What is Chronic Disorganization? . . . Is it Contagious?

Chronic disorganization (CD) is not a diagnosis, it is defined by a set of characteristics that fellow organizer Judith Kolberg noticed amongst many of her clients. In 1992 Ms. Kolberg spoke at the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) conference, introducing the concept of chronic disorganization. From there, many other organizers acknowledged that they observed the same characteristics and had similar experiences with many of their clients. 

So, what are the characteristics, you ask? Quite simply, if you have

• Been disorganized most of your adult life,
• Tried, repeatedly, yet unsuccessfully, to get yourself organized
• Don’t respond to conventional organizing methods, or
• Need the intervention of someone else to help get you organized,

you may be experiencing chronic disorganization.  Most importantly, no matter what you do,

Your disorganization is persistent!!!

The causes of CD are many and varied. Poor modeling in one’s formative years, i.e. Mom and Dad never taught me how to do this, can lead to disorganization in one’s adult life. Major life events, such as marriage, divorce, death of a loved one or a move can create the onset of overwhelming pressures that translate into disorganization. In some cases, one’s disorganization can stem from neurologically-based conditions such as ADHD, or traumatic brain injury, or from mental health issues like depression or anxiety. These are just a few examples from a fairly exhaustive list of what can result in the overwhelm that leads to disorganization.

And there is always a caveat. You may be a very organized person who has undergone a major life event and experiences disorganization for a period of time; maybe six months to a year, or longer. No matter how long you experience disorganization or for what reason, the outcome is the same: you feel like you’ve lost control and just can’t regain control of your life, as you once knew it. 

The good news? Help is available . . . Just because you are disorganized now and maybe have been for a long time, doesn’t mean you will, or have to be, disorganized forever. The key to overcoming disorganization is to change, 1. the way you think about your things; and 2. your habits surrounding how you use your things. But like any other change you may want to make in your life, you have to be ready to commit to that change.

No one asks that you embark on this journey alone. Change can be difficult and slow; it’s only natural that you will experience frustration and setbacks along the way.  Support is necessary to stay the course.  Some of the options available to you include one-on-one time with a professional organizer, therapist, (or both), joining a support group, or accessing an online support group.  Whichever option you choose, make sure that you are learning something about yourself and how to do things differently.  That knowledge will be the key to making better decisions for yourself day-to-day.

With so much to offer on this topic, I just might have to turn it into a multi-part series. In the meantime, if you would like more information, please feel free to contact me at chris@homepuzzle.ca or visit www.challengingdisorganization.org. 

Goal Setting

Last month's post looked at the importance of planning your (organizing) projects. The first thing to do was to set yourself a goal. Before a Professional Organizer begins working with you, they need to understand what you want. Unfortunately, the direct approach seldom works. Whenever I've asked a client "What's your goal for this space?", they look at me for a moment then reply, "I want it to be organized".

Understood, but let's dig a bit deeper. What does organized look like? Can you articulate your vision of organized? Remember: this is specific to you/your family, in the context of the room you want to organize.

In setting goals for your organizing project, we need to identify that which is specific, attainable and measurable. For example, do you want the kids to help themselves to snacks without the kitchen looking like a war zone? (This would be a specific goal). Then let's discuss ways for your kids to achieve some autonomy, while still being responsible for putting things back where they came from. If we can get the snacks in the right-sized container, and put that container in a place that's easy for the kids to access, we may have solved one organizing dilemma. (This is how we hope to attain the goal).

One of two things will now happen when the kids help themselves to snacks: they will leave the kitchen in an impeccable state, or they will still leave the kitchen in a shambles. (This is how we determine/measure whether we've attained the goal). If the kids don't immediately embrace the changes, don't worry. We haven't failed: we've learned something about the kids and how they function in the kitchen. This is our opportunity to teach new behaviours to the kids, or modify the solution -- or both.

The goal of a pristine kitchen is still attainable. We just need to determine how to achieve it. Remember that change takes time. It can be time to find the right solution, time to learn a new way of doing things. Regardless, with patience and a bit of Q & A, we can achieve our organizing goals.

Outdoor Play

Organizers frequently help their clients to establish a drop zone for each family member to put their stuff as they walk through the door. This provides a guideline as to the acceptable size and location of the piles that can appear at the front entrance.

But I’m finding that at this time of year, the focus shifts from the drop zone to a smooth exit. Not following? We travel light in the warmer months. No coat, hat, scarf, mitts. We have less to “drop” when we get home. But preparing to go out still poses some challenges – particularly if you’re getting young children out the door. How often have you been ready to walk out the door, then needed to run back upstairs to get sun block?

To save yourself some time and keep the family moving, why not store some of the things needed for outdoor fun and safety at the front door? The same basket used for your winter woollies can just as easily contain suntan lotion, a hat, sunglasses, sidewalk chalk and bubbles. Ask yourself what things you always have to run back in the house for, then try to find a way to store them within a few feet of your main entrance/exit. And just to be safe, throw in a box of Band-Aids.

Professional Organizers, For Real.

When I left a salaried job to start my own organizing business, there were lots of questions and raised eyebrows. People just didn't get it. Most had never heard of such a thing. It was the working moms who seemed most familiar with the role of a Professional Organizer -- and the most willing to suggest that everyone has some area of their home that needs organizing.

Organizers are not neat freaks or control freaks. We're people who acknowledge that the world we live in keeps getting busier. We realize the list of demands placed on each of us grows daily. We know that most people don't have time to catch their breath, much less find the time to plan and organize the space they live in.

But we also know this: cluttered living is chaotic living. The visual distraction of your stuff, prevents you from doing the things you really want or need to do. It's a nagging reminder of some chore that needs to be performed. Sometimes, it's just too much to tackle alone. Enter the Professional Organizer. We accompany you throughout the transformation from harum-scarum to harmonious. You ultimately make the decision about what adds value to your life. We ask questions, make suggestions, offer a new perspective: we help you achieve a goal.

If you want to know more about what we do, come see me at The National Women's Show this Saturday, October 24th. I'll be available to answer your questions from 2 - 6 p.m., at the Professional Organizers in Canada booth.