Coaching Tip to Get Organized
Got Mess?
An environment filled with clutter and disorganization sets the stage for *disempowerment*. In such a space, things easily get lost, our minds can get distracted, and time is wasted. Emotional triggers run rampant here — we may very quickly find ourselves feeling 
- frustrated,
- incompetent,
- reactive,
- freaked out, and
- stressed!
It’s common to feel feelings of overwhelm when considering HOW to GET ORGANIZED, yet it is actually very *possible* to get clear, focused AND moving! Try my “Ten at a Time Method…”
1.) Select up to three spaces you wish to get organized.
2.) Each day, put away or purge ten items from the messy area(s).
3.) With every item you touch, acknowledge yourself!
4.) Embrace all the good feelings that come with clearing your space.
After a week, you will see a difference and this motivating energy will carry you through to completion.
Comment on this Question:
What cluttered area will you commit to getting organized today?
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Boy, oh boy, getting organized can feel like such a challenge. I find that when I can break *any* big project into smaller pieces, I’m on my way!
I’m going to focus on organizing my hall bathroom this week. It’s gotten a bit disheveled as the “spare bathroom” and could use a little love.
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I have learned(but have yet to implement daily–DUH) that Yes if my spaces are cluttered/messy than so is my mind/outlook.
I am going to use the Ten at a Time method on my closet and kitchen cabinets this week!
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Way to go Reginia!
*Really* excited to hear a closet and kitchen update next week!
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As a fellow coach and a person who lives with a tendency to clutter, I enjoyed your post very much. It was only when I looked beneath the surface and started to think about why I was keeping stuff that I learnt to let go of some of it. What I now have around me ticks a yes to vital questions – do I need it? – do I use it? – do I like/enjoy it? – does it make me feel alive rather than make me feel hemmed in? – is it in good working order? I’ll certainly never be a minimalist but I can truly say that I enjoy my environment a lot more now.
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Great tip Marian!
I really like this method…
(I paraphrased a teensy bit…)
1.) Do I need it?
2.) Do I use it?
3.) Do I like/enjoy it?
4.) Does it bring me up or down?
5.) Does it work?
So, what if I don’t need it, but I use it, don’t necessarily like it but it does bring up and it does work? (giggle)
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Thanks for these fabulous and practical tip.
Another thing I’ve recently been trying to implement is with every new piece of paper or mail, try to only touch it once.
So junk mail, straight to recycling
credit card offers or other confidential mail that you don’t want to keep, straight to the shredder
statement or stuff to keep straight to appropriate file
bills, straight to “to be paid” basket
misc. stuff that needs action… straight to inbox
This is helping with papers piling up too badly.
I do want to know your social media time management strategies, I just started using Hootsuite to post tweets throughout the day, and I am really trying not to get on FB too often…that’s one of my challenges along with the email.
One of my mentors Sharla Jacobs of Rejuvenate Training says before she checks her email, she spends about 90 minutes working on her project of the day, because inevitably, her emails will create more work and delay her projects. I have not been able to do that one yet.
I have been trying to work in 90 minute chunks though and taking a snack, stretch or tea break for 30 minutes before starting the next 90 minute chunk….
Wow, can’t believe I had so much to say about this…hopefully some of it helpful
Dianne
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Life Coach Susan Reply:
January 13th, 2010 at 3:58 pm
ooohhh, I like that mail sorting strategy… only touch it once.
nice!
let me know how that goes.
here’s how i sort my mail:
1.) junk mail immediately in the recycle bin.
2.) #1 priority mail goes in the #1 priority file, everything else goes in “review file”
3.) once processed, mail goes in the “to file” folder or recycle bin.
4.) every few weeks i then file it all away.
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Clutter can really slow you down. That is what I like about spring. That is when I do my uncluttering. When it comes to mail there is a way to stop some of that. When you get an offer in the mail with a return envelope just return the application with a big X in the middle. These people only have to pay the postage when the return envelope is used. They will quite sending this junk mail to you. Try it.
Thanks Susan, you always have great idea’s
Debbie
Debbie @ Happy Maker´s last blog ..Does Music Contribute to the Secret of Happiness?
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Life Coach Susan Reply:
May 6th, 2010 at 6:28 am
I love it!
Great idea Debbie!
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This getting organized is soooo overwhelming…everyday I try to start and somehow it never gets done…or I’ll start and then leave everything in an undone pile. Seriously, I’m at my wits end!!! Carole
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Life Coach Susan Reply:
May 6th, 2010 at 10:36 am
Hi Carole,
Getting organized can be quite a battle.
Good job for trying each day…
I wonder if you may be trying to get EVERYTHING organized all at once?
Could you pick just one small area to focus on until it is complete…?
Then pick another small area… until IT is complete?
That way you will gain momentum and feel a sense of accomplishment.
-Susan
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Carole, you sound SO frustrated! I want to acknowledge you for trying so hard to get organized, and to let you know that you’re not alone! I’m a Professional Organizer, and have many clients who are just too busy, or get too distracted by their kids and their life, to be able to finish their organizing projects. If you’re REALLY at your wit’s end, I’d love to help!
Let me know!
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Life Coach Susan Reply:
May 6th, 2010 at 8:49 pm
Gosh, I so recommend using Professional Organizers!
You are such a blessing Carla!
Thank you for all that you do.
Be sure to post your URL here so Carole can find you if needed.
-S
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Thanks, Susan! I feel the same way about you! My e-mail is: carla@embracingyourspace.com, and my website (not quite finished!!) is http://www.embracingyourspace.com.. Hope I can help!
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I love this topic! De-cluttering and clearing old stuff out is rejuvenating…once you get over the hump and get started. This process always reveals something to me that I hadn’t noticed before. Shopaholic tendencies, for instance. I ask myself, “why did I buy that?” The answer isn’t always “because I needed it.” Cleaning is therapeutic for me
Cheryl from thatgirlisfunny´s last blog ..250 Super Useful Stay Young from the Inside Out Health Tips
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Life Coach Susan Reply:
May 9th, 2010 at 8:17 am
I ask myself, “why am I holding onto that?”
Its interesting what I will tell myself… usually comes down to fear.
Fear of forgetting something, Fear of letting go of something…
When I can resolve that fear and say “goodbye” to that item, always feels so freeing…
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Susan, I was on a few of your calls when I first “met” you, and I don’t recall you saying you used to have a clutter problem! And I’m sure I told you I have a severe clutter problem, so it shoudl hae come up! I wish I could afford to work with you; am in such desperate need of your help! My life is total chaos, and this week in particular, I am really stressed. My landlord wants to come in to do a maintenance inspection and I am just beyond overwhelmed with all my stuff, and because it is so cluttered, it isn’t too clean either. And I have not had enough time to get it “all” cleared away. I am so stressed! I am afraid they will be upset with how bad it is in here. I don’t like the work “hoarding.” I’ve watched some of those shows, and that picture up make me realize I might be one – yikes! If not, I am quickly getting close to becoing one! My home is not functional at all, and this is leading me to have too many (possibly incorrect) ideas of my mental status. I am diagnosing myself with all kinds of things! Help! How did yu train yuorself to not ant to buy more things or to not keep the stuff you don’t want to get rid of? That’s the hardest part for me; I don’t want to let go of anything!
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Life Coach Susan Reply:
May 12th, 2010 at 8:18 am
Hi Laura,
For me, I had to really connect with the PAIN of keeping something versus the pain of letting it go. Much of what I used to hang onto was because of some sort of fear. So, I had to re-associate hanging on to those things as being more painful than experiencing the fear of letting it go.
For example, I used to hang onto all sorts of craft supplies. I had a whole room filled with buttons, ribbons, glues, papers… That I NEVER used!
My fear was that I would be creative if I didn’t have those items when I needed them.
In actuality, I could be very creative when I wanted to be WITHOUT all of that STUFF weighing me down. I needed to trust myself and believe in my creativity.
I needed to associate how bad it felt to keep all of that stuff. It literally overwhelmed me. It literally sucked the creativity out of me! When I could embrace this simple truth, I could clear that clutter and feel so much better!
For you, I recommend choosing one small space in your home to focus on. Ask yourself, what do I fear that causes me to hang onto this? Then check in and see if that fear is really true. Give yourself permission to de-clutter just that one small space and then see how good it feels. This may give you motivation to take on another small space next.
((( hug )))
Susan
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