Truth be told, getting organized is not easy, but it is much easier than the alternative. The reason you think it is easy to not care about the piles of paper, the projects not being addressed is because it’s become a habit that actually feels comfortable. In actuality, the stress of not dealing with the misplaced papers, the missed deadlines is hard on you emotionally, physically (we get headaches, sick to our tummies), and often financially (and today who can afford extra losses there!).
When you get organized, you actually break old habits and learn new ones. The transition will require concentration and dedication (like the discipline I talked about earlier). You will need to think about being organized pretty much all the time. You don’t want to start veering off into distraction of sloppiness at a whim.
Some people have tried to just “clean it all up” and really try to do it differently – almost like a diet, or a bad realationship, saying ”It’ll be different this time”. But without professional help or at least the guidance of a good system, you will find that you end up right where you started. Some people are lucky and are able to get organized from the beginning and are able to move on with their lives. Whatever your experience, know that you are not alone and that one of the keys is to know that each person is unique and you need to find a system that works for your needs and your lifestyle.
If you’ve been following my story, you’ll know that getting organized has nver been a natural way of living for me. It has always been a process that I tweak and improve over time. My systems change as I change, and very possibly, so will your systems.
(C) 2009. Strategize & Organize. Anne McGurty.
