Resolutions Are About Change
You resolved to get organized in 2008. It was New Year’s Eve and everything seemed possible. You have looked at every program on organizing that cable television offers. You have surfed the Internet for expert advice and you have bought books on organizing. Now it is weeks later and you haven’t gotten started. What’s the problem? You have the knowledge, so it is money, time, motivation or vision.
Money is really no excuse, so let’s just get that out of the way. There are creative, inexpensive ways to get organized that cost little or nothing. Some of our favorite organizing tools cost a dollar. There are also many items that already sit in closets and drawers that can be used to create an organized system. Boxes, baskets, crates, paper and plastic bags can be used to compartmentalize items for better access. Just organize within your financial means. Fancy can come later.
The problem of not enough time is a little harder to overcome. Time is limited so you have to eliminate some activity to make time to organize, or you have to become more efficient in using the time you have. Eureka! Isn’t that why you resolved to get organized? So you could be more productive and have more time? No more searching for hours for that important paper that you need. No more missing deadlines for project submissions or paying bills. No more desperate mornings trying to find something to wear and settling for whatever doesn’t need ironing. So setting aside time to organize is an investment that collects dividends of more time. You just have to get motivated to do it.
Lack of motivation is one of the hardest problems to overcome. You may be comfortable with your mess. If you are successful and happy, you may be wary of a change. You may not look forward to having to deal with family members and housemates to maintain a new system. You may suspect that you will fail. There are many theories of change and how to overcome resistance to it. There are too many to go into here, but you may enjoy looking at writings by Kurt Lewin, Tannenbaum and Hanna. or Beckhard and Gleicher
One of our favorite models for personal change is the ADKAR model by Prosci, which outlines the building blocks that individuals must have to be motivated to change
1. Awareness – of why the change is needed
2. Desire – to support and participate in the change
3. Knowledge – of how to change
4. Ability – to implement new skills and behaviors
5. Reinforcement – to sustain the change
You are aware you need to get organized and you want to do it; you made a resolution. You have obtained knowledge about how to change. So the question is do you have the ability to make the change.
We find that many of our clients do not have the ability to envision a system that will work for them and will fit within the time and financial resources that they can devote to getting organized. This is what most frequently keeps them from getting started. If this is the problem, try thinking small. Instead of asking “How do I organize may closet?” ask “How can I get my belts off the closet floor and make them easily accessible?” Small steps that result is small successes are powerful reinforcers for continued movement toward the larger goal.
Sometimes you just have to ask for help. Talk it over with a friend who is successful at organizing or call a professional who will work with you to develop a vision and a plan for achieving it
You may also have physical limitations that interfere with getting the job done, or time commitments that cannot be altered. These are other circumstances in which help from friends or a professional organizer is a good way to achieve your goal.
Resolutions are good things. They help us target personal goals to improve our lives. Keeping the resolution is a matter of finding ways that work for us to implement the change and make it part of our daily lives. Good luck!
As the Cableguy says “get’er done”
Beverly & Kristen
www.KeyTransitions.net
Money is really no excuse, so let’s just get that out of the way. There are creative, inexpensive ways to get organized that cost little or nothing. Some of our favorite organizing tools cost a dollar. There are also many items that already sit in closets and drawers that can be used to create an organized system. Boxes, baskets, crates, paper and plastic bags can be used to compartmentalize items for better access. Just organize within your financial means. Fancy can come later.
The problem of not enough time is a little harder to overcome. Time is limited so you have to eliminate some activity to make time to organize, or you have to become more efficient in using the time you have. Eureka! Isn’t that why you resolved to get organized? So you could be more productive and have more time? No more searching for hours for that important paper that you need. No more missing deadlines for project submissions or paying bills. No more desperate mornings trying to find something to wear and settling for whatever doesn’t need ironing. So setting aside time to organize is an investment that collects dividends of more time. You just have to get motivated to do it.
Lack of motivation is one of the hardest problems to overcome. You may be comfortable with your mess. If you are successful and happy, you may be wary of a change. You may not look forward to having to deal with family members and housemates to maintain a new system. You may suspect that you will fail. There are many theories of change and how to overcome resistance to it. There are too many to go into here, but you may enjoy looking at writings by Kurt Lewin, Tannenbaum and Hanna. or Beckhard and Gleicher
One of our favorite models for personal change is the ADKAR model by Prosci, which outlines the building blocks that individuals must have to be motivated to change
1. Awareness – of why the change is needed
2. Desire – to support and participate in the change
3. Knowledge – of how to change
4. Ability – to implement new skills and behaviors
5. Reinforcement – to sustain the change
You are aware you need to get organized and you want to do it; you made a resolution. You have obtained knowledge about how to change. So the question is do you have the ability to make the change.
We find that many of our clients do not have the ability to envision a system that will work for them and will fit within the time and financial resources that they can devote to getting organized. This is what most frequently keeps them from getting started. If this is the problem, try thinking small. Instead of asking “How do I organize may closet?” ask “How can I get my belts off the closet floor and make them easily accessible?” Small steps that result is small successes are powerful reinforcers for continued movement toward the larger goal.
Sometimes you just have to ask for help. Talk it over with a friend who is successful at organizing or call a professional who will work with you to develop a vision and a plan for achieving it
You may also have physical limitations that interfere with getting the job done, or time commitments that cannot be altered. These are other circumstances in which help from friends or a professional organizer is a good way to achieve your goal.
Resolutions are good things. They help us target personal goals to improve our lives. Keeping the resolution is a matter of finding ways that work for us to implement the change and make it part of our daily lives. Good luck!
As the Cableguy says “get’er done”
Beverly & Kristen
www.KeyTransitions.net
Labels: Ability, Change, Key Transitions, Money, New Year, Organize, Organizing, Professional Organizer, Prosci, Resolution, Time Management
posted by Key Transitions at 6:15 AM
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