Singles: Get Organized!

"Come into my parlour"

The spider wanted to invite the fly

But he just couldn't say it

Cause his web was all awry

-from "Organizing for the Creative Person"

How would you describe your place? C.H.A.O.S or N.E.S.T.?

Are your ex's books, CDs or photo albums taking up space in your living room or bedroom closet?

Do you pay bills at your kitchen table because you have to move piles to get to your desk?

Do you bring stuff home and say to yourself, "I'll just put it here for now" and that's as far as it gets?

Are you late for appointments, miss deadlines, always feeling like you're on a treadmill?

Are you suffering from C.H.A.O.S.?
Can't-Have-Anyone-Over-Syndrome?
Wouldn't you rather your home feel like your N.E.S.T.?
Neat-Enjoyable-Safe-Tranquil?

If you're newly single, it may be difficult to set up/keep house because you and your spouse always did that together. Depression or grief due to the loss of a partner can interrupt the usual routines and cause overwhelm. In addition, you may have changed jobs, lost a job, moved, or be in the midst of some other transition. Whatever the situation, it's difficult to be the one to do everything.

Many singles who suffer from clutter and disorder feel that it doesn't matter. There's no one to be accountable to. "Why bother? It's just for myself!" One woman I interviewed said, I'm out so much that my house has become a place to change my clothes and store my stuff."

How does being disorganized affect you? You may spend time looking for things and feel stressed in the process. You may be pressured by things you're procrastinating around. You may be tired and cranky when you're at home. Frankly, I don't think most people know how bad it's become until they start to work on it. It's only when you start getting organized that you realize how much better you can feel.

If you have tried to get organized before, just to have the piles and the behaviors return, it's probably because you didn't really make a change. An honest assessment, a realistic game plan and a commitment is what's called for. It's said it takes 21 days to form a new habit. The key to success, is support around these changes. We just can't do it alone. Hire a professional organizer, ask your psychotherapist for help in this area, make dinner for a trusted friend in exchange for their help. Also remember, it took a while to get that way, you're not going to change it overnight, but doing nothing yields no results.

Here are some suggestions for turning your C.H.A.O.S. into your N.E.S.T.:

1. Have only one notebook for all phone messages or notes.

2. Sort your mail and all other paper immediately when it comes into the house and toss all you can.

3. Make places for things, and put them there.

4. Always complete your task.

5. Develop criteria for what stays and what gets tossed.

6. Schedule time in your calendar devoted to organizing your desk, your home, your workplace

and stick to it.

7. Ask a friend to help.

8. Have a magnet pad on the fridge to keep a shopping list.

9. Place all time sensitive papers, like bills and invitations in one place so you will not forget about them.

10. At the end of the day, take the time to tidy and put things away, so your space will be neat in the morning .

Decide what's really important to you. Actively work on creating what you want most. Determine what's in the way and clear the clutter. It's time to Get Organized! and you don't have to do it alone.

Andrea Feldman is a Professional Organizer, Time Management Consultant, Motivational Speaker and Trainer. She helps businesses and individuals increase productivity by setting priorities, creating more efficient use of space and changing habits that drain time and energy.

As a public speaker, Andrea addresses business and community groups on topics including time management, controlling clutter and how to balance work and personal life.

She is a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers and holds a Specialist Certificate in working with the chronically disorganized from the National Study Group for Chronic Disorganization. Andrea lives in the beautiful Berkshire mountains in western Massachusetts. She may be reached by calling 413-655-7766 or email Andrea@GetOrganizedWithAndrea.com