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?