Becoming the Organized Person You Want to Be
Unpopular opinion: You don’t have to be a “Type A” person or an Enneagram 1, 2, or 3 to become an organized person. There is absolutely nothing in your DNA holding you back, if it’s what you desire.
Being an organized person simply means that your BRAIN is an uncluttered place to be, ushering peace, control (as much as possible), and joy into your life.
So, how do you do it?
Most people assume that a trip to The Container Store will solve all their problems, but this misses the point. Yes, having systems for organization is important, but without the habits to maintain them, you’ll be right back where you started.
Plus, being organized isn’t just about the aesthetics of your home. It applies to every area of your life—work, your family, your hobbies. Common sources of disorder beyond the home could include your inbox, photos on your phone, your kids’ schedules, etc.
In other words, organization is a LIFE SKILL, not a quick fix. It will require you to create new habits that will bring ease to your routine and elevate the way you live.
No, it won’t be easy, but in the end, you’ll have more than an organized home…you’ll BE an organized person. And that’s infinitely more powerful.
Following the OFL Method, here’s my suggestion for getting started:
Step 1: Observe
The first step is to observe your current habits. Sure, I could give you blanket advice and say, “Always hang up your coat when you walk in the door,” but that may not apply to you.
In this article, I walk you through that process of observation to help you identify the “inhibitors” that are standing in the way of you becoming organized.
If we’re working together, this will be a collaborative process of sifting through the layers to understand what the underlying cause — physical or emotional — of any clutter or disorder in your life.
Once we’ve identified them, we will work through these together so that you can spot them from a mile away, see them in a new light, and know what to do when they arrive.
Step 2: FOCUS
I call the second step “Focus” because creating new habits requires conscious daily thought. Yes, habits, by nature, are instinctual, but it requires repetition to get to that place where you don’t have to think about them.
During the Focus phase, we will work together to create organizational systems — again, physical or emotional — that fit seamlessly into your life.
I want to stress that point: seamlessly into your life. This is not one-size-fits-all advice, or an endless list of to-dos. (No, thanks.)
The OFL Method is about figuring out what will work for you and you alone. It’s about seeing more impact with less effort.
As you work through this phase, you will be amazed by how your whole routine, or a room in your home, can feel easier and lighter with just a few easy tweaks.
Note: If you already have organizational systems in place (from working with an interior designer, for example), we will work together to identify the habits that will help these systems endure and keep your home magazine-worthy!
STEP 3: LIVE
The last step of the OFL Method is less of an action item and more of the result. The whole point of my signature process is to make becoming organized so effortless that you don’t even realize you’re doing it…
It will become the way you live.
To help you understand what this new version of your life could look like, I highly recommend reading this post — What Does Clutter Really Cost You? — to better understand what YOU personally have to gain from becoming organized.
As someone who has been through this process myself in so many different ways and different phases of my life — raising three kids, cross-country moves, supporting C-level executives, and more — I know that it will create FAR more for you than it requires.
More time. More opportunities. More peace.
I can’t wait for you to experience it.
Yours,
Kristi