Make the Time to Enjoy the Upcoming Holidays

When people hear me speak or find out what I do, one of the most frequent statements I hear is “I need to find time to organize my _________.” (You fill in the blank.)  

What they are really saying is “I have not made the time to organize __________.” (Fill in the blank.)

Let’s face it, everyone’s “to-do” lists are overflowing, but somehow we all make the time to do those things that are important to us—we call them our priorities.

Often times when working with a client who has a very large project and sometimes an unrealistic expectation of the amount of time it will take to complete the project, it is important that we review priorities, daily obligations, volunteer activities, family needs, work schedule, and so on. This helps put the project into perspective and manage expectations. It also helps eliminate the guilt someone may feel if everything on their list did not get crossed off.

At the beginning of this year I started working with a new client—I’ll call her Maggie.

At the time, Maggie’s project consisted of organizing a large storage closet, an office, and a few other rooms in their home. Their project quickly snowballed and they ended up with:

• Four custom closet systems designed and installed
• A remodeled kitchen
• Re-purposing three rooms (on different floors) to create new spaces for offices and guest rooms
• New paint, carpet, window coverings, and furniture for several rooms
• Downsizing years of accumulation
• An addition to the workshop
• Most of the rooms and closets organized

The ultimate goal when we started the project was to be able to host Christmas at their home for their entire family. Maggie’s original goal of organizing the large storage closet, the office, and a few other rooms was not only realistic but she also set a realistic expectation to accomplish her goal.

Maggie realized that scheduling regular organizing appointments with herself as well as with us helped her to achieve her project goals. While Maggie enjoys the end results of the organization, she did not enjoy organizing without a buddy. At one point about two thirds into the year when the project snowballed and the goal completion date remained, I could tell that it was getting very overwhelming for Maggie and it was time to sit down and review the project plan.