Challenging Disorganization and Hoarding Expert Ellen Hankes

The Other Side of Organized

One of the hallmark characteristics of chronic disorganization is the multiple, and yet unsuccessful, self-attempts to get organized. WIth my specialty of helping the chronically disorganized individual improve their quality of life through organization, I often find these clients have an extensive (and enviable) library of how-to-organize books. If you are chronically disorganized, or work or live with someone who is organizationally challenged, you will want to read The Other Side of Organized: Finding Balance Between Chaos and Perfection (Oh, so Publishing, 2009) by Linda  Samuels, CPO-CD©. It is a slim book of wisdomm presented in brief topics which lead the reader into a self-introspection of one's relationship to things.

While the animal-lover will enjoy the connection to the cartoons featuring the author's beloved black lab, Norton, the strength of Ms. Samuels' book is the underlying multiple reminders of the rewards of organization. When you read about perfect spring days, connecting with your loved ones, rejuvenation and self-care, you will better understand what Ms. Samuels refers to as the other side of being organized.

With acknowledgment that change comes only when people are ready to change, Samuels devotes an entire chapter to helping the reader understand the change process. The chapter on change will be valuable not only for the chronically disorganized but also for those who love them, work with them and live with them. Samuels sums up change in the following way:

When people are ready they change. Their initiative and desire must come from within. When the pain to stay the same becomes greater than the fear of the unknown, change occurs.

Included is the caveat that change is a forward as well as a backward process. You will read about the five phases of change which include Initial Rumblings, Identifying Possibilities, Reaching Out, Beyond Talking and Life Jolts. While these phases are described in the book, they can also be found in the free Readiness of Change Fact Sheet authored by Ms. Samuels and available from the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization.

This book is a real gem for anyone who wants to live a fuller life. Linda Samuels and her pal Norton take us through the seasons of life that we all experience. While Ms. Samuels shares her personal stories in the Other Side of Organized, this book will help you shape your stories of life.

Help Conquer CyberOverload

A new book by Your Mind on Media founder and self-described “recovering cyber-addict” Joanne Cantor, PhD, provides insightful and valuable strategies for living and working in today’s media rich world. Conquer CyberOverload: Get More Done, Boost Your Creativity, and Reduce Stress goes a step further than many books by describing in lay language how the brain, and thus our behavior, is affected by the constant barrage of media in our everyday lives. According to Census Bureau statistics, Americans consume 8.5 hours of media (television, internet, radio and more) each day outside of work.

Given the incredible drain on time that media causes, it is no wonder that multi-tasking is needed. Cantor devotes one whole chapter to convincingly explaining why multi-tasking is counter-productive. If we were handwriting a letter or document, we would never think of writing one word with a pencil, and the next word with a pen, continuing to alternate tools until the letter was finished. This is similar to what we ask the brain to do when we attempt to multi-task. The brain has to switch back and forth between the two tasks. Multi-tasking is inefficient, time-consuming and error-prone.

 
This easy-to-read book is full of convincing ways to deal with cyberoverload with sound life-balance principles. While each strategy is explained in easy-to-understand language, each chapter ends with a bulleted list of Practical Steps. With additional features such as quotes and statistics, glossary, index and resource list, the book appeals to various learning styles.

 
As a professional organizer specializing in chronic disorganization, I observe people in their work and home environments who are affected by the time constraints and stress of cyberoverload. In addition, some individuals have physical space issues related to electronic gadgetry. Outdated and unused computer hardware, obsolete software boxes and other unused media-related equipment and supplies takes up valuable space. We have become adept at learning to use the media of the moment, but the obsolete or seldom used media may be relegated to a growing clutter and disposal problem.

Are you affected by cyberoverload? I would like to hear from you.

Reuse: Reality or Ruse?

 People with chronic disorganization or hoarding behaviors often have a preference for reuse of items. Much time and space is dedicated to allocating volumes of material to piles, bins or bags for recycling or passing on to others. Recycling has become part of mainstream American behavior. According to the Paper Industry Association Council, over 57 percent of the paper used in the U.S. was recovered for recycling. Most Americans (87 percent) have curbside or drop-off access to paper recycling.

If you are chronically disorganized or have hoarding tendencies, you may find multiple uses for items. You can recycle materials such as paper, glass, metal and cardboard through community recycling programs. WIth the downturn in the economy some of these public recycling programs are not as profitable as they once were and are in danger of being reduced or eliminated.

Some people want to recycle materials but they become bogged down between the saving behavior and the releasing behavior. For example, Burt saves the two daily newspapers in his garage. Because he lives in the country and there is not curbside pickup, the boxes and bags of old newspapers pile up creating a fire and safety hazard. As the pile grows, it gets harder to muster up the energy for Burt to load up the damp and critter-infested paper. Eventually there is no room for Burt's truck in his garage. Still, Burt believes this material must be recycled. His preference in reuse does not translate into the practice of recycling.

For some who are affected by chronic disorganization there are simply too many steps in recycling. While Jeanette knows someone across town that can use her excess books, she never gets over there and is not sure if her contact still needs them. Jeanette doesn't remember to call the friend so the box sits there year after year. Jeanette truly believes she needs to pass along the books but she does not or cannot take the steps to put her reuse preference into action.

A professional organizer experiences in working with people who are chronically disorganized or have hoarding tendencies can help people like Burt or Jeanette to make the decisions that are consistent with their admirable preferences for reuse.

Do you practice reuse or do you stop at the preference for reuse? I would like to hear from you.