Home Back to Articles Shannon Seek Author, Organic Organizing October 2002 - Overcome the Organization Obstacles in Your Life! The Organic Organizing Newsletter | 3rd Edition by Shannon Seek, BS, CPCC, CDS, Professional Organizer Kelly did not have her own closet. Somehow her husband and children managed to get the bulk of closet space in her home. When I started working with her, her spouse was complaining that she was unorganized, messy and absentminded with all household belongings. She flew me in to see her house one weekend so I could observe how they lived. What I noticed immediately was that she faced an obstacle course in order to get dressed in the mornings. Her route: 1) Squeeze by the bed to get to underwear drawer 2) Walk across room to dresser for pants and sweatshirt 3) Again, cross room to get shoes from one closet 4) Then go to another bedroom closet for a shirt and jacket Imagine having to do this every day just to get dressed with 3 young children who need your attention! Stop for a moment and think about how many obstacles she faced just to start her day? Her system was difficult to use, not in a logical order for getting dressed and required too many steps (literally). Add to it the many times she was interrupted moving back and forth between dressers and closets! It was no wonder she had a hard time keeping things organized. This was an obstacle course! (continued, above right) Back to the top (continued) Even though it is counterintuitive, it is common for people to have things spread out like this. It is usually an accident. And, instead of questioning what is wrong with the system, too many people blame themselves. Here is what created the obstacle course: A) Someone else (her spouse) had organized her stuff without finding out what she needed first, so it was not set up based on how she operated B) She did not have a central location for her belongings or a space that was hers only The solution? Get things in one place as soon as possible. Kelly needed to have zero tolerance for her belongings being so scattered. It took some time, but eventually Kelly was able to claim some space that she could call her own; and everyone in the family was better off for it! Are any of your belongings spread out such that it feels like you go through an obstacle course to collect, find or use them? Review your tools, mailing supplies, stationary, clothes, computer software, keys, kids' toys, files, computers and anything else that comes to mind. For one less obstacle to getting organized, do your best to keep things you access, use or put away at the same time together. Like things with like things is my mantra (Essential Action #1 of the Organic Organizing Matrix sm/tm). Enjoy the ease that follows! About the Author: Shannon Seek is available for private coaching, teamwork and presentations on getting more focused, effective and organized. For more information, please contact Seek Solutions at: findit@seeksolutions.com or visit her coaching & consulting website: http://www.seeksolutions.com Back to the top | Home |   | OOM Store |   | Info (Newsletter) |   | Contact |   | Privacy Policy | All Rights Reserved. Copyright, Shannon Seek, Seek Solutions, 1996-2004 Marin County, San Francisco Bay Area, California (CA), USA Tel +1 415-925-8856 www.organicorganizing.com info@organicorganizing.com