By Mary Lynne Murray
Reprinted from Contra Costa Times, June 7, 2003
EMERGENCY organizing was what my client "Kate" (not
her real name) needed after her home was burglarized. Indeed,
the desire to get organized often does come after a crisis; the
victim feels a need to exercise some control over her life.
In Kate's case, the burglary provided two "a-ha" moments:
the inability to tell the police officer what was missing - since
she didn't know where things were, such as blank checks.
The second issue was the pile-up of newspapers in the driveway
screaming "not home," making her house an easy target.
- Illness: Even a short illness can be devastating,
especially if you're responsible for caring for a child or elderly
person.
- Job change: Have you added another portion to a
full plate?
- A move: Never fully unpacked?
- Significant loss through death or divorce in your family.
- Being stranded with car trouble.
- Even minor life events can upset the organization cart in
your life.
On the other hand, positive events can cause disruption, too.
The birth of child comes to mind, as does marriage with the merging
of double stuff and schedules. The end (or beginning) of the school
year is usually met with a sigh of relief, and yet poses some
organizing issues. Remodeling, vacations, holidays; each can strain
organization standards, even though the eventual outcome is positive.
The truth is, life is full of events - some planned, some not
- that may cause a slip in our organizing systems. This means
that we either need to revamp our maintenance systems because
of the change, or play catch up with deferred maintenance.
Any homeowner knows that most maintenance projects don't get
better on their own; in fact, the house with a bad roof may suffer
considerable damage if the roof is not repaired or replaced before
the rains start.
The same is true with organizing at your home or office. You
can skate by for a period of time, doing the minimum. That's normal
in times of change, but eventually the lack of maintenance leaves
a wake of chaos that can't be ignored.
What are the basics for maintaining an organized life? Here is
a simplified list of what a reasonably organized person does to
make her life work:
- Washes dishes daily and empties trash as needed.
- Keeps food and supplies on hand.
- Washes clothes on a weekly basis.
- Organized "enough" at home or the office to be comfortable
and productive.
- Arrives places on time and keeps up with the workload.
- Pays bills on time.
- Keeps track of appointments.
- Maintains a car, if that's how you get around.
- Takes care of self with adequate nutrition, exercise and rest.
- Have a gathering at your house. Even though friends and family
come to see you and not the house, the idea that they are coming
can spur a whirl of organizing activity.
- Imagine you're moving. The thought of packing all that junk
and the cost of moving it all can be a powerful force.
- Make appointments to help you focus such as servicing the
car, doctor check-ups to take care of yourself, etc. Find an
organizing consultant ( www.napo-sfba.org ) to move from crisis
to order that is easy to maintain.
- Let the seasons be your guide. Pattern your life loosely to
nature. Summer is a good time to evaluate any clothes not worn
last winter. With ample fresh air and sunshine, summer is also
good for painting and sprucing up outdoor areas of your space.
The process of maintaining doesn't sound exciting, but good things
happen when you are organized: improved relationships, better
control over your finances, better health and a fulfilling life.
No one is instantly organized; disorganization happens over a
period of time, and it will take considerable effort to put the
puzzle pieces of your life back together. The good news is that
once you're back on track, maintaining can be done in bits and
pieces, on a regular basis. To keep chaos away, do a little each
day. Begin to think of organizing as a process, one that helps
you grow and supports you toward a greater good.
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