Tag Archive for: organizing goals

Lessons Learned From Clients

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Helpful Organizer BlogBeing a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) is educational and rewarding. As a member I receive valuable training, business support, and resources. One of the best benefits is the collaboration with other Organizers. There are several smaller groups within the association, and one that I belong to is Golden Circle. We meet 4 times a year to discuss a specific topic, to offer each other support, to get to know each other a little better, and to socialize. Last month we met to discuss lessons we’ve learned from our clients. Everyone had such valuable insights to share.

One important lesson I’ve learned is that it’s not easy to accept reality, especially when it means that our dreams are unattainable. For example a client of mine had collected large amounts of books with the dream of spending hours enjoying her books. Although she wanted my help to sort, reduce, categorize, and organize these books, the reality was that her eyesight was going, and she would never be able to read the majority of her books. My practical, organized self, encouraged her to reduce and let go, until she said to me one day, “What if the doctors are wrong, and my eyesight improves?”  That is when I realized that she wasn’t giving up on her dream. So, I needed to respect that, and not be a dream crusher. Coincidentally, it was not an easy reality for me to accept.

Here are some lessons we (Professional Organizers from NAPO-NE Golden Circle) have learned from our clients:

  1. It’s necessary to give up our right to be right.
  2. We’re like Velcro. We throw out solutions and some stick and some don’t.
  3. Everyone is good a something.
  4. We’re done when our clients are done.
  5. There is value in talking and communicating, not only physically organizing.
  6. Our clients motivate us to walk the walk, and organize and reduce in our own homes.
  7. Everyone organizes at their own pace.
  8. It takes courage to ask for help.
  9. We never know someone’s whole story.
  10. If we can remain neutral, we allow our clients to arrive at their own best solution.
  11. We affect each other in powerful ways.
  12. We all need personal support in our lives.
  13. The first step for change is a shift in perspective.
  14. You’re not a hoarder if you can see the floor.
  15. Running a home is a business in, and of, itself (the business of living).
  16. Sometimes it’s about me, the organizer.
  17.  We don’t know what we don’t know.
  18. Organizing is not always a priority.
  19. It’s all relative.
  20. GRATITUDE!

Another lesson I’ve learned is that simple solutions are often the best solutions. To read more, click here.

©June 2016   Janine Cavanaugh, Certified Professional Organizer®   All rights reserved

Prioritizing to be Productive

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Prioritize!  List the top three things that must be finished by the end of the day in order for you to feel happy and productive, and do them first thing in the morning.  I list my top three priorities in my date book, and tackle my number one priority before I read or respond to any emails, or answer any phone calls.  This helps me prevent distraction and procrastination.

Organizing Process

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stepsYou may have heard the phrase that organizing is a process, not a task.  What does that mean exactly?  A process involves more than one step, for example doing the laundry.  A process also involves three distinct phases, planning, doing, and follow-up. A task, on the other hand, is completed in one step, for example unloading the dish washer.  It’s important to note the distinction, because tackling an organizing process as if it were a task, causes frustration, stress, and feelings of being overwhelmed.  Devoting time to each of the three phases of the organizing process (planning, doing, and follow-up) will enable clarity, focus, and direction.

The planning phase of the organizing process is concerned with goals and objectives. What is your organizing goal? What do you want to accomplish? How much time is required? How much help and resources will you need? Is it worth calling in a professional?

The doing phase of the organizing process is the physical work needed to make the goals and objectives happen. It usually involves a process all it’s own, involving 3 (or more) steps:
sorting
discarding
assigning a home.

The follow-up phase of the organizing process is concerned with the upkeep and maintenance of the order once it’s established. This phase of the process is best accomplished by establishing personal guidelines, habits, and systems.

So, the next time you say to yourself, just get organized. Stop. Think. Devote some time to each of the three phases of the organizing process. It will provide clarity, focus, and direction.

© May 2014  Janine Cavanaugh, CPO®  All rights reserved

NAPO

Proud member of NAPO

Donation Challenge – Part 3

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101#I was so energized and motivated from the removal of 50 unwanted, unneeded and unused items from our space, I wanted to challenge myself even more.  Could I reach the 100 item mark?  Yes, I decided to go for it.  Maybe, just maybe, I was getting carried away, but I will admit, I was having fun with it.  It was very liberating, allowing myself to donate items to a worthy cause (H.O.P.E. Program of Boston Children’s Hospital) while purging our space of items that were no longer important in our current lives.
Our list of donated items is printed below. It may prompt you to think of items that you have in your household that you could donate.  If that is the case, please share those items with me.

Items 51 & 52 =  two racket ball rackets, admitted we’d never use again
Item 53 =  new kids puzzle, decided not to wait to give as gift
Items 54 – 58 =  five new kids games, decided not to wait to give as gift
Item 59 =  travel size tweezer kit, never used
Item 60 =  small gravy boat, decided 2 is too many
Item 61 =  mini cookie cutters, gift, never used
Item 62 =  manual aerator tool, never used
Items 63 & 64 =  two large hooks, never used
Item 65 =  snowman table runner
Items 66 & 67 =  2 sets of cloth napkins & place-mats, gift, never used
Items 68 -71 =  four demitasse cups and saucers, already donated espresso maker
Items 72 =  soap dish, not being used
Item 73 =  container with pour spout, never used
Item 74 =  Holiday bowl, admitted we’d never use again
Item 75 & 76 =  Set of two holiday glasses, admitted we’d never use again
Item 77 =  LP albums, no player to listen to them
Item 78 =  set of 10 luau leis, admitted we’d never use again
Item 79 =  grass skirt, admitted I’d never use again
Item 80 =  set of 10 paper lanterns, admitted we’d never use again
Item 81 =  Aloha sign, admitted we’d never use again
Item 82 =  orange and black basket, not being used
Item 83 =  travel coffee mug, decided 5 is enough
Item 84 =  purple ice bucket,  decided 2 is enough
Item 85 =  bed dust ruffle, admitted we’d never use again
Item 86 7 87 =  small bowls, never used
Item 88 =  pewter milk pitcher, gift, never used
Item 89 =  pewter sugar bowl, gift, never used
Item 90 =  RedSox key chain bottle opener, decided 3 is enough
Item 92 & 93 =  two spreader knives, decided 4 is enough
Item 94 =  set of snowman stirrers, never used
Item 95 =  set of wine tags, gift, never used
Item 96 =  timer, decided 3 is enough
Item 97 =  rolling pin, admitted we’d never use again
Item 98 =  tiny whisk, too small
Item 99 =  bread knife, decided one is enough
Item 100 =  small sock coin purse, decided 3 is enough
Item 101 =  bag of Duplo toys

© June 2013, Janine Cavanaugh, Certified Professional Organizer®  All rights reserved

NAPO

Proud member of NAPO

Yard Sale Details:  Saturday, June 22, 2013, 8:00AM to 2:00PM
North Attleboro, MA 02670
All Proceeds go to H.O.P.E Program at Boston Children’s Hospital