3 Keys Thursday: 3 Key Tools for Marking Progress

Yesterday, I wrote about the beauty of progress, which got me thinking about some of the ways we can mark progress, whether it pertains to organization or life in general. 

Here are a few of my favorites.

Lists. I don't think I know anyone who doesn't enjoy the satisfaction that comes from checking things off a list! No matter how we do it -- a checkmark, an X, or crossing out the item entirely -- marking things as completed is a visible sign that we've made progress. And, for those days when it feels as though I'm doing a whole lot of nothing, I like creating a backwards to-do list -- a running list of the things I actually did in a day. Sometimes, I create the list as I go, and other times, I look back over the day and make the list then. Either way, I'm usually surprised by how much I did.

Timers. I'm a firm believer that taking small steps leads to progress but, often, the progress is hard to see. Setting a timer gives us permission to stop when time is up, even if we don't see as much progress as we'd like when that timer finally goes off. But an interesting thing often occurs when we use a timer -- the momentum we create as we work and the small bits of progress we see can motivate us to keep going after the timer goes off. Time permitting, of course.

A whole new view. For me, clear space is not only the greatest motivator of all, but proof of progress as well. Going from piles to empty space is an unmistakeable sign of progress. So, too, is reorganizing a space that wasn't working and using style-specific tools to turn it into something that does work. 

As I said yesterday, process and progress go hand-in-hand. Understanding that getting organized is an ongoing process helps us to get comfortable with the idea that making progress, even if it's only a little at a time, will get us where we want to be. 

 

True Confessions Wednesday: Progress Makes Perfect

True Confession #32: I am energized by progress. 

Last night, I picked up a book on life design that I'd started quite a while ago. I'd left off in a section that talked about paying attention to the things that energize us or create flow for us -- that wonderful feeling of being so absorbed in what we're doing that we lose all track of time. I'd tried to follow the instructions and keep a journal for a couple of days to help myself identify those things but, in the end, it went by the wayside.

At 50-something, I have a pretty good idea of what energizes me and what drains me, and organizing is (no surprise) one of the things that energizes me. But I'd never really taken the next step the authors recommend -- zooming in to figure out what it is about organizing that I find so fulfilling.

So last night, I took that step. After putting the book down, I lay in bed, seeking my answer -- one that arrived almost immediately and, conveniently enough, gave me the topic for this blog.

I am energized by progress.

This explains so much! Why I feel grumpy when I'm interrupted, why small steps work for me, why rediscovered (or newly created) clear space is so satisfying. Interruptions stop me (and my progress) short, leaving me frustrated (and therefore grumpy). Small steps lead to progress, even if it's just a start. And clear space? That's the ultimate proof of progress! 

This "revelation" also explains why I love to write (fill up the blank screen with words!) and hate to revise (didn't I do this already??) Progress feels like smooth sailing. Anything else feels like a dirt road full of potholes.

I thought I was pretty good at creating a life that I find satisfying, something I've had a lot of practice doing since I hit reset on my career eight years ago. But this small piece of information gave me an opportunity to reframe my perspective, something the authors spend a lot of time on. For example, about ten seconds ago, I felt myself cringe when I heard the back door squeak open because that's often a sure sign that an interruption (a threat to progress) is on its way. Sure enough, footsteps followed...but they stopped short of the room where I am working. 

It seemed only fair to credit
the book that inspired 
this post.

Progress saved. 

I  often say that organizing is a process. But that process is built on progress -- the small victories we find along the way. For this reason, it's essential to celebrate our progress, no matter how small, because that momentum is often what sustains us through the process.

How about you? Is there a part of organizing that energizes you? Why?  

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Showing Self-Doubt the Door

johnhain via Pixabay 

Lately, I've been thinking about self-doubt. It's an ugly and sneaky thing, really, lurking in the shadows and then popping out at the most inopportune times. Not only can it paralyze us on its own, but if we let it take up residence in our hearts and minds, it can unpack traveling companions like anxiety and depression,  extending its stay indefinitely.

Those of us who've struggled to organize in traditional ways are familiar with self-doubt. We wonder why others can so easily do this thing that's so difficult for us. Why other people's homes look better, less cluttered, more organized than our own. We wonder if we'll ever keep the kitchen counter clear for more than 15 minutes, get rid of all the stuff we've collected in the attic or walk across the family room without stepping on a Lego or a Polly Pocket.

But organizing takes effort, looks can be deceiving, and those Legos and Polly Pockets will disappear altogether sooner than we're ready for them to. Most of all, self-doubt doesn't have to live with us -- at least not when it comes to organization.

Here are three steps to sending it packing.

Identify your styles. Considering what you do naturally not only helps you figure out how to best organize your stuff, it helps you to embrace who you are as well, something that has payoffs much bigger than clear kitchen counters. Once we recognize that we don't have to organize like anyone else, we're free to experiment, play and find our own way. When self-doubt arrives, aiming to sabotage, point to your style-based successes and show it the door.

Choose the right tools. Last night, as I was fighting to put a file back into a file cabinet (tucked into the corner of my office, no less), I became frustrated. Well, of course I did. I'm an I need to see it person using a big black hole to store papers. I have, for some time, been considering a different solution for that corner, but haven't yet taken the plunge. Until I do, I am going to be frustrated not because there's something wrong with me, but because I've chosen the wrong tool. Would you pound a nail with a screwdriver? Of course not. When self-doubt arrives in the form of comparison to others who seem to have this organization thing down, remind it (and yourself) that appearances can be deceiving and one size does not fit all.

Pixabay

Accept the idea that getting organized and staying that way is a process. When I first started writing about style-based organizing, I dreamed of a day when I could sit back, relax, and point to all the clear surfaces in my house, declaring myself officially organized. Well, a girl can dream. The reality, however, is that life is constantly changing and it brings with it a steady flow of stuff we need to sort, organize and store. Someday, you won't need to store those Legos or Polly Pockets (and that's likely to be sadder than you expect) and will instead be making room for the latest entertainment craze. The closet that was once spacious enough to hold every outfit your toddler owned is now stuffed to the gills with much bigger clothes that, if not offered an easily accessible home, are just as likely to end up on the floor. Is it any wonder our organizational systems have to change over time? When self-doubt arrives, wagging its finger and berating you for having lost all of your alleged organizational skills, toss it in a trash bag and send it out the door with last week's fad.

Pixabay

Finally, don't forget that a sense of humor is a very effective tool for undercutting self-doubt. Getting organized is not about perfection so, when you

find a flaw in the system (take my file cabinet -- please!), try to think of it more as an opportunity to grow than a fatal flaw. And don't forget to smile and congratulate yourself on how far you've come, or maybe even chuckle (as I did last night) at the idea that you ever thought that organizer would work in the first place. 

You've got this. And, best of all, you get to do it your way.  

True Confessions Wednesday: Inbox Zero is a Myth

True Confession #31: I cannot imagine that I will ever get to inbox zero.

Lately, I've been working on reducing the embarrassingly high number of emails in my inboxes at work and at home. I've also been working on being more intentional in my consumption of the news and in my use of social media, as both have a tendency to impact my mood and, therefore, my actions.

The other day, as I was working, emails were coming in, as they usually do. I've gotten pretty good at glancing quickly at the sender and then getting back to work, often deleting the incoming mail before it hits my inbox.

On that particular day, though, I became more aware of my reaction to the incoming mail. I caught myself making a face when a newsletter I'd subscribed to quite some time ago came across the screen.

Clearly, I was never going to read that newsletter -- or the rest of the collection taking up space in my inbox -- but instead of that being problematic, it sparked a plan.

First of all, I did a search for all those newsletters (Wow! More than 50!), unsubscribed, and deleted them. Very freeing.

Then, I decided that might be the foundation of a plan that could help not only my inbox, but my mood as well. I get tons of junk in my inbox, and most of it registers as neutral or nuisance. How much was that affecting me? And why should I be letting anything into my inbox on a regular basis if it doesn't make me smile when I see it there?

So, I decided that any time I got an email that triggered a negative reaction, I would take immediate action. If I could, I'd stop what I was doing, unsubscribe, and delete the whole lot. If I couldn't stop, I'd jot down the name of the sender and go through that process later, when I did my nightly inbox purge.

For me, keeping up with virtual clutter is even harder than keeping up with actual clutter. When it comes to tangible possessions, I'm picky about what comes into my home in the first place (and I derive satisfaction when I send it out again when it ceases to be useful), but email is sneakier, arriving whether or not I'm at my computer and even when I'm asleep. Not only that but, when it comes to information, I'm all I love stuff all the time. I have a lifetime supply of books I want to read, and my current situation with emails is just as bad -- worse, actually. Because emails don't take up physical space, I don't truly see them and so they accumulate in a way I'd never allow with physical clutter.


But I'm putting STYLE to work on my inbox.

• I'm starting with successes, and this plan is one of them.
• I'm taking a small step, 
• finding homes for the keepers (yes, they have one)
• slowly letting the rest go, 
• and unsubscribing to make easy upkeep a real thing.

Wish me luck. 

3 Keys Thursday: 3 Steps to Shoring Up Weak Spots

Dodgerton Skillhause via Morguefile

I had planned to post this last week (the day after Wednesday's post about weak spots and cracks), but I was attending a virtual writing retreat and, ironically, never got it written! By the time I realized this post hadn't made it out of my drafts folder, it was late in the evening, so I decided to let the Facebook Live video suffice.

So, here I am, once again talking about weak spots and cracks. A weak spot is something that's working but not quite ideal, while a crack is a system so weak it could give way at any time. Both of these need our attention, but one is more dire than the other.

If you are reading this and nodding along, your next question is probably, "what do I do?" Well, like so much else in organization, it's a process.

Identify what's working. Starting with successes tells us what we need to look for in our solutions and makes sure we don't "throw out the baby with the bathwater," so to speak. What do you like about the set-up? The container? The location? These are things you'll want to replicate as you make things even better.

Identify the problem. Is it a container problem, a location problem or a style problem? Issues with containers (and when I say "container" I mean anything from a pencil cup to a closet) include size (too big or too small), function (not up to doing the job it's currently doing or having a built-in obstacle such as a lid or needing too many steps to access it), and location (great container, but too out-of-the-way). Perhaps the location is right but there's no container at all (that pile of papers on the desk). Once you've decided what the problem is, it's much easier to figure out the next step, especially when you pair it with what is already working well.

Created with Canva

Consider your styles. Is the weak spot an indication that you aren't being true to style? If you've discovered built- in obstacles, for example (for me, lids are a great example of this, as they're hindrances to both my I need to see it personal style and my drop and run organizational style), how can you simplify the set-up so it works for you? What has worked in other areas of your house? How can you replicate that to turn this this weak spot into a strong spot?

From here, it's time to figure out one concrete action you can take to make things better. A new container? A new location? A reorganization of the space? Keep in mind that although this step might lead to a permanent solution, it might be just a stepping stone. Dial back the pressure, and focus on making it better rather than perfect. Solutions emerge, and as we change, they need to change too.

When I look at how different our house looks now compared to how it looked when we moved in 25 years ago, I can see how it has grown (an addition) and changed (an office turned playroom turned family room) according to the needs of our family. Organization works in much the same way. What we need to organize influences how we need to organize and where we need to organize it.

And sometimes those weak spots and cracks are a doorway to a better way.

It's Party Time!

Wednesday slipped by in a blur of little details and so, as I write this (my Wednesday post!), the day I've been waiting for has arrived. Today is the first anniversary of the publication of Know Thyself: The Imperfectionist's Guide to Sorting Your Stuff.  I'm so excited! All day long, I'll be posting organization posts, every hour on the hour (as long as Facebook cooperates) and taking names.

Taking names? Of course! How else will I send out my organization-themed prizes?

I'm really excited about this set-up because it allows people to drop by any time, engage in what interests them on their own time (whether right now or three days from now) without feeling as though they're missing anything.

So please, stop by and, while you're there, comment, like or share because those actions are your entries to win something. What you'll get if you visit is a good idea of what the book is all about and a chance to think about how it might help you. What you won't get is a lecture, a hard sell, games you don't want to play or a ticking clock that tells you the party is over.

Because, after all, one size doesn't fit all.

Styles as Strengths

I had the opportunity to go live on CatholicMom.com's Facebook page this morning, where I talked about how the personal and organizational styles connect to the positive psychology concept of strengths and signature strengths. You can listen here or on my Facebook page.

True Confessions Wednesday -- Weak spots and Cracks

True confession #30: There are both weak spots and cracks in my organizational systems.

After more than a decade of reading about organization, formulating my Organizing by STYLE philosophy, and putting that philosophy to work, I've repaired all the gaping holes in my organizational system. I can't say my house is clutter-free, or that my system is perfect, but it has definitely improved.

Still, I am left with weak spots and cracks. A weak spot is (by my definition) something that kind of works but isn't really a long-term solution. Sometimes, the weakness is easily identifiable (wrong container, wrong spot, wrong size) but, until the weak spot becomes a tear or a crack, or until I find a replacement container/spot/accommodation, it'll due.

Cracks are bigger, more time sensitive, and more prone to actually giving way. Like a stack of papers that could topple over at any moment, cracks are systems that could fall apart without warning. The sooner they are addressed, the better.

I hope it's obvious that what I'm talking about here isn't literal weak spots or cracks, but rather flaws and problem spots that need to be addressed. Sometimes, a trail of clutter leads us to them or sometimes they self-destruct under the weight of a responsibility they weren't designed to handle.

Take my mail counter, for example. Regular readers know it was a weak spot (and sometimes a crack) for years as I tried one inadequate solution after another. Its conspicuous location made it a source of not just clutter but embarrassment as well until, eventually, I found the right tools and created a system that works.

Last weekend, I attacked another weak spot -- my bedroom closet. The floor was littered with boxes that held out-of-season shoes that had no other home. The hanging rods worked but, upon closer inspection, when was the last time I'd worn anything hanging on the rod that was least accessible?

Hmm.

AnnaliseArt via Pixabay

Long story short, the clothes are in a donation pile, the rod has been removed and a small, cheap shelf unit (thank you, Target) now sits where the clothes were hanging, providing a home for all those formerly homeless shoes. Nearly every pair of shoes I own is now visible or in a clearly labeled box (an I need to see it victory!). There's one remaining bin of casual sandals that's in limbo. If they get worn this season, they'll earn a spot on a shelf. If not, they'll go into the donation box, too.

Why did I go so long accepting the fact that I was unable to see the floor of my closet? It was a weak spot. Workable enough to suffice (I could access everything -- kinda), it didn't require my immediate attention. But, once it got my immediate attention, it inspired me to tackle other clutter in my bedroom as well -- mostly because, as with most organizing projects, things got worse before they got better. Now, not only does the closet look better, so do a few other spaces in the room.

Weak spots often hide in plain sight. That pile of clothes that's been on the chair for so long, you no longer see it. The stack of papers that has made itself at home on the dining room table. The almost-right container in the sort of right location that holds things you don't know where to put.

Organizing is a dynamic process that needs to be flexible enough to adjust to the constant flow of "stuff" into and out of our homes. As life changes, our systems have to change, too, but, if we know what our styles are and how they work, those changes are more of a pivot than an all-out makeover. If we tackle the weak spots while they're still just that, we can save ourselves the headache of repairing a crack that has given way.

And, perhaps best of all, we can create beautiful, coveted clear space in the process.