Organize This! Chronic Disorganization - Possible Symptom of a Medical Condition

By Stephanie Calahan (Calahan Solutions, Inc)

"I must be going crazy!" stated "Bob" a few days ago.  His frustration was apparent and he stated he was desperate.  Although he was extremely bright, he just could not get out of the bad habits that he had developed in his office.  After talking with him for a while he told us that he thought he was helpless, but wanted advice from a professional. He is not "going crazy."  We talked for a while and together determined that he met the initial definition of a Chronically Disorganized individual. 

What is Chronic Disorganization

Chronic Disorganization (CD) has three distinct features according to the Institute for Challenging Disorganization.

• the persistence of severe disorganization over a long period of time;
• a daily undermining of one's quality of life by disorganization; and
• a history of failed self-help efforts.

Medical Conditions that Can Impact Your Ability to Organize

There are numerous medical conditions that can contribute to chronic disorganization:

Anxiety Disorder
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD/ADHD)
Autism & Asperger's Syndrome
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Depression

Click to read more ...

Organize This! Understand How Long to Keep and How To Let Go of Bathroom/Self-Care Products

By Stephanie Calahan (Calahan Solutions, Inc)

What do you get for a woman that has everything?  Why bath products, perfume, soaps, lotions and makeup of course!  Bath products and personal care items are an easy gift to give - everyone could use some more lotion right?  Often we struggle throwing these items out if they have not been used.  Consider these two points when looking at your things.

1 – Personal care items expire

Any color of makeup you have found that you do not wear at least once a month should be thrown out. (If it has not been used, you can donate it, but please do not donate used makeup.) For a great summary of how long to keep various items, visit this article.

Click to read more ...

Organize This! Understand Before You Reprimand

By Stephanie Calahan (Calahan Solutions, Inc)

Do you have family members that are just not following the routine?  Maybe you have put organizing systems into place and you seem to be the only one that is trying to keep it organized?  You are not alone.  But, before you get too frustrated, listen to this story and see if it can help your situation.

A few years ago, I asked my son (who at the time was 7) to pick up his room and organize his desk. I had been teaching him organizing and “picking up” strategies since he was young, so I was not worried that the job would get done.  When I went into his room, his toys were all over his desk! I was frustrated. He had been instructed to put his toys away and instead I saw them all over his desk so random.

A long time ago, I promised myself that I would understand first. So, I held my irritation and asked him:

"David, we talked about organizing your desk. Can you please explain to me what organizing you have done?"

"Mom!" he exclaimed, "I did all KINDS of organizing."

Click to read more ...

Organize This! Helping Your Child Let Go and De-Clutter

By Stephanie Calahan (Calahan Solutions, Inc)

Often when I am giving presentations or working with work-at-home moms, I’m asked this question:

Q:  Isn’t it easier to just get rid of a child’s toys?  If I see that they are not playing with them, what is the harm in just making them “disappear”?

Give a man a fish and he will have food for the day.
Teach a man to fish, he has food for a lifetime…

When my son was about 2 years old, we started teaching him how to make choices about his belongings.  He was very into picking toys, books, clothes, etc. that could go to another kid that did not have as much as he did.  He was excellent and empathetic, and we thought, "Wow, this is going to be easier than we thought."

At about the same age he was a complete and total Elmo fan. He had all kinds of Elmo things.  There was one in particular -- it was a simple stuffed Elmo.  Nothing fancy to him, but Elmo was his best buddy and went everywhere with him.

Well, over time, he of course, lost interest in Elmo.  When he was about 5 years old, we were in his play room in the basement going through his things.  Out popped Elmo.  Since he had not played with stuffed toy in at least a few years, I suggested that Elmo should go to a new home.  This is somewhat of how the conversation went...

"NO!!!!!"  he screamed, quite passionately.  "I don't want him to go...." he whimpered.

So I tried to reason with him first...

Click to read more ...

Organize This! Set Up a Filing System to Store and Manage Your Paperwork

By Stephanie Calahan (Calahan Solutions, Inc)

Paper!  Paper Everywhere!  Every horizontal space is covered in piles of the stuff.  With all of the talk of our society going “paperless” it has never happened.  In fact, we have more paper today than we did 20 years ago and it is still the #1 reason that people contact us.

Why is paper so difficult?  Well, for starters, it is hard for people to make decisions about what to do with the paper they have.  Sometimes just the thought of letting go of information causes panic attacks. 

Clutter of paper (and other items) accumulates for three primary reasons:

Fear of Scarcity

We worry that we might “need it someday.”  Right?  We fear that the paper holds important information that we need and we are afraid of losing.

When we are in a fear state, we very rarely make good decisions.  We are being ruled by negative emotion.  The solution is Trust!  Trust that you will make good decisions.  Trust that the systems that you put in place will work.  Most importantly:

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your way acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Click to read more ...