Quote of the Month: "Action Expresses Priorities"

2016 is here! Let’s Kiss Burnout Goodbye this Year.

Looking Back and Moving Forward: The Best Tips, Tricks, and Highlights of 2015

You’re probably going to hear this question a lot but at the risk of redundancy, where in the heck did 2015 go?! I mean, really. Looking back on this past year that flew by, I’ve started to wonder--what great new things did you start in 2015 that you hope continues in 2016? What new endeavors do you plan on focusing on this year?  

For me, 2015 was the year to go as paperless as possible and create better workflows in my business. I’m happy with the progress so far--and, hopefully, I’ll be able to figure out the best platform to offer teachings to help clients do the same. Yet, this was only the tip of the iceberg of all the great things that happened in 2015.

New scheduling and productivity tool

Some of you may have noticed a few changes in our operations. One particular change is we’ve empowered our clients to book their own appointments using a new scheduling program. You’ll also notice there are particular phases of the organizational process of working with Dexterous Organizing that we implemented and hope to improve upon. Take a look and check it out.

The best of 2015’s organizing tips, tricks, and hacks

On the brink of burnout? Looking for some time-saving hacks? Need expert tips on the best ways to organize your desk? You can find all this and more in these Dexterous Organizing 2015 highlights:

• We helped journalist Brigid Schulte organize her desk, and all the tips and tricks we shared with her were featured in this article in The Washington Post in January online and in print.
• I had the privilege of helping a busy career woman who was suffering from burnout. This superwoman’s comeback was documented in another article featured in The Washington Post. Check the article out here.
• After suffering from my own personal bout with burnout, I made some priority changes in my own life and business, and I’m happy to say my business took a huge upswing this spring and summer as a result!
• We welcomed a few new organizers who joined Dexterous Organizing to help our clients. I’m currently working with the two new organizers-in-training and hope you’ll soon help me welcome them onboard the DexOrg team!

While we’re proud of everything that happened in 2015, there’s one thing we’re extremely thankful for. If you read one of my latest blog posts Confessions of an Organizer: I Was Running On Empty, then you know I wouldn’t have been able to pull through some of the tough times without some of the best clients EVER!

Over the past year, I’ve been lucky enough to work with some super busy people that do amazing things in and outside their homes everyday. I’ve had the pleasure of working with a couple doctors (MD & PhD), realtors, several IT professionals, many sales executives, a handful of single moms, full-time moms, and moms and dads struggling between business/work and the kids, small business owners, two massage therapists, a host of world travelers, nurses, and several educators. You guys make the world go ‘round and it brings me joy that you entrust Dexterous Organizing to help your world go ‘round a little more smoothly.

I don’t know where the heck the last 12 months went, but I’m hoping we get to share a heck of a lot of positive and productive things in next 12!

Andrea Hancock is a professional organizer & productivity consultant, blogger, speaker, and educator that assists and empowers busy professionals, business owners and those experiencing major life transitions to create and maintain organizational systems that work for them personally.  Andrea is also founder of Dexterous Organizing, a results-oriented professional organizing company.  Book a free 15-minute Discovery Call to begin your journey to better productivity and more organizational prowess. Also visit our website at www.DexterousOrganizing.com or give us a call at (703) 606-8968.

Confessions Of An Organizer: "I Was Running On Empty."

For the first time in my life...I ran out of gas in my vehicle. It was a Monday, cold and long.  I was on my way to a NAPO-WDC meeting and was stopping at the gas station after letting the gas indicator light in my SUV to glare at me for just about two days (it was icy and cold okay, don't judge me).

I pulled into the gas station about a 5 minute walk from my apartment.  As I parked next to a pump I went to reach for my wallet in my purse.  It wasn't there.  I remembered I had left it at my desk because I had just purchased something online.  Probably distracted and in a slight rush to beat the traffic on the way to Bethesda I had inadvertently left it there.

I turn the ignition again and pulled off, annoyed but determined.  I get a couple feet from a parking space near my apartment building and suddenly it happened.  For the first time ever in my driving life it happened. I ran out of gas. It was embarrassing and frustrating.  At first I laughed and turned to problem solving mode. I call my husband and soon we are off to walk to the nearby gas station to get gas.  The container we purchased and the only one they sold could contain just a gallon.

The first attempted gallon didn't start the car.  Soon I went from laughing to crying.  Bitterly sobbing actually. I remembered thinking: How stupid could I be? If I didn't leave my wallet on my desk I wouldn't be in this situation!  I wouldn't be wasting my time, my husband's time, my dad's time (who gave solutions to get the car started over the phone) and our brother's time (who took my husband back to the gas station for gas canister fill up number 2).

It surely was a Monday night for the books.

The next day my physically running out of gas was like a slap in the face!  It was a physical representation of what I going through on a deeper level.

A few weeks prior, I had pretty much bottomed out in my desire to continue with my business.

I had been so busy getting clients, serving clients, and following up with clients, going to networking events, following up with people I've networked with, having meetings with them, seeking (often costly) help in my business, going to conferences, going to trainings, sending out marketing messages, outlining marketing messages, finding time to write marketing messages, emails, spreadsheets, reconciling, receipts, files...the lists and the to-dos seemed endless and when I looked up I was dealing with client cancellations, revenue instability, and not enough prospects in my queue. I was exhausted, and I wasn't seeing what I thought was the fruit of my labor. I almost gave up. I was deeply depressed for several weeks, and I didn't know what to do. Did I still love professional organizing?  Did I want to be in business anymore?  If I was making more money would I have these feelings?

I prayed and meditated a lot. Then during my cross-roads moment, I had a few clients that all but hugged and kissed me after our sessions.  They were in desperate need of help and I used my love of organization, helping people, and skill of conveying thoughts and ideas to transfer these skills to my clients to help improve their lives hopefully then and gradually in the future. It was then I realized I love what I do!

So what gives? Why was I in such a bad place?

After deep thought, I realized I had my life and priorities upside down.  The main reason I wanted and still want in my business is flexibility of my schedule so I could pursue the more important things in my life.  So I don't have to go to a boss and ask for time off to spend doing things that add more value to my life than making money.  But I also realized that I was working way too hard and not getting the results I would imagine I would get.  I was running on empty.  It was then I decided that I would do as the world says "let go, and let God." Slowly but surely, once I re-prioritized my life and shut down this endless rat-race in my business a weird and wonderful thing happened; I had the BEST Spring and Summer quarters in my business to date. Coincidence? Probably not.

Time and time again, I see with my clients a similarity.  They want peace, tranquility, simplicity, and consistent organization in their lives but rarely do the hardest part first. Prioritizing what's really important. What is priority in your life, you will take action to protect, pursue, and procure. One of the wisest men to walk the earth said "Where your treasure is, your heart will be also."  What do you really treasure?  Before you answer, think about where you spend your time, what dictates your thoughts, what motivates you?  When you really come to grips with those things you can start to align your priorities.  When your priorities are properly aligned; peace, tranquility, simplicity, and consistent organization follow.

Fill your tank. That should always be a priority. You'll never reach your destination otherwise.

D-I-S-T-R-A-C-T-I-Oooo-something shiny!

I'll admit it, and people who know me know this.  At times, I get distracted. Like wildly distracted.  

In fact the reason I'm writing this blog right now is because I just got really distracted and thought it was a hoot and a tragedy all rolled into one. 

So what better way to further get distracted and write a blog post about it, right?

I was looking for something to eat.  I saw a box of Jello in the pantry and thought "hmmm.... I should make this tonight..."  So I take down the glass ramekins we have that I've used in the past to find that out of the five we have, we only have two lids.  

#!&$@  

I guess they get damaged, or accidentally thrown out...who knows?!

EBay popped into mind.  I head over to the computer and after about 5,10...15? minutes I find EXACTLY what I was looking for.  Who'd thought there would be someone selling 3 Pampered Chef glass ramekins lids this week...but there they were and I placed my bid.

Now...what about dish towels?  I search there but no reviews...what if I'm getting the best dishtowel for the best price?!?  I head over to Amazon.com to look at reviews but although they were great the ones the reviews were also saying something about shrinkage...after 5,10, 15? minutes of looking at reviews I suddenly realized I was spending WAAAAAAY too much time and energy on looking up dishtowels.  I realized this when one of the reviewers for these particular dishtowels went on a two paragraph rampage and in part said this:

"Here's the deal. They're towels. They are just kitchen hand towels. Yet when I ordered these, I got a treatise from Amazon on how to properly care for my brand new kitchen towels, including step-by-step instructions on washing, drying, and maintaining. This immediately turned me off to the point that I almost returned them because honestly, THEY ARE TOWELS. You should wash them. Dry them. Fold them. Use them. Repeat." 

And How!

Why am I sitting here wasting time worried about kitchen towels.  I'm over it....and I'm hungry. Because I was, for heaven's sake and albeit an hour ago just looking for something to freakin' eat!

It happens to the best of us.  We live in a world of distractions.  Our phones ding, our online shopping turns into a session on Facebook or Twitter.  We have a myriad of options and we want to make sure we are "getting the best deal" and not a penny over.  Meanwhile we're stressed out because we never have time.

Since becoming a professional organizer and productivity consultant, I've gotten a lot better at noticing when I'm distracted and staying on task and focused.  Obviously it's not a natural talent.

So here's a few ways I "auto-correct" from venturing down a rabbit-hole of distractions:

1. Set a timer for short periods of time.  (helps me stay focused for short periods and knowing I'm being timed keeps me aware that I can't afford to be distracted).

2. Stay away from people.  (I'm an introvert....people drain my energy and in the DISC assessment I'm an I/S which means I like to talk which means people distract me. It's a weird combination which ultimately means I work best alone on focus-driven tasks.)

3. Limit notifications on electronic devices.  I've turned off my email notifications.  I can check my email on my phone but it's on my terms.  I've never looked back.  It's great.  If you're scared you are going to miss an important email, set a reminder to check your email at certain intervals.

4. Let the phone ring.  That is what voicemail and caller ID is for...right?

5. Have a "totem".  If you've seen the movie Inception you know there was a visual reminder of reality. Maybe even a better movie reference is Somewhere In Time Yes, "Come back to me!". One thing I do is, when I'm about to venture off into a "secondary adventure" (aka a distraction), I'll write down my thoughts or what I was originally doing so I can get back on task and not have to think too hard about it when I'm ready to continue.

6. Talk to yourself.  Thoughts disappear like mist, by saying something you want to reminder out loud, it reinforces the thought and keeps it in the forefront.

7. Mindfully succumb to the distraction.  But I put a string around my mind to pull me back.  If you have, Siri, Cortana, or "Ok, Google", tell it to remind you in 5,10...15 minutes to (fill in the blank). It's like a bookmark for your thoughts.

Andrea Hancock is a professional organizer, blogger, and speaker that assists and empowers busy professionals and business owners create and maintain organizational systems that work for them personally.  Andrea is also founder of Dexterous Organizing, a results-oriented professional organizing company.  To receive free productivity and organizing tools, or to venture into a more organized home, office, and life, click "I'm ready to get started!" at www.DexterousOrganizing.com or by phone at (703) 606-8968.

There's Never Time for the DMV (Yes Department of Motor Vehicles)

I usually don't do this because I know it hurts so bad. That's putting things off until the very last minute. But despite experience and my learned ways as a professional organizer and productivity consultant, I am still human and I still don't like going to the Department of Motor Vehicles aka DMV (or ironing...) these are things I'd rather not do. But I make myself do them, I plan for them.

Until I don't.

I rationalize it away (mistake number 1). "There are more important things to do than sit at the DMV for 2 hours". That's true...but...

I ignore it and conveniently forget to schedule a time to do it -- avoidance (mistake number 2).

I research the heck out of it. "There has to be a way I can do this online. .." (mistake number 3).

Then the day comes I can no longer wait. Well I could but I'd pay fines and get in trouble with the law and stuff. No bueno.

My mistakes catch up with me and my heart rate quickens and my breath shortens and I could kick myself for trying to SQUEEZE this dreaded task in my week when I could have done it weeks ago.

This rarely happens to me and if it didn't you'd have to check me for an on/off switch or a stick up my...(use your imagination).  We are all human we procrastinate things we hate to do. Which is why I have a job.

People hate organizing. They get overwhelmed by it. They are uneducated about it. It's too emotional and for goodness sakes they don't understand what to do with a few boxes /bags/closets/bins of STUFF. Clothes, paper, their time. It's emotional and it's overwhelming and we can be dumbfounded about it.

It's ok.

There is never time for the DMV. But, the reality is. You have to make time.

Andrea Hancock is a professional organizer, blogger, and speaker that assists and empowers busy professionals and business owners create and maintain organizational systems that work for them personally.  Andrea is also founder of Dexterous Organizing, a results-oriented professional organizing company.  To receive free productivity and organizing tools, or to venture into a more organized home, office, and life, click "I'm ready to get started!" at www.DexterousOrganizing.com or by phone at (703) 606-8968.

Did you lose this often?

Thinking of all the things we possess, umbrellas are the easiest possession to leave behind.  There is no lost and found in any restaurant or theater that doesn't contain one I'd imagine.  I think it's because we only carry them some times, we drop them on the floor because they are wet and often when we leave if it's not raining there is no reminder to retrieve our forsaken friend.

But then there was Davek Alert umbrellas that recently got funded on Kickstarter for their tech-infused unforgettable umbrellas that on top of their already stylish and built-for-combat design will include a censor that will be synced with your smartphone in order to alert you when you've wandered too far from your umbrella.  Of course for an umbrella that costs starting at $99 I'd be less likely to wander off too far without a reminder!

But we thought it was cool and wanted to share it!

Tell me, if this umbrella could potentially last you 5-10 years because of it's well-made design and technology would you buy one?  Let us know in the comments.

When You Don't Know How to Let Go

Recently I got an email from a client.  She was pretty frustrated and wanted my advice. I lack the skill of paraphrasing so this is what she said:

"...I need your help with trying to explain to us that it is normal to purge with stuff & move on. Especially with clothes. Do you have a statistic or something you have done on research that shows how once you have used something it is best to get rid of it after some time?"

I was able to cull upon my experience with clients, and all the organizing books I've read, and probably a few things I've been wanting to say to a few clients but they were either unprepared to hear or not ready to receive.  She was ready.  After I hit send, I thought to myself..."Either she's going to think this is bunch of bologna or she's going to take what I say and make a powerful shift."

I'm not one to brag but after reading my email I got two emails from her, an email and a text from her husband...it was all good!  In fact I quote her: "Wow Andrea, this was the more informative email I have gotten & exactly what I needed. Thank you, Thank you, thank you." Music to my eyes (it was an email, so...).  It was most delightful that what I said resonated with her and hopefully she got it and it will begin a journey of not being chained to the weight of things, keeping them, letting them overflow in her life and essentially being stuck in a web of wanting to change but not knowing how.

Here's what I wrote:

Hi _______,

I'm doing well thanks I hope you both are doing well.  This is very deep subject.  One that you might want to sit down for. :)

One of the best ways to analyze how to purge anything is to start with not the stuff but come to a consensus of what you do want, not what you don't.

What I mean by that is:  Often holding on to things is more than just "the stuff."  It's because it makes you feel important, or you think if you let it go it will erase your memories or you think by getting rid of it, it devalues the item or the person who gave it to you.... or that discarding it will even devalue you. By creating the vision for what you want,  you can navigate better through the stickiness of discarding stuff.  You can recognize it's value but realize it no longer fits into what you want for your space or your life.

Try these two things:

1. Create a mind map title it: "Our House" each branch from that will signify a room. Try to describe the room, it's functions for you personally, what activities you'd like to do in the room, how you'd like to feel in that room/space,  WHO (not what) belongs in the room, etc. without putting any STUFF, no furniture, no clothing, on the map it's okay to THINK about the room having furniture but for this exercise don't write it down, just write down the feelings you'd like to feel that YOUR organized room will evoke.

2. Go through each room and as you decide what to keep and what not to keep, ask yourself is it USEFUL (can you wear it, does it function) and does it "spark joy" [a phrase used in the KonMari Method of organizing].

And just to make it clear, here is the definition of joy: 
a feeling of great pleasure and happiness.
"tears of joy"
synonyms: delight, great pleasure, joyfulness, jubilation, triumph, exultation, rejoicing, happiness, gladness, glee, exhilaration, exuberance, elation, euphoria, bliss, ecstasy;

If you pick up an item and you say "meh".  Guest what? It's not sparking joy. :)

If you get stuck then reference your mind map.  For example, if you are in your closet and your mind map has the word COMFORTABLE on it and you hold in your hand a dress that's too small, doesn't fit right, or doesn't fit your style then it's not comfortable, so it has to go.  It doesn't matter how much you paid for it (you can consign it), it doesn't matter who gave it to you (unless you're going to frame it or make a quilt out of it), it goes.  Be ruthless!  

By the end of this exercise, you will have a room or rooms that you enjoy being in.  There will be nothing that isn't useful or doesn't spark joy and only things in your room that fit what you described the room to be.

If that doesn't help, ask yourself why am I not allowing myself to let this go?  Then write down why: is it fear? is it sadness? is it anger?  Come face to face with the emotions.  Statistics won't help, logic sometimes won't help.  Why we buy is almost always an emotional decision, letting go of items is almost always an emotional one too.  The reasons why we buy and the stuff we hold on to, is often a deeply personal and psychological journey which is often why we avoid it.

If you need a more logical examination to help you let go, think of it this way: Remember that when you paid for it and you used it, you got your value out of it.  Say if you bought an umbrella you paid $30 and you used it 20 times you paid $1.50 each time to keep the rain from falling on your head.  I think a wise investment, and most of us use an umbrella more than 20 times.  But if you now have 10 umbrellas they start to diminish in value because they go unused and are also taking up space for things that could be more useful or spark joy. Giving/donating/selling the not useful umbrellas to someone who actually needs an umbrella will make them valuable again.  Does that make sense?

Here is a book you should check out: Peter Walsh, Its All Too Much: An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with Less Stuff 

So hopefully this conversation was helpful for you too.  It's not an easy road but when you come at it from the positive of what you want, when you let go it's leaving space for the things in life that really and truly make you happy.

Andrea Hancock is a professional organizer, blogger, and speaker that assists and empowers busy professionals and business owners create and maintain organizational systems that work for them personally.  Andrea is also founder of Dexterous Organizing, a results-oriented professional organizing company.  To receive free productivity and organizing tools, or to venture into a more organized home, office, and life, click "I'm ready to get started!" at www.DexterousOrganizing.com or by phone at (703) 606-8968.