Becoming Organized - The Organized Attitude

“Get Organized.?” Not!

“Organized” is not something we “get.” We become organized.

Getting organized, rather than becoming an organized person gives a temporary feel to organization as something you do or not do, something you “get” so it’s also something you can lose; thus organizing goes up and down, like a yo-yo.

Becoming organized helps us achieve a goal. Finding your reasons to organize is critical to your success. Here are some possibilities.

• To make better use of your time. You may waste time looking for things. By the time you find the supplies you need, you run out of time to do what you wanted to do in the first place.

• To find things when you need them. Maybe your emotional well being is compromised by the frustration of looking.

Scott Hamilton says the only disability in life is a bad attitude! Without the “becoming organized” attitude you will not keep organizing for the long run.

Organized people recognize the importance of organizing actions in everyday life. For organized people, organizing tasks are a integral part of their lives. There always is time to organize. Is your attitude “I don’t have time to organize?” If so, your attitude needs adjusting.

Consider this: Give organizing the same respect as brushing your teeth – it’s not fun, but it’s necessary so there always is time for it. We know what will happen if we don’t brush our teeth, and understand the benefits and preventive nature of brushing our teeth:

• We never skip it – we take no vacation days, or vacation weeks, or leave all of our brushing until Saturday, when we’ll have ‘more’ time.

• We brush at least twice a day, three times a day, as necessary, but only for a few minutes

• We make no excuses to talk ourselves out of brushing.

• Brushing doesn’t take long each time we do it. We make it a habit. From the daily habit and practice, comes the skill.

Apply the same thinking to becoming organized. It may not be fun, but it’s necessary. Always make time for it. Understand what happens when you don’t take time to organize, as well as the benefits and preventing nature of organizing actions.

• Never skip the opportunity to organize – no vacation days, or vacation weeks and don’t leave all of your organizing until Saturday. You won’t have “more” time.

• Organize at least twice a day, three times a day, as necessary. It needn’t take a long time and may take only a few minutes.

• Make no excuses.

• Organizing doesn’t take long each time we act. Make it a habit. From the daily habit and practice, comes the skill.

Any lifestyle change requires we become the acts that constitute the change. Quitting smoking, losing weight, eliminating sugar from your diet, exercising everyday, playing with your children regularly, creating community in your life, or writing a book, all require the attitude of becoming the person who does the necessary actions. We become non-smokers; we become healthy and fit. We become playmates. We become authors. The non-smoking, weight loss, health, play and writing become a part of us. We become organized. Organizing becomes a part of who we are.

Does your organizing attitude need adjustment from “getting” to “becoming?”

© 1992 Helen D. Volk All Rights Reserved

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