Tuesday, May 26, 2009, 09:44 PM
I recently heard a presentation by an expert in the field of ADD. I was a teacher, so I have had a lot of exposure to people with ADD, but it was a great refresher, and I learned a lot of new information as well.
I'm sure you're not surprised to hear that Professional Organizers work with LOTS of people with ADD. A quick list of symptoms reveals why: inattention, impulsiveness, hyperactivity (sometimes), misplaced items, messiness, clutter, missed appointments, procrastination, trouble with deadlines, trouble following directions, trouble finishing tasks, etc.
ADD can affect multiple areas of your life, from health, to work, finances, and relationships. And people with ADD are 6 times more likely to have another psychiatric or learning disorder.
An important concept is that THESE PROBLEMS HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH WILLPOWER, as in "why can't she just clean up the house and get her act together". ADD affects the executive functioning of the brain, making it much more difficult to "just do it".
If you have ADD, it's important to hire someone who knows what you're going through and has been properly trained. Organizational strategies are not "one size fits all", and there are many ways a Professional Organizer can customize strategies to help ADD clients to find success.
This entry is barely scratching the surface of this topic, but I'd be happy to talk more to anyone who's interested.
[ add comment ] | permalink
Friday, April 24, 2009, 07:27 PM
I learned an important on-the-job lesson this week: it's important to step back every once in a while and assess where you're at, organizationally speaking. We're not focused on organizing 24/7, so it's easy to lose track of which organizational systems are working and which ones aren't.
Here's what I suggest...
Grab a pad and a pen and take a walk through your house. Make notes for each room. Give yourself credit for what's working ("I love my backpack holder. The kids don't mind using it, and it gets the backpacks off the floor".) Then, list what's not working. (1. There's a pile of unused tote bags clogging the corner of my closet. Time to purge. 2. I never liked that white board calendar. Time to toss it), etc., etc.
Next, make a game plan. First, make a list of the tasks you need to complete for each room. Second, schedule time in your calendar to tackle these tasks, one at a time.
Finally, don't be shy about dismantling systems that no longer work. Be honest, and accept that it's time to move on. Organization is a process, so there's nothing wrong with taking stock and making some changes.
[ add comment ] | permalink
Wednesday, April 15, 2009, 04:17 PM
It sounds like a no-brainer. When the weather starts to get warmer, it's time to put away the heavy sweaters and corduroys and take out the spring clothing. Then why does it seem like such a pain in the neck?!
It all comes down to volume and storage. How much clothing do you have? Do you have the proper storage?
When it comes to the amount of clothing you have, it's time to take stock. What REALLY fits? What's flattering? What's still in style? Now's the opportunity to make some decisions and clear out the clutter. My trick? I keep a handled shopping bag in the back of my closet. Every time I try something on and realize I don't like it or don't fit into it I toss it in the bag. When the bag's full I toss it in the car and drive to the nearest clothing collection site.
Once you've decluttered, it's time to assess your storage. What are your needs? People who wear a lot of dressy clothing need more hanging space and fewer drawers and shelves. For those who wear jeans & khakis every day, the opposite is usually true.
Finally, where do you keep your out-of-season clothing. If you're lucky enough to have a large, well-appointed walk-in closet, you may just have to shift items around a bit. If you have a smaller closet, you may have to put the winter stuff away completely (I'm one of these people!) I swear by my underbed boxes on wheels. I keep 2 large ones under my bed. Right now they're loaded up with the warm weather stuff. Very shortly I'll be switching out the contents.
It's all about accessibility, and those heavy sweaters are starting to get in my way! I'm looking forward to putting them away and organizing my spring clothing.
[ 1 comment ] ( 719 views ) | permalink
Saturday, March 7, 2009, 10:04 AM
Recently, I seem to be speaking to a lot of people who are moving. Some of the moves are the regular kind, caused by regular life changes: more room needed, less room needed, changing marital status, etc. Others are definitely the result of the recession. But regardless of the reason for moving, the need to declutter is the same. The real estate market is tough, and a cluttered, disorganized house is just not going to cut it.
When a house goes on the market it needs to be "lean and mean". Flat surfaces need to be clear, and personal items kept to a minimum. Closets need to be clear and orderly with nothing on the floor. Storage spaces (garage, basement, attic) need to be as orderly as possible with items in containers and stowed away on shelves.
In a way it's a blessing. It provides an incredible opportunity to assess what you're keeping and why. Plus, why pay movers to transport boxes full of junk?
In fact, even if you're not moving it can be helpful to put yourself in the moving mindset. If I had to move, could I put my house on the market? If not, what would I have to do to get it ready? What are those mystery boxes in my basement, and do I want to continue to live with them?
Why wait until you're ready to leave your house to make it livable?
The fact is, even if you're planning to be in your home for a long time it can still be liberating to lose the clutter. Then you can show off your home to friends and family instead of realtors and prospective buyers.
[ add comment ] | permalink
Sunday, January 18, 2009, 09:48 PM
In the organizing industry, we make a distinction between "Chronically Disorganized" (CD) clients and
"Situationally Disorganized" (SD) clients.
CD clients are those who have a history of disorganization. These clients have tried to get organized, but have not found success. Disorganization affects their quality of life and they're generally not hopeful that their situation will change in the future.
SD clients are disorganized because of a situation in their life, such as birth, death, a move, a renovation, etc. Working with SD clients is a finite process. They simply need an extra set of hands and a little motivation and they're off and running.
Obviously, working with a CD client is vastly different than working with an SD client. When working with a CD client, the process needs to slow down to allow the client the time to work through and express their feelings.
Do you recognize yourself in either of these definitions? Want to find out more? Write to me or give me a call...
[ add comment ] | permalink
Back Next
