Mindfulness meditation is one of my daily practices. Some of the benefits I’ve noticed is that exercise helps me to be more fully present with my attention, gratitude, and experiences. Mindfulness practice emphasizes the present, encourages us to let go of the past, and not stress about the future. These are useful pursuits. However, when it comes to helping my clients with their organizing challenges, there are other considerations. While we are working in the present, we might be grappling with the past or preparing for the future.  It’s useful to be aware of how a particular focus, as in the past, present, or future, will influence the ways your organizer helps you.

The Past

When we hold on to the past, it becomes especially difficult to let go. That can influence the volume of physical belongings that we’re hanging on to or old ideas that no longer serve us. When we’re living in the past, our minds and spaces have little room for the present. An organizer can help you face the “stuff” of the past to decide what is valuable and relevant today.

A client recently told me how she held onto things from the past because she felt that it was a happier time than the present. While organizing together, she identified that was no longer true for her. The now was, in fact, really good. With that ah-ha moment, she was able to release many physical belongings she had been reluctant to let go of before. This perspective shift and action that resulted helped her feel less burdened and more open to new possibilities.

The Present

When we are present-focused, we can more easily determine what is relevant and useful now.  Stuff enters our homes through free promotional items, gifts received, or shopping trips made. We often spend more time collecting than intentionally choosing what we actually want. Yet when we’re clear about what is meaningful and useful, it enhances the editing and organizing process.  It’s not uncommon to become overwhelmed by the number of shirts, toiletries, or desk supplies you own. Your organizer can help you set parameters, make decisions, and create organizing systems that honor your present-focus.

The Future

There are times when organizing work has a future-focus. While we are working in the present, we could be preparing for the future such as a move, job change, or arrival of a new baby. Using a future focus will influence your decisions. When you are amid life transitions like these, not all of your current belongings will be helpful. They might not be useful, relevant, or functional. They could have served their purpose and are strong candidates for releasing. Using a mindful, future-lens, your organizer can help pose questions to facilitate beneficial decision-making.

Whether your organizing work is past, present, or future-focused, with the help of your organizer, you can approach the process more mindfully. It’s useful to understand how your organizing goals connect with these periods, as they will influence the choices you make. 

Have you enlisted help from a professional organizer? How has the past, present, or future focus influenced your work together? I’d love to hear your thoughts. I invite you to join the conversation.

Motivation is an interesting phenomenon. Consider the idea that we have an internal motivation meter that influences our behavior. When your motivation is high on this scale, you’re able to activate and accomplish without much struggle. You might even feel in a state of flow as you get things done like organizing a room or starting a new venture. On the opposite side of the motivation spectrum, when your motivation is low or non-existent, you feel sluggish and like you’re pushing a wet noodle. You might feel stuck, overwhelmed, and exhausted, making it almost impossible to activate. Those are just two ends of the spectrum. There are many points in between that are less extreme.

Let’s assume that even the most motivated among us encounter times when we’ve lost our drive. I’ve been there. This can happen for many reasons, such as being in a transition, grieving, experiencing a health challenge, lacking confidence, or being sleep deprived. At these moments, becoming motivated isn’t hopeless; it just means we might need some help.

While there are numerous ideas for activating when your motivation is low, today, I’m focusing on three concepts that are great to use when you’re having motivation challenges around getting organized. Naturally, these can be applied to other situations too.

1. Porch of Indecision

On a recent trip to Orlando, I came across this humorous “Porch of Indecision” sign. Is this porch familiar? You might feel stuck because you have a choice to make and aren’t sure what to do next. Perhaps you don't know which questions to ask. Maybe you’re going in circles because you have too many options. And guess what? Any of these can create havoc with your motivation. When indecision takes over, motivation can evaporate.

If you find yourself on the porch of indecision, there are a few things you can do. First, take a deep breath. Now take a few more. This will calm your nervous system, reduce stress, and help you think more clearly. Next, refine your choices to two or three. If you’re still having trouble moving forward, enlist help from a family, friend, or professional organizer to discuss your options out loud. Having someone listen and support your decision-making can give you enough clarity and motivation to activate.

2. “What is this?” Box

During a clutter workshop that I led, one of the participants shared this idea. She explained that in their home they have a designated “What is this?” box. Each time someone finds an unidentified small piece or part of something, they put that item in the box. The components remain there until someone retrieves a “missing piece” or enough time has passed that they’re willing to let go of the part. 

What I love about this concept is that instead of spending too much mental energy on these unidentified parts, they have a landing spot, a boundary, and an expiration date.

When our motivation is low, our mental energy is also compromised. What if you created a “box” or landing spot for those organizing projects and goals that you have? Add tiny to-dos and organizing ideas to your "list"  as you think of them. Writing them down and keeping them in a specific place will clear your mind and increase your energy. Retrieve one small item at a time. Decide if you’re ready to act on or let go of that project. Breaking things down into small tasks will reduce overwhelm, increase focus, and motivation.

“When our motivation is low, our mental energy is also compromised.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVPO

3. CFI (Can’t Find It)

Have you heard of CFI, which stands for Can’t Find It? A familiar scenario is that you are about to do the next thing, and you can’t find your keys, glasses, cell phone, or _______. Instead of doing the next thing, you are engaged in a major hunt for the item you can’t find. You are aggravated. You look in all the familiar and unfamiliar places. You get other people to help you search. Time passes, and eventually, you find what you were looking for. But it leaves you feeling frustrated, stressed, and annoyed with yourself. It’s easy to go down that rabbit hole of negative self-talk. It can affect your motivation and desire to change.

Instead, let the CFI experience be an opportunity to boost your motivation. Make a mindful note about the thing or things that often get lost. Develop a plan to organize a new pattern or alter a habit, so fewer things get misplaced. It’s useful to give belongings a designated home. For example, place your car keys in the same bowl, hook, or handbag compartment every time you put them down. Before you know it, your CFI will become CAFI (Can Always Find It).

Do you have a favorite motivation technique? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Join the conversation!

It’s that point in the year when people are wondering, “Where has the time gone?”  I’m thinking the same thing. I don’t know about you, but to me, it feels like wearing my winter coat and setting New Year’s intentions were only moments ago. Yet here we are in the first week of June. It’s delightfully warm, the spring flowers are blooming, and the time has whooshed  by. The thick layers have been stored away. My first of the year intentions have born some delicious fruit. The changes happened in what feels like the blink of an eye.

One thing that’s useful to do, especially when you’re at a midpoint, is to take a pause. It’s like a taking a breath, only with time. Use your break to look backward, look forward, and then refocus on now. With the mindfulness meditations that I practice, there is an emphasis on being here now. The idea is that if we spend too much time in the past or the future, we miss the present. While I understand that concept and strive to be more present, there are times when I find it beneficial to reflect on the past and to think about the future. It’s possible to do this in the context of living now. Drawing on your history and making plans about the future enable you to live more fully in the present.

Time includes the past, present, and future. While we live in the now, we have arrived here because of choices we’ve made and the experiences we’ve had in the past. We live in the now, yet have aspirations and hopes for the future. Those wishes influence the actions and thoughts we focus on today.

We can take a reflection pause at any time- the middle of the day, month, or year. I encourage you to take a midyear pause now. Below I provided you with some questions to get your thoughts flowing. Other ones may surface. I’d love to hear what comes up for you.

3 Time Tips for a More Powerful Pause . . .

The Past

When you think about this year so far, what stands out? What have you noticed with the intentions or goals you set? Have you been surprised by the outcomes? Do you want to keep doing what you are doing? What strengths have emerged? What habits do you want to stop? What are you grateful for? Have you experienced any challenges that were fertile ground for learning? What have you learned? 

The Future

Is there anything you want to course correct? Are there any commitments you made that you want to release from your full plate? Do you have a goal or intention that you want to revise? What change do you want to make by the end of the year? Is there something you need more of? Is there something you want less of? Is there a new habit you’d like to incorporate?

The Present

How have past decisions influenced your current experience? Where do you want to focus your attention? How do your future goals affect your daily living? Are thoughts about the past or future negatively affecting your present? What will help you live more fully in the present? What is a present day “must” or “can’t live without?”

While time doesn’t stop, we can take a deep breath in and exhale slowing as lean in for a thoughtful pause. There are times when we keep going without doing a deep dive or analysis. However, it’s beneficial to stop every so often to examine, question, continue and refocus. We look back and ahead, yet we live in the now.

Do you take pauses? When do you like to make them? What questions do you ask? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Join our conversation!

Here we are now. Spring is officially arriving this week. You may be sensing rumblings within as you notice nature changing around you. You might be poised and at the brink of wanting to take your next small step towards a new or current goal. You might also be feeling anxious, ambivalent, fearful, excited, ready or not. When I help others to organize and find balance during times of transition and change those next steps are crucial. Taking one tiny stride after another propels us ahead.

Over the 26 plus years I’ve been organizing, I’ve observed that the critical ingredient for next, as the condiment of life, is the ability to let go. Without releasing, there will be no forward movement. Letting go doesn’t happen overnight. We need to exercise our letting go muscles by starting small. This strengthens our tolerance while building confidence. It’s essential to release the “stuff” of life (physical and emotional) that won’t be useful to you on this part of your journey.  

Consider next steps and letting go as a beautiful, poignant dance between the heart, mind, and body.

As many of you know, I have a daily mindfulness meditation practice. I like to work with guided meditations led by various practitioners. One of the teachers I listen to on the Insight Timer app is Annemaree Rowley from Australia. One of my favorite teachings of hers is the “Letting Go Meditation.” At the end of the practice, she shares a profound poem by the poet, Erin Hanson about letting go. I love the message and I hope that it will also resonate with you.

I was the type of person,

That held onto things too tight,

Unable to release my grip,

When it no longer felt right,

And although it gave me blisters,

And my fingers would all ache,

I always thought that holding on,

Was worth the pain it takes.

I used to think in losing things,

I’d lose part of me too,

That slowly I’d become someone,

My heart no longer knew.

Then one day something happened,

I dropped what I had once held dear,

But my soul became much lighter,

Instead of filled with fear.

And it taught my heart that some things,

Aren’t meant to last for long,

They arrive to teach you lessons,

And then continue on.

You don’t have to cling to people,

Who no longer make you smile,

Or do something you’ve come to hate,

If it isn’t worth your while.

That sometimes the thing you’re fighting for,

Isn’t worth the cost,

And not everything you ever lose,

Is bound to be a loss.

- e.h.

What have you experienced about next steps and letting go? Did any phrases from Erin Hanson’s poem spark an idea? I’d love to hear your thoughts. I invite you to join the conversation.