If you are standing in your bedroom and have to go downstairs to get it — is that a SYSTEM FAILURE or SYSTEM SUCCESS? While working with one of my all time favorite clients it occurred to me that we had very different definitions for SYSTEM FAILURE! My client viewed this as system failure if she had to travel to get what she needed. Her vision for a system that works included having “redundancies” all over the house as a “convenience”. It was a powerful moment when she re-framed this and realized that these duplicates were becoming clutter and more trouble than convenience. Beautiful, well designed spaces designed for holding bathroom items were holding “backup” supplies and were losing their functionality! You can be a good provider, homemaker and mother and only have ONE pair of scissors or one roll of tape.

There is not one right answer here! Just considering what ENOUGH looks like is a big win and helps you live more intentionally! Of course some items need to have duplicates, but if you tend to over-do that, ask yourself these questions:
Are there duplicates in this room?
Do I have a favorite?
Am I using it or saving it?
Am I backing up my back ups due to lack of confidence in my system?
Are there duplicates in other rooms?
Do I feel the need for each person to have there own?
Are you having trouble committing to a “home” for an item?

Sometimes “choice” becomes a burden and backup get in the way of order.

If you are trying to change any habit-set your self up for success by taking less on during that time.  We have been focusing on lateness and procrastination lately but this can help with any behavior change from smoking to getting exercise!  Reducing stress at that time increases your will power to succeed.  Stress often makes you resort to those old ways of dealing with things instead of trying new ways. 

So clear the decks and plan successful change by giving yourself a little break to do so.

Free Tele Class to Teach You How to Be on Time

Do you feel the need to squeeze as much activity as you can into each day?
Do you view “unproductive time” as time wasted?
Are you pleased when the day goes by quickly?
Do you regularly under estimate everyday tasks like getting ready for in the morning or driving to work?

If you answered “yes” to 2-3 of these questions, you would be labeled a “producer” in Diane DeLonzer’s book, Never Be Late Again. I must admit that I clearly fit this label! A producer’s battle cry is ” If I hurry, I can…”. Producers are optimists/gamblers. Their thinking is, checking these last two things off me list is more important that being a 100% certain that they will be on time. The rationalization is that they can cross those items off and if EVERYTHING else goes perfectly…they could still be on time. Well, we all know what happens. Producers schedule things tightly to avoid the dreaded down time. We grumble about how BUSY we are and forget that WE are the ones who over-committed! We live daily with this driving desire to GET IT ALL DONE! Here is a little secret…you are NEVER going to get it ALL DONE! So take a deep breath and try some of DeLonzor’s techniques to make a change:

When you feel your self saying, “If I hurry….” replace that with “I am being realistic or optimistic….”
Practice saying “NO” so that you are comfortable doing only things that are important.
Prepare to wait. If you don’t like waiting have something to do!
Practice transitions. Use alarms that make you stop what your doing to turn them off–and you have just started a timely transition!

People ask me how they can STAY organized after we work together. I was thinking about what determines which clients STAY organized and it occurred to me that the client who are ready to do less and have less get better results. Clients who are “getting organized” so they can squeeze more into their day or their space often find themselves struggling again. This is probably because they have not decided what “enough” is in their life and their systems have not stabilized and are still hard manage. They continue to add and add without ever subtracting! People get the best results when they are ready for change and start to see that less is more.

I am driving with my nephew and discussing how on earth a store could exist called Country clutter. What attracts people to stores with names that contain an undesirable message? I see clients spend money “unknowingly” on items that will surely become clutter because their homes are already overflowing, but this stuff is MARKED as clutter, MARKETED as clutter, ASSEMBLED TOGETHER with other clutter and SOLD as clutter. There are clearly warning signs here:) Shopper are not unwitting victims here! Maybe that is a good thing. Unlike a confusing nutrition label…here you know what you ate getting!

Everyday people spend money on our services to literally dig them out of their clutter yet these stores are breeding a new generation of hoarders! I just shake my head at how these places stay in business. I am a conscious consumer and am immediately get turned off to stores with names that are in opposition to what I am about. Another example is FATBURGERS! What’s next Holey Shoes or Busted Auto or Dog food Diner? So I challenge you to THINK BEFORE YOU SHOP!

In many situations clients are holding on to items because they are trying to respect the person that gave it to them. Often an item is passed down and has lost its usefulness and functionality in this world. It is so difficult to get rid of items like this. You have to ask yourself some tough questions. Assuming that you cup is already full, where is this item going to live in your world? What item do you already own that you would trade for it? Are you able to respect the item by storing it correctly in your space? Will it make you happy if you are not caring for it properly? Does it make you happy in general? Remember, you deserve to walk through this life—living with your BEST things.

We always think of aquiring items as “adding” to our lives, but have you ever considered the cost? Beyond the personal cost of aquistion, what are the other costs? When we “over purchase” there is an obvious strain on our pocketbooks for that temporary “thrill”. Soon if we buy items that we don’t truly need we begin to actually feel bad about that item. the thrill is gone and now we need to take care of the item, we need to store it, we need to make room for it. The party is over! When we are not taking care of it properly the item loses its ability to satisfy us. When we have too much of a certain item and can not use it we also begin to feel bad. It is difficult to feel “fullfilled” by excessive purchases, in fact at a certain point the very activity that brought you joy will make you sad. Choose carefully and thoughtfully about what you surround youself with. The “stuff” won’t bring happiness. Make room for the people and actvities you love.

We help busy people simplify and organize to save time and enjoy life more. I am beginning a dialog about getting and staying organized in Pittsburgh. I want to share resources and ideas with people that want to simplify their lives!