Organizing Doesn't Create a Frozen Environment
It Should Get Messy!
Whenever I wax poetic about a chaos free, organized, peace-filled environment someone inevitably gets their feathers ruffled and challenges me. They assume I mean that when you do a project, your environment stays tidy. I don’t say or suggest that at all. In fact right before it all comes together for that Instagram worthy image, it’s probably going to look like a bomb went off.
Your Zen Organizedtm environment is your foundation. It’s your jumping off place. It’s your creative home. It’s not your prison. Creating your Zen Organizedtm base takes thought, planning and elbow grease. I urge my students to go to a construction site and watch the earth be cleared and prepared. You go as deep as you need to go high. If you skimp on the foundation, your structure will not last the test of time and elements. It’s exactly the same with getting organized and its ability to inform your life.
If you have always lived challenged by how to create order, your prep work may included journaling, therapy or a few sessions with someone like me or a life coach. I’m guessing you grew up in a chaotic household with parents who were re-creating the chaos that experienced in their homes of origin. Organizing is a skill like playing the piano, cooking or learning a sport. You excel in accordance with your interest level and your natural talent. It’s really that simple. No one has to become a pro to prove they got the message. Your increased ease in functioning in your environment is your proof of advancement. Remember that Olympic athletes often win gold by the tiniest margin imaginable. ALL movement forward counts.
I wrote One Year to an Organized Life so that everyone would have a primer to get them into the organizing world. I’ve created The Journey so you can make the transition from chaos to peace in 8-weeks. I’m always here to respond to your questions and concerns. Come with me in some way and make the effort. Wherever you land will be different than where you are now. That’s guaranteed.
You all know the story of how I studied the martial arts for 2 years and was always the worst in the class. Still it has to be said that at the end of two years I was a different person with a humble new skill set that saved my life years later when someone threatened me on the street. Bruce Lee taught you should train until the moves were in your muscle memory and not train to get a belt. I swear as that young woman was bringing her tire iron down to strike me, I suddenly remembered my kali escrima training and grabbed it! In fighting for possession of the weapon, I threw her off guard. It’s a much longer story than I have time for here and she wasn’t working alone. The bottom line is that it all worked out because I remembered my kali escrima training. No learning however humble is ever wasted. What are you waiting for?
I call every Saturday in The Journey ‘Elbow Grease Day.’ It’s the one day we’re up on our feet doing physical work. Here is a sample for your enjoyment:
Week 1: Saturday
Elbow Grease Day
Weekend Warrior!
I know many of you feel that change happens as the result of physical activity. I think change happens in our minds first and then physical activity brings our concepts into reality. Be patient with me. I promise that slow and steady wins this race. You have gifted yourself with 8 weeks not 8 days to change your life! Take advantage.
Over the weekend I want you to take a few minutes to eliminate excess from your bedroom. This isn’t a multi-hours deep dive; it’s a gentle push in the right direction. Very often energy gets stuck and this simple culling will get things going in the right direction. Was that you rolling your eyes at me? Consider this: exercise is meant to release stagnant energy in the body. We know now that stagnant energy can lead to disease. It’s only common sense to consider that if we never move anything in a room, the energy will be stuck and the room will have a depressing air about it. Did you experience that when you did the Fresh Eyes exercise?
I think we unconsciously freeze our environments and our life experience believing that if we don’t move or change anything we can hold onto the present reality. We can’t. Life is like a river. It’s moving whether we dive in or sit on the banks of the river. I say dive in and take the journey.
Set a timer for 15 minutes. Here’s a list of possible items you may encounter that could leave your bedroom. I’m giving you choices because you may not have wire hangers or dry cleaner plastic. Don’t go crazy on me. Ready?
From your closet:
Wire hangers
Plastic from the dry cleaner
No closet needs a ton of empty hangers. Whittle down. Remember that space is a commodity like money or food. If you have a big closet, it’s wise to invest in wood hangers. If your closet is a tiny one in a big city apartment or an old house, try the velvet hangers. Here’s a link:
While I do not want you to do a deep dive into your wardrobe today, if you eyeball the racks and see a garment that makes you scream: “Why do I still have that old thing?!” feel free to remove it. If it can be donated place it in a sturdy trash bag and place it in a corner. We’ll be adding more soon. If you are into selling clothing online, you will find many choices. Be sure you enjoy the process of selling. Some of my clients love it while I prefer to donate to charity.
Options!
If you rarely go to a dry cleaner and wire hangers and plastic covers are foreign items in your home, you may need only two minutes to pull out random items of clothing. Here are some optional actions to take. These simple things are the first domino. And you know what happens to the dominoes when the first one falls!
From Your Bedroom
Too many books on the nightstand? Remove the ones you have read. Can you donate them to your library? Sell them online? Gift to a friend? If you need a bookcase, here’s a link to a perfect solution for the bedroom. Bookcase
Too many decorative items from another era? Donate or move to a new location.
If children’s toys migrate to your bedroom, be sure you teach little ones to return items to their rooms. What a great habit to cultivate! If you have dog or cat toys littering the floor, get a container for them. It can be made of any material and repurposed from another room. This eliminates a tripping hazard and a sloppy look that is sleep and depression inducing.
Let me know which tasks you chose for this weekend! How did you feel afterward?
Deal of a Lifetime
Once you purchase the Journey, you own it forever. I tinker with it so if you decide, for example, to do a yearly review you will find new tidbits. I’m also working on additional interviews with folks whose life work will enhance your experience. On my website the price is $299. The Journey is self-guided and begins on a Monday. If you subscribe to my Substack (free or paid) and write to me, I’ll give you the course for $99.00 Should you wish to gift someone for their birthday or look ahead and have the holidays handled, we’ll create a special gift certificate for you to present to the lucky person. I’d tuck it into a copy of One Year to an Organized Life
