Do You Need to Enlist the Help of Others?
For several weeks while I was going through some very basic home projects, I got to experience what many of my clients go through – too much stuff, overwhelming, can’t decide what to keep and not to keep, how much more money do I want to spend on the projects, etc. This list can go on and on, but through it all, I realized how disconcerting and unmotivating it is to live in such chaos. It was almost like I became paralyzed and didn’t know where to start to put my house and life back together.
Did I need to get my organizing books out, read them, and figure this out on my own or get some help? I am also very well aware how many clients of mine have bought lots of books and saved lots of articles on how to organize. Every magazine that you pick up nowadays has some article on how to de-clutter and organize in 5 minutes.
I realized that getting out my organizing books was not the answer. In addition, I knew that I needed to change my attitude or bills wouldn’t get paid on time, late fees would be added on to the next bill, calls and emails wouldn’t get returned, and most of all, I didn’t want to live in this state of mess and confusion any longer. I decided that it was time to enlist some help.
A professional organizer friend came over one evening for a short period of time and helped me decide what to keep and what to donate. My contractor has a very good eye, and he helped me pick out light fixtures and hang pictures. He also helped with my decision-making on what to keep and what not to keep.
For minimalists, these decisions can be effortless, but for those of us who are sentimental, making these decisions can be a tad harder. I wanted to be in charge of making the final decision, but having that accountability person by my side made things a whole lot simpler. Plus, they listened to my stories just as I listen to my client’s. Telling the stories made us all laugh a lot, and that made making the decisions easier as well. Purple Heart made out quite well a couple of weeks ago.
My house did not take long to get back in order, and my life is back to its dull roar now. I realized that there are always going to be situations in life where chaos will reign supreme. But, without processes in place and/or people to help get things back in order, the dull roar may never be attained.
What are you going to do to get your space (both physical and mental) back to a dull roar? Can you read your books and articles that you’ve collected and do this by yourself? Or, have you decided that enlisting the help of a friend, relative, or professional to get you on track and then be able to maintain it another alternative?
Now is Your Time to Go from Bedlam to Brilliance!
Barbara Berman
856-912-0077
Referrals are the best compliments!
Serving South Jersey (including Camden, Burlington, Gloucester, Salem, Ocean, Atlantic, Cape May, and Mercer counties), North Jersey, and Philadelphia (including its surrounding counties).