By Mary Lynne Murray
Reprinted from the Contra Costa Times, July 20, 2002
How can I tell
if someone is chronically disorganized? Are there some people
who just can't get organized? -- Barbara, Walnut Creek
The three signs
of chronic disorganization are: severe disorganization that persists
over a long period of time; an erosion of quality of life due
to disorganization; and a history of unsuccessful self-help efforts.
Common traits among most chronically disorganized include:
• Large accumulations of possessions or papers beyond
apparent usefulness or pleasure.
• A high degree or discomfort in letting go of things.
• A wide range of interests, unfinished projects and
incomplete tasks.
• Reliance on visual cues such as paper piles as reminders
to take action.
• A tendency to be easily distracted or to lose concentration.
• A tendency to lose track of time.
I believe everyone's level of organization can be lifted, given
that desire and effort is present. Yet there are some folks who
don't respond to conventional organizing methods.
In "What Every Professional Organizer Needs to Know About
Chronic Disorganization," author Judith Kolberg says, "Being
chronically disorganized is an expression of a bad fit between
conventional organizing practices and unconventional learners."
For example, take the idea that organizing is a solitary affair.
In fact, the chronically disorganized person can focus better
and feel supported when organizing is not done alone. With social
organizing, a professional organizer or family member acts a human
anchor so that the chronically disorganized feels stabilized.
Using other people in the organizing process can raise and maintain
a chronically disorganized person's level of organization like
nothing else.
What is the best way to organize photos? --
Kristen, San Mateo
The best way
depends on you. How much time do you want to invest in organizing
your photos? How important is the final product? What level of
organization are you willing to maintain?
Putting pictures in albums is the most common method of organizing
photos, yet it can be an overwhelming proposition for even the
heartiest shutterbug. However, it is easiest for others to view
your photos when they are in an album, and the photos are better
protected. (My kids love to look at photos of their younger years,
and that is reason enough to get the photos in albums.)
Many folks opt for albums that have plastic inserts for each
photo; the pictures are simply inserted and the job is done before
the next roll of film is developed. Buy products that are acid-
and lignin-free and therefore won't damage your photos.
Also consider Creative Memories, whose slogan is "Simple
pages, completed albums." Its products are high-quality and
safe for your photos. "Crop till you drop" scrapbooking
workshops are available through crafts stores and local consultants.
Yet album pages need not be a work of art.
The other system that has become popular is to use photo boxes.
Each box holds hundreds of photos, and dividers can be inserted
to organize by date or subject. The advantage of this method is
time-saving, both in setup and maintaining. The disadvantage is
that in order to look at the photos, they must be removed from
the box, possibly get out of order, lost or covered with fingerprints.
Be sure to spend a little more and buy photo-safe boxes.
If you're not able to organize your photos right away, label the
processing envelope and the backs of photos. This makes your job
so much easier later. Discard any out-of-focus or duplicate shots.
Whatever you do, don't store photos in places such as the garage,
attic or basement. These areas are subject to heat and humidity
that will seal the fate of your photographs. Better to store photos
in temperatures that you find most comfortable.
In response to a recent column on travel organizing, Drake from
Lafayette has this suggestion:
"Don't travel with just one credit card, for this reason:
Many banks have fraud detection software that is alerted when
your card is used multiple times, as it can be while traveling.
The bank will call your house, and if you don't call back within
24 hours, that card will dry-up."
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