| Other Experts' Articles | Are you chronically disorganized?--free downloadable papers
Are you ready for change?--free downloadable paper
-- from the National Study Group for Chronic Disorganization.
"Chronic" in this context means:
clutter interferes with your daily life;
you've tried to get organized on your own and it just doesn't stick;
it's a life-long issue.
It's not the amount of "stuff." It's about how you feel about how much you have.
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| On My Bookshelf | How to Practice: The Way to a Meaningful Life
Dalai Lama
The Other Side of Organized: finding Balance between Chaos and Perfection
Linda Samuels, CPO-CD(R)
That's it this month. Staying focused on the books above as well as my learning in two classes.
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| What is an Organizer Coach? | Certified Organizer Coaches blog
Organizer Coach credentialing
Professional Organizers who have learned and are using coaching skills in their organizing client work have better results.
Their clients become clearer about what they want from their lives and from the organizing work.
They partner with the Organizer Coach in the creation of new structures and systems.
Because clients are more engaged in the process, the transfer of skills and commitment to maintenance is greater.
Follow-up and accountability are built into the relationship.
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Know a friend who would enjoy this newsletter?
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| Next Workshop | "A Life in Context."
With Melissa Mannon,
ArchivesInfo
Derry, New Hampshire.
November 2, 2010
Look backward to move forward.
Decide what to keep in your story and what to let go.
Details here.
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| Downsizing Workbook | Whether you're staying or moving, do it on your own with our workbook.
Advice, forms, expertise.
Details here.
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 | Sue West,
Certified Organizer Coach(R)
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Practice makes ... well, let's say practice makes progress and give up on perfection!
Progress not perfection.
My colleague Certified Financial Planner(R) Sherrill St. Germain and I both believe that our role is to work with people on ways they can "keep or toss" the advice that comes at us, from so many directions. We collaborate (and I coach) with clients to figure out what will work for you, in your life and situation.
My first article is about why test driving a new organizing system is a good idea before spending lots of money, time or discussion on it.
My second article is about how to test drive your organizing system. It's far simpler than you'd think and so worth it.
 | | Sherrill St. Germain, MBA, CFP |
And, if you read Sherrill's newsletter articles you'll read about practicing a new spending level before you take the jump, whether it's out of your career to a new small business, or into some form of retirement.
We are planning several months of similar themes to our newsletters, which we hope you will find useful. Two experts, same time, same place - see you again next month!
To your organized life.
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S I M P L I F Y
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Release internal OR external clutter which holds you back.
Set the stage
Involve others
Make small steps
Plan to continue
Let go without regrets
Implement your ideas
Fine tune your ideas
You did it !
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Test Drive Your Ideas -- Why Do It?
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Last month, I wrote about a recipe for effective organizing systems, the "three P's" test of your systems. (That newsletter is available HERE.) With any new system, we need to practice it, to make it ... well, to make  progress. If it's perfect, then, as we say in New England about the weather, "wait a minute." It's going to need finetuning or slight changes with the first major life event that comes along in your work or personal life. Your favorite local restaurant tries out a new entrée selection at a "chef's favorites" dinner, before permanently adding the dish to the menu.
A coach offers a free half-hour coaching session, so you can test whether you find it a fit.
The software company has a users' group test new features prior to releasing the new version to all users.
And your financial planner has suggested you try out your new spending levels, before you leave the corporate position and go out on your own - or before your retire full-time.
You may know plenty of people who jump off the diving board easily, without a thought.
However, most of us like to, or in business need to test the waters first. - Mentally prepare for the changes.
- Minimize the financial risk.
- Harness the procrastination so you take a first step.
Organizing systems are no different.
Organizing systems, large and small, need a testing period.
If you test out your ideas, you give them a higher chance of succeeding, whether it's at home or at the office. At home, it could be a system to leave the house on-time with everything you need to meal planning to handling paperwork.
At the office, systems can be how you track and manage your next actions/to do list or how you work with your bookkeeper so he/she is efficient. |
"Test Drive" a System?
How ? Examples Please.
| |  This article answers the question: So how DO YOU test drive an organizing system?
Why is it important to test? Save stress. Save money. Save time. Easier implementation. Gets people used to change ... including you.
Be comfortable with progress versus perfection ...
Other ways to get started:
Rough draft.
Give it a shot.
Try your best.
And my personal favorite phrase: Take a crack at it. (How much perfection pressure can there be with that phrase? Not much!)
Whatever it will take so that you realize you're actually changing people's habits.
And that takes time.
So test it first. See what you or they think ... use experience to make your system more effective.
Examples of Testing:
Set your own expiration date. Set aside those clothes you think you're ready to give away but not quite sure about yet. Put them in a "probation" area as a test of living without them. The key is to set an expiration date for yourself. How long will they stay in probation until you're ready to say goodbye, or to move some of them back into your closet? What feels comfortable?
Watch it like a hawk when it's new ... then release control as you gain trust. At the office, you decide to hire a virtual assistant or a bookkeeper. A big decision, to give up doing this work, but you've decided your value is in strategy, sales, and marketing. And you need more time on that.
Your test would consist of: clear and specific guidelines about how or when things need to be done. Try out a few low risk projects together. Or give some assignments which you review together so that you clarify your needs and expectations.
More ideas by continuing this article: click here
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Collaborate with Space4U.
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1, 2, or 3 hour meetings.
By phone or in person.
Workbook, too!
Much of organizing success, whether it's life, time or 'stuff,' is about knowing yourself and what will work for you and what won't work for you.
That includes systems, how you'll stay motivated, how you'll change that one habit that needs some finetuning, develop a new skill or sometimes a mindset change.
I work with people in several ways - always collaboratively, because I believe and know from experience that people have lots of good ideas and know what works for them.
Sometimes it may take some coaching to help them see this, sometimes not. So we build on what's already working and improve. Or if we need a new organizing system, we look at other systems already working and model after them.
Sometimes, people realize they really can do this on their own, but they were overwhelmed by life. So we get them started, focused and on their way. We may coach but they do much of the physical organizing work on their own.
And others work with me once a month (or more) because they want the accountability of a deadline, the time set aside and coaching support through the times they know will cause them to get stuck.
I also give workshops because some people prefer learning this way and figuring out on their own how to solve their organizing challenge.
It's all about moving on, creating the physical and mental space allowing for new things to enter our lives.
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