Getting organized is easier for some than for others. What happens when organizing is one of your challenges? When you want to get organized and don’t feel like doing the work, how can you get motivated to move ahead?

There are many motivation techniques. I compiled several of my favorites. The next time you’re feeling motivationally-challenged, give one a try.

5 Motivation Tricks

• Use a timer. Strive to organize for short yet regular 15-30 minute sessions. Organizing doesn't need to be done in marathon time blocks. Sometimes it's more bearable to do a challenging task if you are doing it in shorter increments. It becomes less of a big deal in your mind and circumvents the tendency to procrastinate.

• Underwhelm your lists. We often make our lists of projects and to dos so large that they de-motivate rather than motivate us to action. If your big expectations are preventing you from getting started, write a short list that includes the next two tiny steps. Focus on doing less to motivate you ahead. Think in bite-sized pieces.

• Celebrate your success. After accomplishing five short organizing sessions during a week, give yourself an appropriate reward. Visit a park, have an ice cream cone or meet a friend for coffee. Rewarding yourself for commitment and progress can be a great motivator.

• Be kind to yourself. If you can’t decide between organizing or going for a walk, take the walk, clear your head and then come back and reset your timer for a 15-minute organizing session. The idea is to be consistent, work around the difficulties and forge ahead.

• Build in fun-factor. Sometimes we work better when we have people with us to cheer us on and provide focus. Turning organizing into a social event can be fun and motivating. Ask a friend or professional to help with the process, especially if you are struggling to move ahead on your own.

What motivates you to move ahead when you are stuck? Do any of these resonate with you? I’d love to hear your thoughts. I invite you to join the conversation!

Photo by Linda SamuelsSummer is the time to slow down, tackle those organizing projects and enjoy vacation time. One powerful motivator for getting things accomplished is having a time deadline. For example, knowing the bags have to be packed before the plane takes off or the minivan leaves for the family road trip creates an urgency to be ready. For the Summer Organizing Giveaway, I’ve put together some fun travel-related organizing tips and giveaways.

Organizing Travel Tips

• The List: Yes, we can try to keep all the details in our heads, but making a list of the items you want to take, makes packing easier and less stressful. After writing your list, “go shopping” in your drawers and closets. Gather items onto a large, flat surface and then pack away.
• The Containers: You can just throw things willy-nilly into your bags, but grouping items together in packing cubes or Ziploc bags will keep you and your suitcase organized. Packing cubes can also be used as drawer organizers when you arrive at your destination.
• The Nourishment: Bring items to feed both the mind and the body. For the body, pack some travel snacks (nuts, dried fruit, mints or chocolate) because you never know when hunger might strike. For the mind, travel light and download your favorite books to your electronic reader. The Other Side of Organized just became available for the iPad, iPhone, Kindle and Nook. It will soon be available on Sony Reader too.
• The Last Minutes:  Before any trip, there are always last minute things to do and purchase. Keep an extra list nearby to capture those “to do” thoughts that pop into your head. Having your action list nearby will help keep you focused and worry-free about not forgetting to cancel the newspaper, hold your mail or buy extra sunscreen.

The Summer Organizing Giveaway starts on July 14^th.  One winner will be selected on July 21^st.  It includes goodies that will organize, inspire, relax and delight you.  Continue reading for description and contest rules. The winner will receive everything described below:

• The Container Store $25 gift card
• “Pack This!” Pad by Knock Knock
• Eagle Creek Pack-It Cubes (2)
• Clear Zippered Case
• 24/7 Reusable, Compact Bag
• “To Do” Sticky Notes by Knock Knock
• Starbucks $25 gift card
• Oh, So Organized! coffee mug
• Autographed copy of The Other Side of Organized by Linda Samuels

Contest Rules:

• Comment on this blog post below with your favorite vacation spot, memory, travel organizing tip or challenge
• Comment about the giveaway on the Oh, So Organized! Facebook page
• Re-tweet this giveaway on Twitter and include @LindaSamuels when you do
• Subscribe to Oh, So Organized! monthly e-newsletter for continued inspiration and motivation
• Visit the newly redesigned Oh, So Organized! website and comment on this blog about your favorite feature, section or part
• Purchase a copy of The Other Side of Organized (paperback or e-Book) and email copy of receipt to linda@ohsoorganized.com
• Do one or all of the above to enter. The more you do, the more times your name will be entered to win (up to 6 total entries!)

Come join the conversation about vacations, organizing and more. Wishing you all good luck!

The debate about which came first the chicken or the egg can also apply to motivation and action. Do we have to be motivated before taking action or do we sometimes act, even when we don’t feel motivated to do so? Nike’s slogan, “Just do it,” encourages us to do before feeling motivated. While that may work in certain situations, there is no denying that being motivated works magic in moving us towards a desired goal.

Motivation is a personal undertaking. What works for one person, might not work for another. What works in one situation, might not work in another. In thinking about what motivates us, some themes have emerged. Do any of these resonate with you?

7 Ways to Get Motivated

1. Time Constraints – The pressure of time and imposed deadlines like friends arriving, packing for vacation or completing a report, can motivate us to reach our goals quickly and on time. The fear of not getting something done in time forces us to finish.

2. Self Development – The desire to look younger, get thinner, feel healthier, be smarter or get more organized can motivate us to make the changes needed in order to improve our self-esteem.

3. Peer Pressure – While we may not like to admit that we’re influenced by what others think or do, there are times we are motivated to act because of our peers. For example, I’ve noticed that when one friend starts getting organized it often motivates their friends to begin organizing too.

4. Extreme Pain – Being in physical or emotional distress can be one of the strongest motivators for change. Not all motivation stems from positive feelings. Sometimes, the negative ones force us over the edge to action because we just don’t want to be in pain any longer.

5. Life Changes – Significant life events such as marriage, births, deaths, divorce, illness and children leaving the nest or coming back home are huge catalysts for introspection and change. Their dramatic nature can cause us to make other big changes.

6. Simple Rewards – Sometimes a plain reward is enough to motivate us. I know we’re humans and not animals, but I remember how food played a huge role in motivating our dog, Norton. His love of food was so intense that he’d do almost anything for a “treat.” Sometimes food motivates me too. In the summer especially, the thought of a delicious ice cream cone from our local shop, The Blue Pig can motivate me to complete a project. Using other rewards like taking a bike ride, walking by the river, enjoying coffee with a friend or getting a massage can motivate us to complete our goals too.

7. Love Driven – Sometimes we are motivated because of our loved ones. Perhaps we want to get our affairs in order to make things easier for our family when we’re gone. Maybe we want to declutter our homes to create less stress and more harmony at home. Doing things for the people we love can be a strong motivator.

I’d love to hear your thoughts about what motivates you. When you get stuck, what propels you forward?

Before me, sparkles of light reflect on the Hudson River. Sounds of birds conversing and the hum of cars passing in the distance and an occasional train whistle punctuate the quiet. The sun is hot, but there's enough of a breeze to act as a natural fan. The day has been filled with a mixture of writing, coaching preparation, radio interviewing, bill paying and phone calling.

When it came time for a lunch break, I opted to combine eating and writing with enjoying this gorgeous summer day. The day has been my own because I set aside the time. So often, we have to plan our to dos around all our other responsibilities. I like having days when my time is more intentional and I don't have to negotiate with other obligations and appointments.

How do we view our time? I like to build in stopgaps where we carve out time to focus on specific things. This prevents us running from appointment to appointment, putting out fires, feeling overwhelmed and never getting to do what we most enjoy.

Slowing down a little and being intentional, gives us the time to breathe, think and plan. It affords us the time to implement the plans without the panic. Then we can enjoy the process and our time even more. Carving out a "desk" or "personal" day every so often, helps keep us focused and better balanced.

Ironically, I did have a moment of panic today. I was about to prepare for an upcoming mentoring session, which involved reviewing and updating a computer document. To my horror, not only was the document missing, but also was the entire electronic file folder containing one hundred documents. After searching my computer, I realized that I must have accidentally deleted the folder when I was cleaning up my computer's desktop the night before.

Fortunately, the potential catastrophe was avoided. I regularly back-up my files using Carbonite and Time Machine. I immediately contacted Carbonite to see if my files could be retrieved. Within fifteen minutes, the files were found and restored onto my desktop. Can you hear my big sigh of relief?

Having a back-up system in place is very much like building stopgaps into your schedule. It helps keep panic to a minimum. Emergencies and the unexpected will happen. When you are reviewing your calendar, consider reserving time just for you to stop, regroup and refresh.  

How do you create time to rejuvenate and refocus?