"Organization Is Power"

Organization. Isn't that a tidy word that conjures visions of personal power, confidence and excellence? Ahhh....to be organized.

Is it attainable? Yes. Organization, like most everything, is a matter of choice. If we feel so great when we're organized, why does it elude us and require continuous pursuit? Often times, it is because we simply haven't chosen it or haven't learned the skills necessary to take control of our lives.

Organized people are made not born so there is hope for all of us. We make the habit and then our habits make us. Breaking poor organizational habits can be a challenge, but well worth it. I admire and envy those individuals who make it look so easy. Yes, Martha Stewart is an alien and I'm in awe of her flawless ability to maintain organizational perfection.

Ask yourself the important questions, Why? What? How? When? The answers will make you wonder why everyone doesn't lead a life of order since we truly can benefit from aligning our details.

WHY organize?

1. It gives you more free time to utilize your energies and talents productively.
2. It makes you more efficient, effective and enthusiastic.
3. It conquers procrastination, which in turn, will give you peace of mind.
4. It reduces stress, makes you feel better about yourself and creates excellent habits.
5. Organization will make room for personal success, self-respect and fulfillment that is blocked when we live in chaos.

WHAT can you organize?

1. Your time. Oh yes, the ultimate. Your time. A day timer is a tremendous power tool, not just for business, but for your home life, social activities, projects, commitments and leisurely fun. It puts your details into glorious formation so that you can seize each day as a champion.
2. Your goals. Don't think it. Ink it. Taking your thoughts and putting them down on paper, turns dreams into goals. Goals are the wind beneath our wings that will propel us into flying high and soaring through life. Without them, life will drag us along while we get beat up and bruised. Personal power is yours for the asking when you organize your goals and apply action. Just do it. Getting dragged by life isn't any fun, so why let it happen?
   Relationships, health, spiritual, career, financial, home, fun, education and emotional growth are just a few areas in your life where you can put excellence into action by being organizing your goals.
3. Your priorities. It is human nature to gravitate to the line of least resistance. As a result, you are not alone if you tend to put off the things you don't want to do as long as possible. Take care of the most important priorities first so that you can relax and not let your procrastination eat you alive.
4. Your stuff. Clutter saps our time, our energy and money. My friend, renowned speaker Don Hutson, says that "clutter is the culprit that sneaks into your life and steals your productivity and peace of mind. His metaphor, "Clutterberg" illustrates that we may only see the tip with physical clutter.
   "Beneath the surface of visible chaos you my find a huge chunk of mental clutter waiting to tear a gaping hole in your dreams. If left unchecked, it can eventually turn into a titanic problem. And it won't go away or melt on its own. You must take action to get rid of it," he says in his book "The Contented Achiever." 
   Don's qualifier for eliminating clutter is, "Use it, Love It, or Let it go." Use that formula when you're preparing for your next garage sale and you'll make a bundle.

HOW can you get organized?
Apply the T.R.A.S.H. principle to your piles, your clutter and anything else that overwhelms and challenges your organizational ability. 

Toss it. Be ruthless and eliminate the clutter in your life. Do you really need so much "stuff?" Stand beside your garbage can when you bring your mail inside. Why keep a closet full of clothes that you haven't worn in 4 years? 

Refer it. Give it to someone who could use it. Goodwill is a great decluttering agent. 

Act on it. Take action and get it done. Turn your piles over and work from the bottom-up. What's on the bottom has been there the longest and needs priority.

Store it. Buy a filing cabinet, use your attic. Just get rid of your clutter!

Halt it. Do you really need 9 magazine subscriptions? Stop the flow of stuff that takes up space, time and energy. The key to happiness is simplicity. 

WHEN can you start to organize? As soon as you finish reading this article. When you take the word NOW and spell it backwards it spells WON. When you seize the moment and do what you need to do now, it will make you a winner.

"I want you to have a life you love. I'd like to see you take your dreams seriously and be able to achieve them. You deserve to wake up every morning excited about the day and what it will bring, knowing that you are organized and prepared for the prize you are going after. You deserve to be a winner." -- Georgene Lockwood