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KarenJane

Organization as a tool

“I’m not obsessed with organization,
I’m obsessed with living a simple, remarkable life
and being organized is just a tool to help me toward that goal.” Erin Doland

Being organized and living (or working) in an uncluttered space makes the mechanics of daily living easier.
Simple routines that develop into habits keep our lives running smoothly 
and help us cope with the unexpected with less anxiety or drama.

Remember, true organization isn’t about how the space looks; it’s about how it functions.
How can you best arrange, store, and manage your possessions so that they serve your currents needs?

Where is one place in your home, work space, or life that you could 
whip out your tool of organization 
​and make a small and meaningful difference?

If you change nothing, nothing will change……..

Focus on the benefits

Often what keeps us stuck or procrastinating is our focus is on how hard something is going to be, 
or why we don’t want to do it.
(whine, whine)

Instead, focus on  the benefits of doing the work.
What opportunities might be created?
Remember why you wanted to take on the project.
Remind yourself of the changes your actions will produce.

Procrastination and stalling take energy.  
Why not put that effort into achieving the goal?
Weigh the long term benefits 
against the short time needed to do the actual work.

Switching your focus from the mechanics of the doingness part, 
to the positive outcome and changes having done the work will create; 
you can change how you feel.

Place your attention on the results.
Inviting a shift in perspective makes it easier to get things done.


What are the benefits of a less cluttered life?
Make that your focus.

What’s valuable?

The most valuable things, aren’t things.

It isn’t about your stuff.
It’s about your connections with others.

Make time with others a priority.
Give someone a little Grace.
(Give some to yourself)
Spend your money on experiences,
not more stuff.

Who do you miss?
What one step could you take to
reconnect with someone who feeds your soul?
And makes you laugh.

Take the step.
Move in the direction of the life you want to be leading.


Is it worth keeping?

Wait a minute.
Before you put that item away ask yourself:
“Is it worth keeping?”

Putting things away when you’re finished with them is key to eliminating clutter.
Sometimes though, it’s a good idea to stop and consider if
you really need or want to keep an item.

Before you toss a dried up pen back in the drawer, 
put a chipped cup back on the shelf,
hang up a shirt that’s a tiny bit too tight, 
or make room for another book on an already crowded shelf:
Ask yourself, “Is this worth keeping?”

If it isn’t: Let it go.
(You know-recycle, donate, toss.)

Oh, and let’s not forget the mental or emotional items we’re keeping. 
Is it helpful to hold onto that grudge or resentment, anger or fear?
Would letting go of those stories and memories make space in your head and heart?

You decide what has worth and value in the life you’re living right now.
Thoughtful decisions about what you have in your home and heart
create a home you enjoy and a life you love.

Identify your weakness

(Chocolate, obviously…)

With regard to your things and clutter: 
Is your weakness:
Acquisition?
Disorganization?
Difficulty getting rid of things?


One of theses areas is probably a more significant struggle for you than the others.
Understanding which of these actions you find most challenging will help you focus
your attention on that aspect of the process,
and be able to make some small but powerful changes.

Challenged by Acquisition?
            Try not shopping for a week. 
            Drive past the garage sale.
             Ignore the ‘clearance’ table. 
             Leave your selection in the Cart for a day or two.

Feeling disorganized?
            Start by establishing homes for the things you use every day.
            Put your keys in the same place. 
            Set up an area to deal with the mail. 
            Don’t put things down-put them away.

Can’t seem to let go?
            Imagine there is someone who could use your item, right now.  
            Stop giving Justin Case room in your closet. 
            Acknowledge that was then, this is now; and purge accordingly.

Merely paying closer attention to your thoughts and actions will help you change your behaviors.
The more frequently you exercise your new options, 
the faster you’ll turn your weakness to a strength.

Some days will be easier than others. 
Some parts of the process more of a challenge depending on the items involved.

Living a less cluttered, more organized life is a practice and process.

A gift for yourself

Forgiving.
It’s amazing.
The perfect gift to give yourself.


Think of it as letting go of some emotional clutter.

Accept the fact you can’t change the past. 
No matter how many times you go over the story in your mind.
No matter how righteously indignant you are about how you were wronged.
No matter how many people might agree with your version of the event.
No matter how long ago or how deep the hurt: 
You can’t change the past.

Just so we’re clear:
Forgiving doesn’t mean forgetting, 
or pretending that you weren’t hurt by what was said or done, 
or that a relationship wasn’t changed or damaged by what transpired.

Forgiving does mean that you can reclaim some emotional space in your life.  
You can learn from what happened to set some clearer boundaries with people. 
You could consider that it might not have been about you at all; that it was their stuff, 
and you just happened to have caught it when they were throwing it around.

Just as physical clutter takes up space in our lives, 
emotional clutter gets in our way too. 
It usually isn’t as obvious as the piles, stacks or over flowing basket,
but still keeps us from having the life we truly want. 

Dig a little deeper

We’re all pretty aware of what’s in the first three inches of our cupboards or cabinets, 
a drawer or a stack of papers.
But what’s in the next three inches?

When we move past the items in the front; those things we use most often, 
wear most frequently and left so we’d be sure to find them:  What would we find?
Food we’ll never prepare, expired medications or supplies, 
a sweater with padded shoulders, 
an over due bill or over looked check?

This week, try digging a bit deeper.
Choose a cabinet, drawer, or pile of papers and sort through it.
What really needs to live in that place?
What needs to be donated or tossed?
What paperwork needs a few minutes of your time and attention?

Maybe spend a few minutes digging a bit deeper personally too.
Are there activities you might be willing to step away from?
Judgments about yourself or others that you’d be willing to let go?
Thanks you’d be willing to articulate in a note to someone?

It’s good to have important things up front and accessible,
and it’s wise to be aware of what we’re holding onto a bit more deeply.

You make all the choices.
Choose people, activities,
the things that support the life you really want to be living.
Consider what’s possible. 

What it’s really about

It isn’t about your stuff.
It’s about your connections with others.

Be generous.
Be grateful.
Make time to do what lights you up.
​Be with the people you love.
Say Thank you.

Clever

“The mind is clever, but the heart is truly intelligent.” David Montgomery


Our minds can help us figure out where to keep the scissors.
By listening to our hearts; we’ll know what we want to use our scissors to create.

Use your brain for sorting, prioritizing and organizing.
Allow your heart to guide your use of the time and space you create.

Admit that it’s over

 “That was then. This is now”  
I often comment to my clients, in my least Bossy Voice, of course.

One source of clutter comes from holding on to items connected to a life we no longer live. 
(Or ever did for that matter)
Supplies for a hobby we stopped engaging in years ago. 
Sports equipment from an activity we abandoned. 
Clothes from a different body or life style.  
Supplies for a Do It Yourself project that will never happen.

We want to believe that our lives, tastes and commitments haven’t changed. 
That we have the same bodies, abilities and interests we had two, five, or ten years ago.
What’s true is that isn’t the case. 
If those hobbies and activities were important to us, 
we would be making time and room in our current lives to do them.

Take an objective look at what’s living in your closets, 
stacked on your shelves,  
or piled in the garage;
that no longer has use or meaning in your life.  
Get rid of the unused, excess, nagging, guilt inducing stuff.

If you’re not quite ready to let go of things (or is it what they represent that has the hold on you?): 
Set yourself a deadline.
If you haven’t pulled out the yarn, played tennis, 
or refinished the chair by X date, 
be willing to admit it and let the items go.


I invite you to take look at what you’ve been holding on to 
that no longer serves the life you want to be living now.
Admit that yes, you’re done with that hobby, activity or project.

It’s okay, really.

Give the supplies, equipment and clothes to people who will use them, 
​right now, for the lives they are presently living.

Your letting go will create space in your house and life; physically, mentally and emotionally. 
You’ll have more room for this life, the one you’re engaged in right now.
Make that life a reflection of the people and activities that feed your soul and fill your heart.