Getting It Together: Part 1, Organization
Last week I was leading a workshop on temperament, but noticed a few other themes creeping in: organization, check-lists, time management, and overwhelm. These concerns come up with my private clients, too, and it’s not a surprise. Most of us are trying to do too much, too perfectly, in too little time.
Unfortunately, no single organizational system is going to work for everyone. Personally, I use a monthly calendar for appointments and keep lists of tasks on sticky notes stuck to my computer. (Not exactly high tech!) I am also more “piler” than “filer,” but I have a physical and computer filing system that works fairly well for me.
However, I struggle with getting rid of paper and always have. What if I need that piece of paper later?! At one job, I had a co-worker who had a single desk drawer that he kept a dozen small files in. As he held any piece of paper, he would ask himself, “will I get fired if I throw this away?” That simple test was too anxiety-provoking for me, but it worked for him. There’s an important key: match your system to your style.
For some clients, I’ve recommended David Allen’s book “Getting Things Done.” It’s an incredibly highly-structured system – a bit suffocating really – but there are tips and ideas to pick and choose from. One idea that closed a hole in my filing system was a catch-all file for things that didn’t fit anywhere else. That gave me some peace of mind and a place to put that last pile that had no where to go (and was always sitting on my printer)!
For other clients, I’ve suggested Marie Kondo’s book “The Magic of Tidying Up.” This one is more about organizing your stuff than paperwork, but may appeal to people who want a less strict and more feeling-based system. Kondo suggests we treat our possessions with great care and surround ourselves only with things that bring us joy. When we do this, there is another payoff, and the benefits trickle into other parts of our lives as explained by Cate La Farge Summers of One Kings Lane:
“All sorts of decisions are falling into place. This might be the best payoff of all: Once you’ve looked at hundreds of things and asked yourself if they give you joy, decision-making gets a lot easier: which book to read, which projects to pursue, what to make for dinner, whether to say yes or no to the many optional obligations that come our way.”
And there’s the set-up for my next blog about time management!
Stay tuned…
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