Meryl Starr - The Personal Organizing Workbook: Solutions for a Simpler, Easier Life

Whats the opposite of overwhelmed? Few of us could say for sure, because its not a feeling we get to have often. Most of us spend all day, every day, in triage mode, helping solve a problem for a friend, sibling, or significant other before another problem pops up with our kids, parents, or neighbors. When we collapse in bed at the end of another exhausting day, weve somehow managed to take care of almost everybody except ourselves. And the cycle starts all over again in the morningno wonder so many of us lie awake nights!

Now hold that thought. Imagine for just a minute that tomorrow can be different.

Tomorrow you can know where everything is.

You can conquer your to-do list with time to spare.

You can quit worrying about problems and start solving them instead.

You can spend more quality time with the people you care about most.

You can handle the unexpected and stay relaxed and ready for whatevers next.

You can find time for yourself and look forward to tomorrow.

Feels good, doesnt it? Theres a rush that comes with realizing your own powerits that exhilaration you get when you win a promotion, or speak up at a PTA meeting, or stand tall in high heels. But nothing compares to the charge you can get out of really leading your life, instead of letting it lead you.

Its not just an instant zing, either: youll find that youre calmer, happier, fulfilled, and, well, whelmed for a change. The people around you cant help but notice and feel inspired. If we could all accomplish what were capable of and live our lives to the fullest, think of how different our families, our workplaces, our communities, even our world might be!

As a personal organizer and coach, Ive heard this from almost of all my clients at some point. But organization isnt a gene youre either born with or without. Its just a habit, and anyoneand I do mean anyonecan get into the habit. Ive seen clients undergo tremendous personal losses, devastating divorces, unexpected career changes, and para - lyzing depression, and emerge feeling better than ever about themselves because theyve reclaimed their lives one room, one task, one problem at a time. When you take charge of your life, organization seems to come easily.

Organization replaces a vicious cycle of selfdoubt and disappointment with a positive one of self-confidence and accomplishment. Step by step, The Personal Organizing Workbook will show you how to get that positive momentum going. Each chapter will take you to the next level of personal organization, focusing on your desires, your dreams, and your challenges. The more you accomplish in this book, the more youll believe in yourself, and the more you believe in yourself, the more youll accomplish.

Guess what? Youre already on track to a simpler, easier, more organized life. Just picking up The Personal Organizing Workbook shows that you know your time is valuable, because youre willing to invest a few minutes reading this far to start using your time more profitably. Sure, you could tear through this entire book in a weekend, but Id rather see you work your way through it one tip, one solution, one project at a time. That way, youll get the hang of organizationyoull learn which tips work for you, what areas need the most attention in your life, and youll develop a track record that proves that, actually, you are an organized person.

You shouldnt have to run an obstacle course every daystash stuff out of your way, so you can get done with tasks and get on with your life. Well start small, organizing your wallet, your purse, your paperwork, even your closet. Soon youll have everything you need at your fingertips, without the frustration of fumbling around for it. Then well improve your work flow, so you can get through your tasks without them getting to you.

Start making better use of your time by making your to-do list doable. The tricks here are prioritizing, consolidating, and using the most powerful word of all: no. Once you get the hang of carving out manageable tasks and sharing the responsibilities, youll finally enjoy some longoverdue personal time.

Redirect your attention toward the most important people in your life by managing your relationships. This means examining your people priorities, setting clear boundaries and time limits, and learning to bow out gracefully when necessary. And you know those friends you never get to see? Now youll have time to schedule that standing date you always talk about and host a no-stress get-together party at your place!

Get on track and stay organized with positive habits that allow you to finish what youve started, and accomplish more than you ever imagined. Youll learn to replace old habits with new and improved ones, prevent pileup, delegate effectively, and be more realistic about your time. If you want to grow as a person, a parent, a friend, a professional, you name it, you need to give yourself timeand once youre organized, youll have all the time you need. So go ahead: take your dreams seriously enough to put them on your calendar in ink!

The Personal Organizing Workbook asks you to ask yourself, What makes me happy? and to start living the answer. Maybe youve been so worried about getting through the mechanics of living that you havent really thought about it lately. In the rush of our lives, we can forget who we are, where weve come from, and what we set out to achieve. Sometimes desires and goals change, but we never seem to find the time to realign our actions to achieve those new goals. Its hard to look up over those piles of papers, past our crowded closets and between appointments in our busy schedulesbut its crucial to realizing the fulfillment and serenity you can achieve in your everyday life.

Getting organized may seem intimidating at firstbut The Personal Organizing Workbook is here to make it easy for you. As you work through one problem and project at a time, youll see for yourself how small efforts can bring tremendous rewards. Organization isnt about big, daunting tasks, like color coding your DVDs or labeling all your kitchen shelvesits about knowing and accepting yourself, and taking control of your life instead of letting the things in it control you. Weve all wasted entirely too much time beating ourselves up because were running late, or we cant find something were looking for. Finally, you can let go of all that unnecessary frustration and live a little. My goal is for you to achieve success, to feel fulfillment and serenity in your everyday life, to feel good about who you are today and always.

Fact is, youre already on your way. By taking the small steps outlined in The Personal Organizing Workbook,