I recently began a new hobby… running. It's not easy nor am I good at it, but I love it. Many days I look at my running shoes and the excuses flow like water. I hurt, it's cold, my favorite running suit is not clean, I need a haircut… it's crazy what goes through your head when you feel overwhelmed at the very idea of doing something you haven't done before. But I can't let that stop me. I have a goal. The goal is really high and daunting, but nothing less will do. The challenge itself is what drives me, but the challenge itself would be my downfall without the support of other runners, trainers, good equipment and the encouragement of my friends and family. What's all that have to do with organizing? I'll tell you. Consider a difficult space that needs organizing. The challenge is there. Maybe it's been looming for a long time. Desire itself isn't going to get the job done well. You need the support of others and the skills to organize it to suit your needs.
Why is support so crucial? First, if organizing isn't a natural ability, you may not have the confidence you need to even get started. Or perhaps your previous efforts didn't last long enough to make the effort worthwhile. If that's the case, having someone encourage you and help you move forward is really important. They can offer new ideas, bring physical energy, and help keep you motivated emotionally to achieve more than you ever imagined. Multiuser spaces offer a special challenge. Prior to organizing a "public" space, get the support of all the users. Define problems with the current space, come to terms with what items are ok to keep or toss and create a common vision of what the space will look like once finished. If not all the users are supportive of the organizing efforts the space will most likely return to its' previously disorganized state in no time.
Organizing skills take a bit of time to really fine tune, but once mastered will affect every aspect of your life. The most important skill to learn is to define your project. Put it on paper if you need to. Set yourself up for success by making your project fit you. For instance, if your project is huge like "organize my house" you'll never be finished and you may lose interest because the size of the project is so daunting. A good first project would be something like, "organize a shelf in the bookcase." Finish is the key. Create several steps that can be done in order to give you momentum. Stay focused on that step and defend it when you are done. Pretty soon, the small steps forward add up to an organized space and a sense of satisfaction that will fuel your next project.
Getting organized is not a one time, yep I'm organized and I'll never have to do that again. It's more like a run. Taking one step at a time, careful not to let the steps backwards add up so much that you haven't gone anywhere at all and the road ahead is still looming.
Shannon Cowan is a professional organizer and owner of Fresh Perspective Organizing Services, LLC . She offers hands on organizing, relocation services, and educational seminars. Visit her site at www.freshperspectiveorganizing.com or call 405.880.2126 for further information.
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