What Do Professional Organizers Learn At Conference Anyway...?

In April I went to the NAPO 2013 Professional Organizer's Conference in New Orleans. I'll sneak a few points I learned that I will pass on to you!

I'm sure many people wonder how much can you learn about being organized. I mean really. Well despite some beliefs, organizing and productivity go waaaaaaaay deeper than just keeping things off the floor, in pretty bins with labels. Often there is deep psychology that goes into coaching people in the right direction. Noticing certain behaviors and learning techniques to avoid, or overcome certain behaviors.Professional organizers are project managers, coaches, solution providers, accountability partners, and of course there is the keeping things off the floor and putting them in pretty bins with labels...

At conference one of our keynote speakers was Dr. Kelly Mcgonigal, PhD. Dr. Mcgonigal is a health psychologist and lecturer at Stanford University, and a leading expert in the new field of “science-help.” She is passionate about translating cutting-edge research from psychology, neuroscience, and medicine into practical strategies for health, happiness, and personal success.

Her topic was on "Unmask the Potential In Yourself: The Willpower Instinct." She noted that there are three "keys" of I want (your goals), I will ( things you say yes to), and I won't (things you say no to).We have the ability to exercise our brains in order to become aware of when we are doing something against our goals.. One way to challenge yourself is through what she calls small willpower challenges. An example of one is making a conscious decision to no longer say contractions in speech (i.e. I won't turns into I will not). This small exercise can help the brain create awareness and then we can begin to train the brain to do other things like break bad habits or create good ones.

One thing that was of great interest as well she noted: STOP THE SHAME AND GUILT.Shame and guilt lead to the "what-the-hell" syndrome. Which sabotages will power. We've all done it. The doughnut study (which I wish I was considered to be a part of) shows that women who felt guilt (different than regret) and shame if they ate a doughnut then ate another or two. Why? The second (or third) doughnut was soothing the guilt and the shame of the first.Crazy right? Well conversely if you forgive yourself  for the first doughnut your brain doesn't need the soothing from the guilt and shame and people were able to move on and still reach weight-loss goals.

The point for organizing is the psychology behind habit-forming activities and why some clients have such a hard time overcoming clutter. Organizing takes will power and often clutter creates shame. If professional organizers learn how shame, guilt, and willpower work we can create the best solutions for our clients.

So to all my clients...aren't you glad you hired a professional?

What's On Your Plate? - The Main Course.

So you have a lot on your plate?

The Main Course

We've all been there.  At a friend's home for dinner where the instructions were to grab a plate and help yourself, or at a buffet-style restaurant.  With plate in hand, your stomach grumbles, your mouth salivates, and your eyes scan over the delectables.  Most of us want to eat somewhat sensibly but somehow simultaneously give into the desires of our taste buds.

A few blog posts ago we delved into thinking about our time more tangibly, as if we are filling literal plates.  Just as we all have 24-hours in a day, we can only fit so much activity in each day or on our "plates".  As we talk about our metaphorical buffet, we can review tips and ways of thinking for our priorities, agendas, and to-do items.

Portion Control

One thing we've heard when we are limiting ourselves to a specific number of calories is portion-control.  This helps us deal with the eyes-are-bigger-than-your-stomach syndrome.  At a literal buffet a well cooked-ham looks appealing but it would be unwise and futile to put the whole ham on our plate.  We get a carving knife and we get a couple slices at a time.  Similarly, if we know we have a big project coming up, it's over-whelming to think we can do it all in one day.  We should break it down into smaller pieces and if at all possible share (or delegate) the pieces of the project to others.

Eat Your Veggies

Another method we've heard that helps us achieve a non-gluttonous, more healthy approach to dining buffet-style is eat your salad first. Make sure your salad is full of nutrient-rich diverse fruits and vegetables and a low-calorie dressing.  This ensures you get vitamins in and it also helps you put the most important foods in your body before you fill up on things like pasta and ice cream.  When it comes to time management, we likewise must do the less-interesting but more productive items first.  Watching the news, going shopping, or checking out the latest on social media may be legitimate things we need to do.  However, if we get things done that are less-desirable but necessary, like exercise, putting away laundry, paying bills, etc. We have those things done and we can enjoy the more exciting items on our to-do list, without the guilt, shame, and heart-ache of falling behind on the necessary mundane activities.

Keeping your plate balanced is also key to good time management.  Stay tuned to this blog as we'll talk about navigating the buffet and how yummy-fun-dessert-like items are also a must!