If I’ve seen it once, I’ve seen it a thousand times…
I’m up to my elbows in it working with client to help get them out of overwhelm. We’re digging into email or into a pile of papers.
My client looks at an email, reads it through, and skips on to the next one.
Or my client will rifle through the stack of papers, pick one out, look at it, make a little noise, and place it somewhere else on the desk (or bookcase or chair or floor).
What’s going on here?
Indecision.
It creates a mountain of email in your inbox. It creates a mountain of paper of your desk (or bookcase or chair or floor…).
And it’s a practice that disorganized people have perfected.
Maybe it’s a practice YOU have perfected.
And it’s time to end that particular habit.
When you are experiencing the indecisive feeling, you put things off. You ignore an email. You stuff a paper somewhere to deal with later.
Now, people get all hung up on trying to only touch a paper once or to only read an email once.
I think that’s a load of bunk. It’s nearly impossible (at least, that’s my experience).
Instead, I manage the flow of information. Things have homes. I know where something goes to start a project. I know where it lives while I’m working on it. And I sure as heck know what to do with it when I’m finished with it (and I take the actions that support this knowledge).
Create systems and processes and habits that manage the information in your life – that’s the key to keeping clutter at bay, to getting out of overwhelm, and to managing your inbox in a sane way once and for all.
One sure-fire way to see success is to grab my book How Your Disorganization is Stealing Your Time, Your Attention, and Your Health. In it, I share stories, ideas, and even exercises for you to finally get rid of the clutter and get out of overwhelm.
In fact, people that have read through the book (it’s chock-full of good information, yet is fairly short, easy read) have said, “Angie, I put your ideas into action and cleaned up my office this weekend. People now walk by my office door, stop, come back and exclaim I can actually see the top of your desk!”
It’s an awesome feeling to hear that.
And I want that for you, too.
Now, if you’ve already read my book and you’re still struggling, then I can help. Together, we’ll reduce your overwhelm, increase your calm, get rid of your clutter (and we’ll usually find some money, too). Yay!
Sincerely,
Angie
P.S. My third book From Chaos to Order: Ten Years of Wisdom Helping Business Owners Get Organized for Success is nearly finished. You’ll be the first to know when it goes live on Amazon.
P.P.S. I’m excited to share I’m putting together an awesomely useful workshop with a Microsoft Certified instructor. Our goal is to help you master one of your most exasperating tools: email. The first workshop will be mid-September. I’ll share all the details, including a scholarship opportunity, soon.