One of the greatest obstacles that stands in the way of getting organized is being overwhelmed. You just sigh when you look at your cluttered desk, your jam-packed schedule or the pile of papers that nearly touches the ceiling. And it's no wonder--with everything the average person has to do every day, where would you even start when it comes to your organizing projects?

Kelly, a full-time social worker, comes home from work literally exhausted on weekdays. Although the laundry is constantly piled up in mountains, she can't bear the thought of catching up on it over her free weekend days. But there's constant stress in Kelly's family, because there are rarely clean clothes to wear. Kelly's husband, who also works all day, had to pick a shirt out of the dirty laundry pile to wear to work last week. Kelly doesn't even know where to start to fix the laundry situation and
gets sick every time she looks at it.

Jayne, works two jobs. In the morning, she works in a brain injury center and in the evening, she works for a cleaning company. Her bills are piled on her desk and she gets to them when she can. But it's not often enough. In the pile, she also has letters from collection agencies demanding payment. It's not that she can't afford to pay the bills. It's just that she always sees bill organizing and bill paying as a daunting task that she can't possibly keep up with.

George was laid off from work several weeks ago. Since he now spends most of his mornings job searching, his wife, Gena, asked him if he could begin organizing the basement in the afternoons little by little. Gena felt it would be a good opportunity to do so. But every time George looks at the basement, he is so overwhelmed by the clutter and lack of storage space, that he hasn't even started yet, and he has already been home from work for three weeks.

If, like Kelly, Jayne and George, you're also overwhelmed, here are five simple solutions to help you combat that feeling and start getting things done.

1) Stop. When you're feeling overwhelmed, it's important to take the time to stop, step back and to put yourself into solution mode. There is rarely an organizing dilemma that can't be overcome. Once you acknowledge this, you're well on your way to conquering whatever project is ahead of you.

2) Baby Steps. Whatever your organizing project is, it does not have to be completed in one fell swoop. Break it down into teeny-tiny baby steps. For example, instead of trying to organize your entire bedroom closet--a very overwhelming task for many people--just start by removing five articles of clothing you no longer wear, and putting them in a Donation Bag. Or, instead of trying to get 20 tasks done on your To Do list, focus on just one or two at a time. Another possibility, is to commit to working on your project for a total of 10 minutes each day. Baby steps helps enable you to get a project started, and prevents you from getting overwhelmed so that eventually, you can complete it.

3) Get a little help. Whether that person is a spouse, a relative, a friend, one of your children, or a professional organizer, sometimes an outside perspective can really shed some light on the situation. Be sure to choose someone who is aggressive and pretty organized, and get some guidance on the best way to tackle the project at hand. You may even be able to get the person to physically assist to help you get through the bulk of the project.

4) Simplify. So many people try to take on so much in their lives, that the everyday tasks like laundry, bill paying and keeping clutter at bay, seem to be the most difficult, time-consuming projects they have. If you're constantly being pulled in ten different directions, perhaps you have to practice saying 'No' a little more often. If you're always working late at work, maybe it's because you don't delegate effectively and you try to do everything yourself. Could it be that you are always driving your kids to one activity after another? If so, have you thought about limiting their activities a bit? Simplifying other areas of your life, can often help you get the everyday things organized with less stress.

5) Take time for you. Designate 'time' rewards for your accomplishments. Time rewards are batches of time you use just for YOU. When you complete a mini- goal, such as organizing a shelf in your office, shredding that pile of papers you've been meaning to recycle or weeding out one of your kitchen cabinets, give yourself a minimum 15-minute time reward. You might just relax in your favorite outdoor chair while listening to the birds sing, or perhaps you can take a walk and enjoy the fresh air. Basically, your day should be filled with mini-goals and rewards for yourself. This way, you'll be getting things done and you'll be enjoying yourself throughout the day--which will help you from feeling overwhelmed, and even leave you with a great sense of accomplishment.

P.S. Find out how you can be Finally Organized, Finally Free!

To fast-forward to getting organized today, visit:

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No matter what your organizing challenges are, they are all causing UNHAPPINESS, STRESS, EXHAUSTION, OVERWHELM, and FRUSTRATION...and those are five things you definitely don't need in your life.

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___ 1. Do today's task on my January Monthly Organizing Checklist. The January 25 TO DO focuses on a cluttered surface. Visit GetOrganizedNow.com to access my January Monthly Organizing Checklist.

___ 2. Determine 5 effective relaxation methods for you. What makes you feel relaxed? A warm bath? A cup of hot tea? A few moments of silence? Come up with 5 methods that help you relax, and choose from those five when you're feeling anxious or overwhelmed.

___ 3. Get the kids to do their chores. I've found that kids who are able to choose their chores themselves, and are able to do so in a fun way, are more motivated about completing them. Visit: GetOrganizedNow.com to access my quick Organizing for Kids and Family idea entitled, 'Here's a fun, effective way to get the kids to do their chores.'

'Anxiety happens when you think you have to figure out everything all at once. Breathe. You're strong. You got this. Take it day by day.' (Karen Salmansohn)

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Maria Gracia
Get Organized Now!
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