Reading in the Slow Lane

nnguyen21 via Pixabay

 I used to hate it when the drive-through line at Starbucks was long, something that happens often. The perfect line was no line -- one where I could drive straight through to the window, order, pick up my drink, and be on my way. 

But I've changed my outlook.

I decided to see the line as a means of developing my patience, something I too often have in short supply. On days when that outlook failed, I took the mobile office perspective, scanning my phone for work or pleasure. Since I usually stop for my Starbucks between work and home, waiting in line provided an opportunity to reply to work e-mails, checking that task off my to-do list before I arrived home. 

Once I began to look at the line as an opportunity, it bothered me a lot less. And, when I started setting reading goals, it became something I looked forward to.

These days, when I see a line, I see a chance to relax and listen to a book, and a chance for something bigger as well. Starting last month, I set a goal to finish one audiobook and one print or e-book each month. When it comes to reading, I'm a dabbler, excited by the possibilities a new book brings and, while I typically read only one novel at a time, I often have multiple non-fiction books going simultaneously. Last month, frustrated with my seeming inability to finish what I started, I decided it was time to dig in.

In the past month and a half, I've finished three (previously started) e-books -- not bad for someone with a five-minute commute -- and returned to a fourth. I also finished reading a non-fiction book, which is a tougher task as most of the non-fiction books I choose have the meaty material up front. But finishing was the goal, and I selected carefully, choosing books I actually wanted to read (or listen to) all the way through. 

I still don't finish every book I start -- some don't make the cut. But now, thanks to my re-purposed wait time, I worry less about my ability to finish the books I choose. These days, I'm disappointed when the line is short but, at my Starbucks, I'm not disappointed often.

What could be better than a good drink and a good read?

Friday Feature: Fall

I love fall. The temperatures, the colors, the smells. Despite my allergies, it has been my favorite season for as long as I can remember.

I also love excellent writing. Elegant turns of phrase, just-right words, evocative imagery.

I found both of these things in a New York Times piece by Frank Bruni that I read this afternoon while waiting in line for my Starbucks. The top portion of the column is political, so you'll need to scroll down to On a personal note to get to the story I'm referencing. You'll know you've arrived when you get to the photo of the red tree.

What a treat to find two things I enjoy so much in one place, capped off by another of my favorite things shortly thereafter. Sunshine, Starbucks and a red tree that evoked memories of trips to New England.

Quite a nice way to end the week.

One-Hour Projects: Part 2

The desk set-up I want.
Photo: ricardorv30 via Pixabay

I am suffering from an overload of projects and a dearth of clear spaces. One of my one hour projects was reconfiguring my office to make an L-shaped work space possible. Related projects included sorting through existing storage space in the living room (next to the office) to see if I could create space (and get rid of clutter) with an end goal of creating more wiggle room in the tiny office and de-cluttering other spaces.

It's fair to say I bit off more than I could chew. 

On the plus side, I got rid of a lot of old papers. On the minus side, some of the ones that still need homes have taken up residence in places that were previously clear.

On the plus side, I reconfigured storage in the office to free up floor space and the new system for my day-to-day organizing is working. On the minus side, that was only step one. Not bad for a one-hour project, except that I let related projects lure me away.

Still, I'm making progress. And the idea of the one hour project was to make a dent -- to take a small step -- not to cross the finish line. And I achieved that.

Part of the problem is that I wasn't clear with regard to my primary project. Was it the office? The sorting? The creating of clear space? If I don't know where I'm going, how will I know when I've arrived? Add to that the inevitable "it gets worse before it gets better" stage that accompanies big ideas and I was bound to feel frustrated, despite making progress.

What's an organizer to do?

Set the timer for an hour, then dig in again.

Only this time, I need to be clear about my desired short-term end result -- the one I'll assess when the timer goes off -- before I start. One hour projects may be optimistic, but they also need a good, strong dose of reality.

Organizers, set your timers.

Throwback Thursday: Works in Progress

When it comes to organization, I'm a work-in-progress. I know what works for me, I know what to do and I know how to do it.

The trouble is, those things don't take me all the way to the finish line which means that even though I am organized, I don't always look organized. When time and energy cooperate, I generally come out on the winning end of the organization bargain, but often, they don't and I'm left with a gap between what I know and what I can accomplish. This annoys me, but even worse, it leaves me feeling vulnerable and somewhat lacking in the sense of humor department, especially when I get teased about my I need to see it piles.

At one time or another, I think that all of us feel like organization frauds. Whether it's our I need to see it or drop and run piles that give us away, or the I know I put it somewhere or cram and jam styles that leave us hoping guests won't look beyond our clear surfaces to see what's hiding behind door #1, we're always a little insecure about whether or not we're doing this organization thing right.

More often than not, we are, especially since "right" is defined by the user of the system. If we can find what we want when we want it, we're functionally organized, which is what matters most.

Still, there are those days when logic is insufficient to compensate for our organizational insecurities. Here are a few key pieces of advice for "one of those days."

Ditch perfection. No one is perfectly organized. Ask any Type A organizer to point to the flaws in her system, and she'll probably give you a list. Although a perfectly organized home and/or office is lovely, there's so much more to life than chasing organizational perfection. Know when to walk away from that need for perfection and read a book, take a nap or spend time with the people you love.

Start with successes. This first step in the STYLE process is meant to remind us of the things we're doing right. As an I need to see it/drop and run girl, I've learned what works for me but often, instead of seeing all the things I'm doing right, I focus on the piles of homeless items that seem to pop up relentlessly. If you must focus on what remains to be done (and, some days, we must), remember to counterbalance it with all you've learned and accomplished so far. Chances are, that will tip the scales in your favor (even if some organizing remains to be done).

Remember that it's a process. Thanks to a steady flow of items into our homes, whether groceries possessions, or some combination of the two, organizing is one of those life tasks that is never finished. In some ways, this is a good thing. Putting strategies in place that keep things from crossing over to the organizational dark side helps to stem the tide and gives us practice building organizational skills that work for us so that, over time, we become more efficient.

Pixabay

Accepting that when it comes to organization, things will never be perfect or finished can encourage us to cut ourselves a little slack. Once we stop beating ourselves up, we can use that misplaced energy to put a few more things away or come up with a new strategy that makes life easier.

Or maybe even develop a sense of humor.

One Hour Projects

Yummymoon via Pixabay

Last weekend, I came up with a new weapon to add to my organizing arsenal. I was setting my November goals, trying to decide what I wanted my organizing focus to be, and I was a little frustrated, feeling as though I keep writing down the same organizing wish list every month. Something about the holiday season kicking off in less than a month made it seem a little more important to do more than write it down.

But the end of the semester is coming, too, following right behind Thanksgiving and only two weeks before Christmas. What could I realistically do?

Take small steps. 

And that's when my one hour project plan was born. 

I've decided that each week, I'm going to dedicate an hour to one of my organizing goals. I'll simply set a timer and give myself permission to stop when the timer goes off. I might not get it finished, but at least I'll make progress. 

So, what's my organizing goal this week?

Despite my enthusiasm for this new plan, I couldn't decide. But my overall goal for the month is to aim for clear spaces, so I started there. I did a brief foray into my closet, swapping out summer shoes to make space for fall shoes and boots, but that only took me about 20 minutes, so I'm now on the lookout. I have my eye on a space next to my desk where I've stored some things I'd like to find a new home for. That much of the project can easily be completed in under an hour, and it might also open the door to an office reconfiguration I'm considering.

Sometimes small steps are five-minute tasks. Other times, they're the first step toward something larger. 

Stay tuned.