control ourselves.” A wonderful book for innovative folk is Organizing From the Right Side of the Brain by Lee T. Silber. He believes that “to be truly creative you have to have some sense of order in your life. Some structure is needed because we have so many things going on we would never be able to keep it all straight.” Organizing actually frees your mind from having to remember trivial details that can be jotted in a calendar and enables you to pay your bills before you have late fees. Your creativity is set free to soar without the weight of missed deadlines and missing tools.
3. I don’t want to take the time to get organized. You may be thinking – it’s not that I don’t want to take the time, I just don’t have the time! ‘ Stop Shuffling and Start Organizing’ is Tip 17 from Talane Miedaner’s book, Coach Yourself to Success. She writes, “Take the time to invest in setting up systems to make your life even easier. Many of my corporate and professional clients feel they don’t have time to organize; they are too busy. As a result, they work in cluttered, crazy, paper-piled environments. Big mistake. What they don’t realize is that they will be twice as productive when they get organized.” Time is gained, not lost, in making order that then saves hours in the long run! I don’t know about you, but if I want to see a movie or go out to eat, I will always make the time to do it.
4. I am afraid to get organized. Some clients fear that if stuff is “put away” they will forget something important. For me, when I was younger I didn’t want to be seen as the meticulous math geek. The truth is, getting organized is not about hiding things or the stigma of being seen as a perfectionist. Organizing is finding a system for placing papers or possessions that enables you to retrieve them at will. If you are a visual person, that system may include see-through files or another highly visible solution. The important thing is to be able to find what you need when you need it!
5. I don’t know where to start to get organized. This usually means the task seems so overwhelming that you don’t even want to think about starting. Find someone who enjoys this process who can help. You will be so glad you did. That organized person may be your sister-in-law, the author of a book from the library (see my resource list below for a few of my favorite organizers), or my blog about Clearing the Clutter to just get started. If you want in-person help from a professional, the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) has a list by city.
There is a sense of accomplishment and well-being that comes with getting a portion of your life/space organized. Sometimes that first step prompts another, like when you paint your living room walls and then have to get a new chair ’cause the old one looks ratty now. Seek out some of the great new organizing products or ask for help in the actual process. If you really do want to get your time under control and your space in order, you CAN do it!
Resource List Organizing authors I recommend are: Julie Morganstern, Barbara Hemphill, Elizabeth Hagen, and Judith Kolberg.
